How often do you walk through facilities — hospitals, schools, offices, shopping malls — and see a cleaning worker? Especially since day cleaning has grown in popularity, housekeeping professionals are a far more visible part of facility operations.

Some organizations, especially in the hospitality industry, emphasize customer service as much as — or more than — cleaning skills when hiring staff. We talked to some hotels whose housekeepers take an active role in guest services in addition to cleaning (“Four-star Housekeeping”).

Cleaning managers serving other types of customers might learn a thing or two from hotel housekeeping’s emphasis on service — from the hiring process to the mission statements.


Our cover story, “Are we operating in a vacuum?”, touches upon the issue of universal cleaning standards. We examine what standardization — when it comes to cleaning practices — could mean for the cleaning industry. We also sample guidelines and certifications offered by industry associations and other interest groups. Many cleaning managers have filled the standards vacuum by creating their own criteria for cleaning properly.

Is it naive to think housekeepers can someday get on the same page when it comes to cleaning procedures? Is it necessary? You tell me.




POSTED ON: 11/1/2003