Housekeeping takes a beating mostly during rains, as even a flexible and dynamic cleaning schedule makes achieving 100% result a challenge. Managing flexible and demanding housekeeping schedules get tricky in high traffic and sensitive areas. Wet floors, damp indoors and unpleasant odour are common to most premises.
“Every hotel has its respective predetermined checklist of action plans. Problems may arise anytime and accordingly various teams are assigned to carry out deadline based pre and post monsoon tasks in order to safeguard the hotel and surrounding areas during the monsoon. These checklists are prepared keeping in mind the past experiences. The premonsoon preparation starts from the month of April and checks implemented.”
Of the many pointers in the premonsoon checklist, proper handling of drainage system is a priority. The drainage system should be cleaned, flushed out with fire hydrant water pressure and covered. Pit drains and storm water should be checked and broken pipes mended. The slope is properly maintained so that there is no water logging anywhere.
Drains of terrace basements should be cleared of any kind of debris.
Terraces are checked for any type of dust and waste materials since these cause the drain to choke. Also, it is necessary to check that water does not stagnate on terraces.
In the lobby area, appropriate arrangements are required to prevent inconvenience to guests: Extra doormats to prevent water from entering inside, umbrellas for guests and dedicated staff to keep the floor dry by regular mopping. The staff is to be provided with raincoats to ensure they move around clearing any kind of water logging.
During rainy season, muddy and wet entrances are very much expected. They are not only unappealing to walk through, but the implications of a dirty work environment can extend beyond the muck on the floors. A lack of constant daytime clean-up efforts will be noticed by your walk-in customers and your employees. The dirty and wet flooring, carpets, walls and leaking ceiling show that you are not prepared for this season.
A Cleaning attendant is trained to understand the importance of regular intervals of mopping and cleaning. Also one has to get engaged in extra cleaning jobs like frequent scrubbing, washing of pathways, carpet spotting etc. Without regular cleaning intervals, the mucky mess being tracked into your office also is shortening the lifespan of floor. Wall seepages and ceiling leakages are harmful to the building structure. It also affects the office interior.
The cleaning attendant should have the proper cleaning tools and equipment necessary to handle the constant cleaning. They will be working when customers are in the building, so the cleaning process should be quick, efficient and as nondisruptive as possible.
Purchase quality doormats. Commercial doormats can save tremendous wear-and-tear on your floors and carpeting, plus catch much of the muddy water tracked in on people’s shoes during rainy weather. The doormats should be regularly cleaned, washed or replaced with fresh mats.
Kasturi Deo Executive Hosekeeper-Hilton International Airport, Mumbai
Check the ventilation system. Wet floors can emit a musty odour. Any wet carpeting or standing water is quickly cleaned and dried to prevent mould and mosquitoes. Dirt, mites in air ducts are some of the leading causes of sick building syndrome, contributing to indoor allergies.
Rain can splash up against window panes making glass dirty. Window cleaning should be done more frequently. But the care has to be taken while cleaning the windows, that during heavy downpour and windy rains, one must stop the window cleaning activity. It is a human hazard.
Rainy season offers many challenges to maintain a healthy and clean workplace. But with some planning and a trained cleaning staff, it is not difficult.
Daily office cleaning will help keep down the spread of germs.
Handy pre-monsoon checklist
- Pits are leveled
- Roads cleared of debris
- Drain lines and pipes cleaned, cleared and covered from top
- Terrace is cleaned and cleared
- All cracks are repaired
- Sewage tank is cleaned
- Broken pipes are mended
- Electrical fittings checked and covered thoroughly
- Monsoon water harvest tank cleaned and kept ready
- Signages are put up properly
- Training the associates on action during emergency
- Proper slopes provided for smooth flow of water
- Three to four days of back up of all essential supplies
- Ensure all pumps, sump pumps and sewage pumps are in working order with motors properly serviced.
The plants in the lawn area grow very fast and hence require regular trimming. During the monsoon, additional care has to be taken to ensure that the lawn does not look shabby. The small and weak plants are to be covered with a small barricade to protect them from high winds. The garden boundaries must be properly checked and repaired to ensure that the fertile soil is not washed away. The bigger trees can be trimmed of some of their branches and the base of the plants can be made stronger by adding soil.
Vaneeta Arora Director-Housekeeping The Park-New Delhi
All windows are to be checked for water seepages, for any cracks, breakages or loose fittings. Usually seepages happen from window gaps.
The swimming pool area also requires extra attention during the monsoon. Issues like contamination of water can rise. The swimming pool should be checked for chlorine level, ph value, hardness and filtration of water. In addition, the area outside the swimming pool is to be cleaned, checked for drainage and sprayed with disinfectants. All pool furniture to be covered with waterproof fabric and mattress to shifted indoors.