material planning: supplies and equipment

■ Housekeeping Chemicals

Chemical Terminology

Selection Considerations

All-Purpose Cleaners

Single-Purpose Cleaners

Carpet Cleaners

Floor Care Products

Pesticides

Handling and Storage of Chemicals

Chemical Packaging

OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard

A Final Word on Green Chemicals

■ Cleaning Supplies and Equipment

Cleaning Supplies

Cleaning Equipment

■ Guest Supplies

Amenity Packages

Guest Essentials

Guest Expendables

Guest Loan Items

6

Material Planning:Supplies andEquipment

In this chapter we con-tinue our examination of material planning by the exec-utive housekeeper. We now turn our attention to house-keeping supplies and equipment.

Housekeeping Chemicals

Traditionally, housekeeping’s use of chemicals has con-stituted a balancing act. We have used chemicals thatwere effective for their intended purpose, but if theywere misused, they could present a real and immediatehazard to the employee using them and to others (e.g.,staff and guests) who came into direct contact with thesubstances. Little or no thought was given to the impacton health resulting from long-term exposure to thesechemicals. There was also little or no thought given towhat happens to the environment resulting from the cre-ation, use, or disposal of these chemicals. As long as theymade our brass banisters brighter, our floors glossier, orour sheets whiter, that was all that mattered.

Times have changed.The first priority is now health—health of our employees, our guests, our children, theplanet, and the unborn generations that will follow us.The good news is that we are rapidly approaching theday when we can protect our environment, remove un-wanted soil from our buildings, kill pathogenic organ-

isms, and preserve, protect, and beautify the property.However, we have to make dramatic changes in how weclean, and we have to educate our people in these newtechniques and substances. At the same time, we have tobury several myths associated with cleaning.

110

Unfortunately, earlier editions of this text perpetu-ated some of those myths by recommending chemicalsthat did more harm than good. These can now be re-placed by chemicals that are far more environmentallybenign, yet are up to the task.

The astute housekeeper knows the intended purposeof every chemical in the department’s inventory. Thehousekeeper is also ultimately responsible for the cor-rect handling and storage of each chemical so that itdoes not adversely affect either the user, the public, orthe environment.

Chemical Terminology

When attempting to select the proper chemical for a par-ticular housekeeping application, the executive house-keeper is often at the mercy of the sales staff of the localchemical supply firm because he or she is not familiarwith basic chemical terminology and the chemistry ofcleaning.

Chapter 13 has an entire section devoted to the chem-istry of cleaning; the purpose of this section, however, isto acquaint the reader with a few basic terms that willaid in the proper selection and use of these chemicals.

Although there are a number of chemicals in thehousekeeping department that are used to protect andbeautify floors, walls, and furniture, the majority ofhousekeeping chemicals are intended to clean, disinfect,and sanitize the environment.

The intended use of detergents is to remove soil froma surface through a chemical action. Detergents dissolvesolid soils and hold the soils in a suspension away fromthe environmental surface, thus allowing them to be eas-ily removed from that surface. Most detergents used inhousekeeping have been synthetic and were derivedfrom a number of basic minerals, primarily sulfonatedhydrocarbons. Now there are a number of green clean-

Housekeeping Chemicals 111

ing chemicals emerging that are based on soybeans,milk, citrus fruits, and hydrogen peroxide. However, ex-ecutive housekeepers need to be aware of overinflatedclaims. There are very few recognized standards forgreen chemicals. Terms such as “biodegradable,” “safefor the environment,” “environmentally benign,” andeven “nontoxic” are ambiguous.

There simply are no universally accepted standardsfor green cleaning. However, there is Green Seal. Ac-cording to its website:

Green Seal is an independent, non-profit organizationthat strives to achieve a healthier and cleaner environ-ment by identifying and promoting products and ser-vices that cause less toxic pollution and waste, conserveresources and habitats, and minimize global warmingand ozone depletion. Green Seal has no financial inter-est in the products that it certifies or recommends, or inany manufacturer or company. Green Seal’s evaluationsare based on state-of-the-art science and information us-ing internationally recognized methods and procedures.Thus, Green Seal provides credible, objective, and unbi-ased information whose only purpose is to direct thepurchaser to environmentally responsible products andservices.1

Green Seal is a 13-year-old nonprofit environmentallabeling organization. Green Seal operates under ISO14020 and 14024, which are the environmental standardsfor ecolabeling set by the International Organization forStandardization (ISO), and is the U.S. member of theGlobal Ecolabeling Network (GEN), the coordinatingbody of the world’s 27 leading ecolabeling programs, in-cluding Germany’s Blue Angel and Scandinavia’sNordic Swan.

Green Seal has developed a standard for industrial andinstitutional cleaners (GS-37). It is very safe to assumethat any cleaning product having the Green Seal logomeets the highest available standards. (see Figure 6.1)

CHAPTER OBJECTIVES

After studying the chapter, students should be able to:

1. Categorize chemicals used in the housekeeping department and state their intended uses.

2. Describe recent trends in chemical use and their impact on guests, staff, and, specifically, the housekeepingdepartment.

3. Describe the intended purposes of chemicals used in the housekeeping department and define commonchemical terms presented.

4. Identify common cleaning supplies and equipment used in the housekeeping department.

5. Describe recent innovations in cleaning supplies and equipment.

6. Describe common guest supplies.

7. Describe recent innovations in guest bath amenities.

EnvirOx’s H2Orange2 Concentrate 117 has not onlybeen tested and authorized to carry the Green Sealmark, but is also an EPA-registered sanitizer-virucidethat has been approved for use on food preparation sur-faces. H2Orange2 has also received National SanitationFoundation (NSF) approval as a sanitizer on all surfacesin and around food-processing areas. These ratings re-quire that a potable water rinse of cleaned surfaces inand around food processing areas be performed after us-ing the product.

Other chemical manufacturers, such as CoastwideLaboratories of Wilsonville, Oregon, have sought outother independent third parties for the certification oftheir green chemicals. Coastwide developed the Sustain-able Earth™ product line and submitted it to CoffeyLaboratories for independent review against the Sus-tainable Earth2 standard—the entire line passed. Thestandard was based on a three-part process. First a set ofmandatory pass/fail criteria were established, and eachchemical was compared with the criteria. Each chemicalhad to pass all of the criteria or be instantly rejected.Thesecond part of the process evaluated specific environ-mental health and worker safety characteristics of eachproduct. Point values were assigned to each criterionthat was reflective of health and safety priorities. If aproduct scored more than an established thresholdvalue, it was rejected. The third part used a reliable mea-surement method that established a hazard value forchemicals developed at Purdue University, entitled theIndiana Relative Chemical Hazard Score (IRCHS). Achemical product that exceeds an IRCHS thresholdvalue is rejected as a green cleaning product.

Many detergents have a neutral pH, which means thatthey are neither an acid nor an alkaline compound. Thedegree of alkalinity or acidity is indicated on the pHscale. The scale runs from 0 to 14. Zero through 6 on thescale indicates acidity. Position 8 through 14 on the scale

112 Chapter 6 ■ Material Planning: Supplies and Equipment

indicates alkalinity. Seven indicates a neutral compound.Alkalies are often used to enhance the cleaning powerof synthetic detergents. Strong alkaline detergent clean-ers should not be used on certain surfaces. (For more in-formation on this topic, see Chapter 5.)

Disinfectants are chemical agents that have beentested by the federal government and have been provento destroy pathogenic microorganisms on inanimate sur-faces. It is important to understand that there are no in-stantaneous disinfectants. Disinfectants need dwell time

on a surface. They must remain for a prescribed numberof minutes so the chemical can kill the bacteria andviruses that are present. They are said to have a bacte-riostatic effect. A bacteriostat prevents microbes frommultiplying on a surface. Disinfectants are not intendedto be used directly on humans or animals. Other similarterms used to describe specific disinfectants are bacteri-

cides, fungicides, germicides, and virucides. There are dif-ferent degrees or levels of cleaning, according toMichael A. Berry. In his landmark work Protecting the

Built Environment, he lists three different levels ofcleaning: sterilization, disinfection, and sanitation. Steril-ized, says Berry, means that a surface is 100 percent freefrom contamination, disinfected means the vast majorityof pathogens have been removed, and sanitary meansthat a surface has some contamination, but is clean tothe point that it protects health in general.2 The purposeof disinfectants is not to remove soils from surfaces, butthere are a number of products on the market that com-bine a synthetic detergent with a disinfectant so that asurface can be cleaned and disinfected at the same time.The use of a disinfectant alone on a soiled surface is in-effective, as the soil serves to protect the bacteria fromthe germicidal action of the disinfectant. Combined detergent-disinfectant chemicals are quite effective ifthey are used according to directions. In certain in-stances, however, particularly in a hospital environment,it is necessary to first apply a detergent to remove soilbuildup and then apply a disinfectant solution after thesurface has been cleaned. In most hotel applications,it is perfectly acceptable to use combined detergent-disinfectants. The great advantage to using detergent-disinfectant solutions rather than separate solutions isthe labor saved by not having to wash the surface twice.

Common disinfectants include quaternary ammo-

nium compounds, idophors, hypochorites, hydrogen per-

oxide, and phenolic compounds. These compounds arediscussed in greater detail in Chapter 13.

It should be noted here that a few hotel housekeepersmight fail to see the relevance of disinfectants to hotelhousekeeping. This attitude is based on a common mis-conception that only hospitals need to worry about thecontrol of pathenogenic microorganisms. Unfortunately,hotels and restaurants provide a superb environment forthe breeding and transmission of disease. For example,according to the Centers for Disease Control, 77 percent

Figure 6-1 Green Seal logo. (Courtesy of Green Seal,

Washington, D.C.)

of all cases of foodborne illness originate in commercialfood service establishments. It is also estimated that he-patitis A is transmitted to thousands of restaurant cus-tomers annually from infected workers. 3 Who can forgetthat the dreaded Legionnaires’ disease originated in theair-conditioning system of a hotel? Now we have SARS(severe acute respiratory syndrome). There are indica-tions that not only can this dread disease be transmittedthrough direct contact, but that the virus can survive for24 hours on a surface and perhaps even longer if it iscontained in fecal matter.

Bathroom fixtures in particular need to be disin-fected, starting with toilets and urinals; but other areasthat need special attention include door handles, soapand towel dispensers, faucets, flooring around urinalsand toilets, partitions around toilets and urinals, levers toflush toilets, telephones, water fountains, and floordrains. Places where people have vomited, or wherethere are any human fluids to be found, should also bedisinfected. Proper training and protective gear for thehousekeeping staff must be available. According to BethRisinger, C.E.O. of the International Executive House-keepers Association, handwashing by cleaners is criticalevery time they change environments or move from guestroom to guestroom.

In many areas of a hotel, the intention is not to main-tain totally disinfected surfaces, as is required in a hospi-tal environment, but merely to maintain sanitized sur-faces. A sanitizer is a chemical that kills microorganismsto an accepted, or what is generally regarded as a safe,level. Sanitizers are not intended to provide a bacterio-static surface. Sanitizers may be specially formulatedchemicals, or they may be disinfectants that have beendiluted to serve as sanitizers. Sanitizers are used on suchsurfaces as carpets, walls, and floors, and may also beused in conjunction with room deodorizers to sanitizethe air. At the very least, the lodging industry needs toestablish clearly defined standards for cleanliness in allareas of an operation. Until such standards are estab-lished, operators should develop their own high stan-dards and follow them.

Potentially dangerous chemical reactions can takeplace in the housekeeper’s mop bucket as well as in thechemist’s laboratory. One of the most dangerous occurswhen an ammoniated product is mixed with a hypo-chlorite (such as bleach) or when a bleach is mixed with an acid-based cleaner. In both cases, potentially deadlychlorine gases are released.

Selection Considerations

A number of variables must be considered to ensurethat the most appropriate chemical product is chosen.One crucial factor is the relative hardness of the water atthe site. Water hardness refers to the amount of calciumand magnesium found in the water. Most disinfectants


and sanitizers that are quaternary-based are negativelyaffected by water hardness. Look on the product labelfor claims of effectiveness in hard water.

A second concern is the particular type of soil that isto be removed from the environment. Grease and oilsmay call for solvent cleaners that normally have a petro-leum base, whereas scale and lime deposits on bathroomfixtures may require an acid-based cleaner. In the nextsection of this chapter, we shall explore the merits of us-ing all-purpose cleaners.

A third consideration is the initial cost of the product.Since different chemicals are diluted to different con-centrations, always base your calculations on the cost perusable gallon of solution.

A fourth factor is the cost of labor and equipment.Some chemicals are much more “labor intensive” thanothers; that is, they require a greater degree of physicalforce in their application in order to be effective. Thatforce requirement can translate into expensive equip-ment and more man-hours to effectively do the job.

A fifth factor is the relative availability of the prod-uct. Is the distributor always ready, willing, and able toprovide the product? Or have there been numerous in-stances of stock-outs? If the chemical is not alwaysavailable when you need it, you should seriously think ofchanging brands or distributors.

Sixth, does the distributor give good service? Is thevendor willing to demonstrate the proper use of theproduct? Is the vendor willing to conduct comparisontests of chemicals at your site? Is the company also will-ing to help train your staff in the proper use of the prod-uct? Also, if the product fails to meet expectations, willthe distributor take back the unused product and issue acredit memo? Good service certainly adds value to theproduct. Sometimes this value more than compensatesfor an extra penny or two in cost per usable gallon. Fi-nally, is the chemical the most environmentally soundchemical that can be obtained? Is there third-party cer-tification to support that claim? Does that green chemi-cal meet your needs without becoming “overkill?” AsJimmy Palmer, Executive Housekeeper at the Four Seasons-Las Vegas, remarked, “At the Four Seasons, wedo not need a hydrochloric acid bowl cleaner to removelime and soil buildup, because we clean our toilets everyday.”

All of these variables must be carefully weighed whenpurchasing chemical supplies.

All-Purpose Cleaners

One innovation in housekeeping chemical use has beenthe increasing use of all-purpose cleaners. Most all-purpose cleaners are pH-neutral, so they are safe formost surfaces that can be cleaned with a water-basedproduct. All-purpose cleaners normally do not need tobe rinsed, they do not leave a haze, and they do not


streak. The relative cleaning effectiveness of an all-purpose cleaner is normally determined by its dilutionstrength, which can be set for different jobs. An exampleof an all-purpose cleaner can be seen in Figure 6.2.

Using an all-purpose cleaner, is an effective way to re-duce product inventory, and reducing inventory usuallymeans bringing more dollars to the bottom line. Usingan all-purpose cleaner can also translate to quantity buy-ing, which can mean greater savings.

Change Agent

Roger McFaddenVICE PRESIDENT, TECHNICAL SERVICES

COASTWIDE LABORATORIES

Roger McFadden is Vice President of TechnicalServices and Product Development for CoastwideLaboratories, a position he has held since 1988.McFadden is one of five individuals in the UnitedStates appointed by Underwriters Laboratories(UL) to serve on the Industry Advisory Council onSlip Resistance Standards and has recently beenappointed to a Standards Technical Panel by ULand the American National Standards Institute(ANSI). He is a member of the ASTM D-21 FloorPolish Standards Committee and a member of theHard Surface Inspection Task Force for the Insti-tute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certi-fication (IICRC). McFadden is on the faculty ofthe Cleaning Management Institute (CMI), thechairman of Oregon governor Kitzhaber’s Com-munity Sustainability Council Workgroup forCleaning and Coatings, and a charter member ofthe Unified Green Cleaning Alliance.

Holding a master’s degree in chemistry,McFadden is a frequent speaker for health care or-ganizations, educational institutions, public agen-cies, and private corporations. He speaks on a vari-ety of environmental, safety, and health topics. Hehas been published in several trade publications,including Cleaning and Maintenance Management.

He also led development of the SustainableEarth evaluation standard and the SustainableEarth product line at Coastwide Laboratories.“Though Sustainable Earth products met all thecriteria of the leading national environmental stan-dards, our customers were asking us to raise thebar,” McFadden said. “We basically had to create amore comprehensive standard than any that hasexisted to date.” David DiFiore, project managerfor the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’sDesign for the Environment program, says McFad-den has been “a major change leader.” DiFioresays Coastwide Laboratories worked with theZero Waste Alliance of Portland to form the Uni-fied Green Cleaning Alliance, a group of PacificNorthwest businesses working to raise standardsfor sustainable cleaning products. “The work he’sdone outlining all the ingredients used in formula-tions, and trying to understand the environmentaland health implications of those ingredients, that’sjust outstanding,” says DiFiore.

Figure 6-2 H2Orange2 117 Concentrate is a unique all-purpose chemical that is a highly effective sanitizer-virucide and cleaner. It can be used in kitchens andbathrooms and has a multitude of other applications. Indifferent dilutions, it performs various tasks, fromwindow cleaning to mopping floors. The concentrate hasthree proprietary dispensing options (lower left to right):Bucket Buddy, Spray Buddy, Blend Buddy. It is also GreenSeal certified. (Photo courtesy of EnvirOx, L.L.C. Danville, Illinois.)


DeodorizersDeodorizers, if properly used, can improve a facility’spublic image and improve employee morale. Some de-odorizers counteract stale odors, leaving a clean, air-freshened effect through the principle of odor-pair neu-

tralization. These deodorizers leave no trace of perfumecover-up. This approach is preferred in restrooms,guestrooms, and public areas. Most guests react nega-tively to cheap cover-up deodorant perfumes in hotellobbys or guestrooms.

However, where there are particularly strong odors,such as at a garbage dumpster or a pet kennel, a de-odorant formula that contains fragrances may be appro-priate. Methods of deodorant application includeaerosol sprays, “stick-up” applicators, timed-release sys-tems, liquids, powders, and hand pump sprays (see Fig-ure 6.4).

Drain CleanersDrain cleaners contain harmful acids and lyes andshould not be applied by the regular housekeeping staff.They should be used only by management or by staffwho have been specially trained in their application.Drain cleaners are hazardous and can corrode pipes;consequently, many properties have banned their use infavor of pressurized gases or drain-cleaning augers.There is even a plastic throwaway drain auger that ef-fectively cleans out sink drains clogged with hair.

Furniture Cleaners and PolishesFurniture cleaners and polishes are normally wax- or oil-based products that contain antistatic compounds. Thebest polishes contain lemon oil, which serves to replen-ish the moisture that is lost from the wood.

Hand Soaps and DetergentsHandwashing is an important component of personalhygiene for all employees. One of the biggest preventa-tives of nosocomial infection in hospitals is the practiceof handwashing.4 Unfortunately, many employees do

However, there are disadvantages to all-purposecleaners. Perhaps the greatest disadvantage is that an all-purpose cleaner is inadequate for certain cleaning tasks.One example would be in the cleaning of bathroomequipment where a disinfectant is needed. Most all-purpose cleaners do not contain disinfectants. Anotherconcern is whether employees are properly diluting theall-purpose cleaner for the specific task at hand. Far toooften, employees will assume the attitude that “more isbetter” and will fail to properly dilute the detergent.Thisaction inevitably drives up costs.

Single-Purpose Cleaners

There are numerous instances in which an all-purposecleaner is inadequate. In this section, we will examinethe relative merits of a variety of single-purpose cleaners.

Abrasive CleanersAbrasive cleaners normally contain a detergent com-bined with a bleach and an abrasive (usually silica, aquartz dust that can scratch glass). The abrasiveness ofthe cleaner is determined by the percentage of abrasivein the cleanser.Abrasive cleansers can be found in eitherpowder or paste form. The paste is preferred because itwill cling to vertical surfaces. Under no circumstancesshould abrasive cleaners be used on fiberglass tub andshower enclosures; furthermore, abrasives are not rec-ommended for porcelain fixtures.

DegreasersDegreasers or emulsifiers are usually found in mostcommercial kitchens. They are concentrated detergentsthat are formulated to remove heavy grease buildup.Figure 6.3 shows the soy-based product Soy Green1000™, from Soy Technologies, Inc., which can removeheavy kitchen grease but is nonflammable, nontoxic, andnoncarcinogenic. Petroleum solvents have degreasingproperties, but because of their flammability and toxicitythey are rarely used on kitchen surfaces.

Figure 6-3 Pictured in themiddle is Soy Technologies,Inc.’s Soy Green (SG) 1000, anonflammable degreaser.(Photo courtesy of Soy

Technologies, Inc. Delray Beach,

Florida.)

not wash their hands often enough because they believethat repeated handwashing will cause skin dryness andcracking. Since the housekeeping department is often incharge of purchasing hand soaps, the housekeepershould stock only disinfectant lotion soaps that preventdryness and cracking. An excellent waterless handcleaner and conditioner is Soy Derm,™ pictured in Fig-ure 6.3. It contains natural oils, vitamin E, aloe, and teatree oil. It cuts through the worse grease, oils, inks, paints,and tars. It leaves hands softer than they were before application.

Laundry ChemicalsLaundry chemicals include synthetic detergents, concen-trated bleaches, antichlors, sours, and fabric softeners.The detergents are often nonionic detergents that con-tain fabric brighteners and antiredeposition agents. Theactive ingredient in most laundry bleaches is sodiumhypochlorite. Antichlors are added to remove excesschlorine from the fabric. Sours are added to lower thepH and may also contain bluing and whiteners. Suitablesours include ammonium silicofluoride, sodium silicoflu-oride, zinc silicofluoride, and acetic acid. Excessive useof sours may result in a sour odor remaining on theclothes. Softeners are usually cationic products that con-tain antistatic and bacteriostatic agents. Their purpose isto leave the laundered product fresh, soft, and with nostatic cling. When bacteriostatic agents are present, they


help to reduce the growth of pathenogenic organisms onthe fabric. Smart laundry managers are studying the ad-dition of ozone to the laundry process. It increases theeffectiveness of chemicals, shortens wash time, and al-lows for a lowering of water temperatures (saving en-ergy and money). An article from the April 2003 editionof Executive Housekeeping Today on ozone in the laun-dry appears in Appendix E.

Metal Cleaners and PolishesMetal cleaners and polishes are usually paste-type clean-ers that contain mild acidic solutions. Some contain pro-tective coatings that inhibit tarnishing.

Solvent CleanersSolvent cleaners are used to clean surfaces that arebadly soiled by grease, tar, or oil. Solvents are made frompine oils, kerosene, alcohols, and now, soy. Soy Green5000, pictured in Figure 6.3, is such a strong biosolventthat it can safely remove graffiti, paint, and varnish (seeFigure 6.5). Some types of solvents will not adversely af-fect paint, acrylics, and metals. Carbon tetrachloride andother halogenated hydrocarbons are extremely toxicand carcinogenic and should be avoided at all costs.Some petroeum naptha solvents have a high flash point.The higher the flash point, the less chance a cleaner willignite.The best choice for a solvent is one that will do thejob and is preferably a biosolvent, versus a petroleumsolvent, which is a volatile organic compound (VOC)that will diminish indoor air quality (IAQ).

Bathroom CleanersTo clean away lime encrustations on washroom fixtures,remove rust stains, and remove organic soils, the chemi-cal industry has produced cleaners that meet theseunique needs.The emulsion toilet bowl cleaner normallycontains acid, which is necessary to remove rust and cor-rosion, and detergents that remove fecal material, urine,and bacterial colonies. Hydrochloric acid has been theacid of choice in these cleaners, but has been replaced bythe milder phosphoric acid and oxalic acid. All are cor-rosive and should not come into contact with metal fix-tures, especially chrome—let alone people. They shouldalso not be used on walls or floors. Now we have alter-natives, such as Coastwide Laboratories’ SustainableEarth Toilet & Urinal Cleaner that effectively removessoils and mineral deposits without acids (see Figure 6.6).

Jetted Hot Tub CleanersThere are now an estimated 2 million jetted hot tubs inlodging properties and hospitals. Cleaning of the tub hasbeen, until now, similar to the cleaning of an ordinarybathtub. However, many guests have noticed that oncethe jets were turned on, black specs appeared in the wa-ter. These specs have, in many cases, turned out to be al-gae. Up to a pint of bath water remains in the pipes and

Figure 6-4 Coastwide Laboratories’ Sustainable EarthOdor Eliminator safely neutralizes odors and is designedfor a pump spray container. It eliminates water- and oil-based odors. (Photo courtesy of Coastwide Laboratories,

Wilsonville, Oregon.)


pump housing when the tub is drained. Combined withlime deposits and scale in a light-free environment, thiswater provides an excellent medium for the growth ofalgae, bacteria, and viruses. A biofilm eventually formsinside the pipes, making it extremely difficult to killthese pathogens. Organisms such as pseudomonas,

E. coli, and Legionella have been found growing inthese tubs. The housekeeping staff, and certainly thenext guests to use these tubs, risk infection. Plainlystated, the guest who soaks in one of these tubs is soak-ing in some of the same water that was used by the pre-vious guests who used the tub. Fortunately, some com-panies are now making chemicals designed for thesetubs that will destroy the algae and pathogens that maybe found in them (see Figure 6.7).

Carpet Cleaners

Carpet-cleaning chemicals, whether they are sprays,foams, dry powders, or shampoos, contain essentially thesame types of chemicals in slightly different forms.Common chemicals include neutral water-soluble sol-vents, emulsifiers, defoamers, optical brighteners, anddeodorizers. Many also contain sanitizers; however,some of these may have an adverse effect on fourth- and

Figure 6-5 The KauriButanol scale measures thepower of solvents. SG 5000 isfar more powerful thantraditional solvents that aretoxic and often carcinogenic.(Photo courtesy of Soy

Technologies, Inc., Delray Beach,

Florida.)

Figure 6-6 This cleaner is formulated withoutfragrances and has surfactants made from rapidlyrenewable resources. (Photo courtesy of Coastwide Laboratories,

Wilsonville, Oregon.)

fifth-generation nylon carpets. Soil and stain repellentsmay also be included in the cleaners. When selecting aparticular brand, do a comparison test between yourcurrent brand and the proposed alternatives. If thegreener product works as well, consider using it (see Fig-ure 6.8).

Floor Care Products

The chemical formulation of a floor care product is de-pendent on the product’s function.

StrippersStrippers are used to remove the worn finish from floors.They may have an ammoniated base or may be nonam-moniated products. Nonammoniated strippers may notbe as effective in removing metal cross-linked polymer


finishes, but they do not have the harsh odor associatedwith the ammoniated products (see Figure 6.3). A neu-tralizing rinse is often applied after the stripper. Theserinses neutralize alkaline residues left from the strippingsolution that may affect the performance of the new finish.

Floor CleanersFloor cleaners are mild detergents that work in cool wa-ter to remove soils without affecting the existing floorfinish. Many floor finishes are thermoplastic; hot watertends to soften the finish. Most floor cleaners also havea neutral pH and many require no additional rinsing.

Sealers and FinishesSealers and finishes are applied to most floor surfaces toprotect the flooring material from wear, cleaners, and

Figure 6-7 Purge Tech™ hasfour products used to cleanwhirlpool tubs (clockwise fromupper left), Oxyflush,™ a cleanerand deodorizer for a whirlpoolplumbing system; AquaPolorizer,™ a hydromagneticsuspension system for minerals inthe water; ThoroPurge,™ adisinfectant for the whirlpoolplumbing system; and theThoroPurge Machine,™ whichflushes the ThoroPurge chemicalthrough the whirlpool’s pipingsystem and down the drain.These four components constitutethe Jet Tub System.™ (Courtesy of

Purge-Tech, Inc.)

liquid spills. The chemical composition of the sealer orfinish will vary according to the type of flooring materialfor which it is intended. The preferred product for mostresilient floors and some stone floor applications hasbeen the metal cross-linked floor finishes (particularlyzinc cross-linked polymers) because of their ability togive floors the popular “wet look.” Recently, the use ofthese heavy metal finishes has fallen into disfavor be-cause of environmental concerns. A number of stateshave prohibited their sale because of the perceived dan-ger resulting from emptying these heavy metals into thesewer when the finishes are stripped from the floors.

Many of the same concerns are being voiced aboutwood sealers and finishes that have solvent bases. A water-based finish for wood is now available that is con-sidered by many experts to be environmentally safe.

Pesticides

Pesticide applications should be left to the expert.Housekeeping departments are advised to seek the ser-vices of a reliable pest control company rather than at-tempting to control pests themselves. If there is a per-ceived need to keep pesticides in inventory, it is stronglysuggested that only natural pyrethrins be used, if at allpossible, or that you employ an integrated pest manage-ment system that encompasses predator insects. Forroaches, the single best way to control them in a buildingis to starve them to death. Keep kitchens, storerooms,


guestrooms, and offices scrupulously clean, and you willnot have a roach problem.

Handling and Storage of Chemicals

Manufacturer guidelines should be strictly adhered towhen storing and handling chemicals. All chemicalsshould be routinely kept under lock and key.A system ofinventory control should be established and followed.Chemicals are expensive, and employees should be heldaccountable for their misuse. If bulk chemicals are used,employees should be taught how to properly dilutethem.

Chemical Packaging

Bulk ChemicalsBulk chemicals offer the housekeeping department thegreatest potential for savings, but the executive house-keeper should beware of overbuying chemicals. Oneproblem is that large quantities of chemicals cannot al-ways be stored properly. The cost of storing large quan-tities of chemicals may offset any potential cost savingsfrom bulk purchases. Chemicals may deteriorate while instorage.The expiration dates that appear on some chem-ical supplies should be noted. The executive house-keeper should also compare the cost savings of bulkbuying with the potential interest that would be gener-ated if a minimal amount of chemical were purchased,and the cost difference between the minimal amount

Green Tips

We pour millions of tons of cleaning productsdown our drains every month in this country.Theseproducts often contain toxic chemicals that findtheir way into our lakes and streams and can endup in our food and water. Don’t believe they canget back to you? Just ask the residents of Las Ve-gas. A Kerr McGee plant poured perchlorate (a jetfuel additive) into the ground near its plant inHenderson, Nevada. That chemical worked its wayinto Lake Mead and the Colorado River. Not onlyare the citizens of Las Vegas drinking some of it intheir water, but it is also coming back to their ta-bles in the form of contaminated lettuce from Cal-ifornia’s Imperial Valley, which uses water from theColorado to grow its crops.

So, take action—do your research and build en-vironmentalism into your chemical purchasingspecifications.

Remember, there is no “upstream” on this

planet; we are all “downstream.”

Figure 6-8 Coastwide’s Sustainable Earth CarpetCleaner is biodegradable, contains no phosphates, and issafe on all generations of carpet. (Photo courtesy of

Coastwide Laboratories, Wilsonville, Oregon.)

and the bulk amount invested. If the savings from buy-ing in bulk would be greater than the amount of interestthat would be generated, then the bulk purchase is awise investment. But if the interest generated would begreater than the cost savings from buying in bulk, thenthe wise choice is to buy the lesser amount and invest the difference.

Another problem with bulk chemicals occurs whenemployees do not dilute the chemical to its appropriatelevel. If the dilution process is not rigorously monitored,the tendency of most employees is to use too muchchemical, which drives up cost. An alternative to thiscostly practice is the use of the new in-house chemicalmixing stations, as pictured in Figure 6.9. These systemsautomatically mix bulk chemicals, thus eliminatingguesswork and improper dilution levels.

Premeasured ChemicalsMany chemical and detergent manufacturers producepremeasured (packaged) products in filament contain-ers that dissolve when placed in a prescribed amount ofwater, yielding the proper amount of chemical in solu-tion.5 Although these products are higher in unit price,the use of such premeasured products provides a high


degree of cost control, better inventory procedures, andbetter quality in cleaning. In addition, housekeepingmanagers and hospital administrators desiring docu-mentation on cleaning costs are more likely to acceptcost documentation when premeasured chemicals anddetergents are used, since exact quantities may be determined.

AerosolsAerosol chemicals have received considerable negativepress in recent years from a variety of sources. House-keeping managers often react negatively because of thehigher net product cost associated with aerosols. Pack-aging and propellants drive up the cost of the product.

Environmentalists have reacted negatively to the useof aerosols for years. In the 1970s, the issue was the wide-spread use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which werelinked to ozone depletion and global warming.AlthoughCFCs are not used anymore, substitutes have been ac-cused of contributing to acid rain and smog formation;and in one case, the propellant (methylene chloride) wassuspected of being a carcinogen.6 Aerosols also breakthe chemical into an extremely fine mist, making it muchmore respirable. Aerosols are a major contributor to

Figure 6-9 A close-up of achemical mixing station in asatellite linen and storageroom. (Courtesy of Bellagio MGM

Mirage, Las Vegas, Nevada.)

poor indoor air quality (IAQ). It is wise to eliminatethem from your inventory.

Compatibility in Chemical Product DesignOne reason why housekeeping managers consider thepurchase of only one brand of housekeeping chemicalproducts is chemical compatibility (see Figure 6.10).Chemical manufacturers often formulate their chemicalsto perform better with other chemicals in their productline than with the chemical products made by competitors.One example of this is a floor stripper that works best inremoving a floor finish made by the same manufacturer.

When selecting any new chemical, a housekeepershould ask to have the vendor demonstrate the productat the site where it will be used so that comparisons be-tween brands can be drawn.

OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard

Since 1988, hotels have been required to comply with theOccupational Safety and Health Administration’s(OSHA) Hazard Communication (HazComm) Stan-dard, which applies to the handling and storage of haz-ardous chemical materials. Hazardous chemicals in-clude, but are not limited to, aerosols, detergents, floorchemicals, carpet chemicals, flammable chemicals, clean-ers, polishes, laundry chemicals, bathroom cleaners, andpesticides.

To be in full compliance, management must read theHazComm Standard. OSHA maintains a website,http://www.osha.gov, that provides extensive informa-tion on what an employer should know to be in compli-ance with the law. Visit this website and, using the searchtools, you can find yourself at the guidelines for employ-ers on how to set up a hazard communications program.

The hotel must also inventory and list all hazardouschemicals on the property. The company must then getmaterial safety data sheets (MSDSs) from the chemicalmanufacturers. These MSDSs should explain the chemi-cals’ characteristics, recommended handling use and


storage, information on flammability, ingredients, healthhazards, first-aid procedures, and what to do in case of afire or explosion. This information must be disseminatedto employees and should be made available to them atall times.

The hotel must also formulate a HazComm programfor the property and establish a training program for allemployees who use or come in contact with hazardouschemicals. Finally, the property must provide all neces-sary protective equipment to its employees.7

A Final Word on Green Chemicals

As the demand for green chemicals is growing meteori-cally, led by demands of the federal and state govern-ments, closely followed by the health care profession,more and more chemical manufacturers are getting onthe bandwagon. When choosing a green company, try tochoose one that “walks the walk” as well as “talks thetalk.” See Figure 6.11, a statement of EnvirOx’s “Corpo-rate Environmental Commitment,” for an example of aprogram that should be emulated throughout the entirecleaning chemical industry.

Another example is Coastwide Laboratories’ recentaward from the city of Portland, Oregon, for its Sustain-able Earth commercial cleaning product line. The awardentitled, “BEST (Businesses for an EnvironmentallySustainable Tomorrow) Business Award for Environ-mental Product Development” was presented to RogerMcFadden, Vice President of Technical Services forCoastwide Laboratories. David DiFore, project managerfor the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Designfor the Environment program, called McFadden, “a ma-jor change leader” in a press release.

Other companies of note include Oxy Company Ltd.,Worx Environmental Products, Ipax Cleanogel Inc.,Rochester Midland Corporation, Hillyard Industries,and 3M, as well as the previously mentioned EnvirOx.All of these firms have cleaning products certified byGreen Seal.

Figure 6-10 CoastwideLaboratories’ SustainableEarth products areformulated to be compatible.(Photo courtesy of Coastwide

Laboratories Wilsonville, Oregon.)

Cleaning Supplies and Equipment

Chemicals are only part of the housekeeping depart-ment’s arsenal of weapons in its war against dirt. Theprofessional housekeeper must develop standards forthe equipment and supplies used by the property andmust incorporate those standards into written purchase specifications. The following section is in-tended to aid the housekeeper in formulating thosespecifications.

Cleaning Supplies

Nonchemical cleaning supplies include brushes, brooms,buckets, mops, pads, rags, and wringers. Although thesesupplies look fairly simple and straightforward, there area number of features to look for when selecting them.


Brooms and BrushesCommon varieties of brooms include push brooms, cornbrooms, and whisk brooms. The role of a broom is to re-move large particles of soil from hard and resilientfloors. Good push brooms will have two rows of bristles.The front row will have heavy-duty bristles designed toremove stubborn, large particles of dirt and debris. Thesecond row will have fine, split-tip bristles designed toremove fine particles of dirt and debris. Many good pushbrooms have a steel brush hood that allows the operatorto change worn brushes. One company even has a built-in shock absorber between the brush hood and the han-dle to prevent broken wooden handles.

The better scrub brushes have U-joints so that theycan be used at any angle. This is particularly helpfulwhen cleaning baseboards. Some models have rubberblades for drying surfaces.

Figure 6-11 Nothing goesdown the sewer from theproduction processes atEnvirOx. (Document courtesy of

EnvirOx, L.L.C. Danville, Illinois)

Mop BucketsBuckets are made of three basic materials: galvanizedsteel, stainless steel, and structural foamed plastic. Plas-tic buckets do not rust and are the most inexpensive tomake, but they scratch, and dirt builds up in thescratches, making them permanently “grungy.” Stainlesssteel buckets are typically the most expensive. The“Cadillac” of mop buckets has to be the KaiMotionSUV.™ This ergonomic microfiber mopping system canbe used to apply floor finishes, strippers, and degreasers,to damp mop floors, and to clean walls (see Figure 6.12).

Another innovative system incorporates the bucketinto the mop handle. The Bucketless Mop™ from New-port Marketing Group, Inc. (see Figure 6.13) is a win-winfor guestroom attendants (GRAs). This system can eas-ily attach to a housekeeper’s cart. No longer wouldhousekeepers have to clean the bathroom floor on theirhands and knees with rags, thus avoiding stress injuriesand saving time and money. The microfiber mop headscan be quickly changed out to avoid cross contaminationof hospital rooms. A quick sweep with a corn broom, be-

Cleaning Supplies and Equipment 123

fore mopping, to gather up hair and large particles of soilis still recommended.

WringersMop wringers squeeze in one of two directions—side-ways or downward. Downward wringers are better, butmore expensive. Wringers are made of either steel orplastic. Plastic is less expensive, but it wears out muchfaster than the metal wringers. Wringers can be pur-chased by size or in a “one-size-fits-all” size.8

Wet MopsThe flat microfiber mop head is destined to make allother wet mop heads obsolete. The fibers have a diame-ter of .01–.02 denier, which is much thinner than a human hair (see Figure 6.14). The fabric is a blend ofpolyester (70–80 percent) and polymide (20–30 per-cent), which is a by-product of nylon. Appendix I con-tains an article originally published in the February 2003issue of Executive Housekeeping Today, describing astudy of microfiber flat-mop systems at the University ofCalifornia Davis Medical Center.

Wash wet mops after each use and do not applybleach to the mop; bleach will speed the disintegrationof the fibers. Wet mops can be purchased in a variety of

Figure 6-12 This bucket has an easy-lift handle thatlightens the 10-gallon load by 2/3; with its flat mopsystem, you no longer have to empty dirty mop water.

Figure 6-13 The Bucketless Mop with its flat microfibermop head is a labor-saving device that eliminates thechore of hauling a bucket upstairs. It can also serve as adust mop or a floor finish applicator with only a quickchange of pads.

colors for color-coding purposes. Microfiber mops canbe easily changed out in a hospital setting to avoid crosscontamination. Cross contamination is the transporta-tion of germs from one area to another through such ac-tivities as mopping floors.

Mop HandlesMop handles can be made from wood, metal, and plasticand come with a variety of features. Quick-changeclamps are one welcome option. Handles are available in54-inch, 60-inch, and 63-inch lengths.9 Another is thetelescoping mop handle, which can also be used to dustwalls and ceilings.

Dust Mops and Dust ClothsThe traditional dust mop, feather duster, and lamb’swool duster are all destined for extinction. They will allbe replaced by microfiber technology. Microfiber doesnot push the dust around; it picks it up and holds it untilit is released by washing in soap and hot water. Figure6.15 is a cross-section photograph of a single microfiberthread, and Figure 6.16 is an illustration of how mi-


Figure 6-14 Microfiber mop heads can be designed for wet mopping (photo on left) or for dusting (photo on right).(Photos courtesy of Newport Marketing Group, Inc., Costa Mesa, California.)

Figure 6-15 Microfiber will increase workerproductivity and reduce chemical costs. Note how themicroscopic thread is split to enhance pickup. (Photo

courtesy of Newport Marketing Group, Inc., Costa Mesa, California.)

crofiber cloths absorb soil. Microfiber not only picks updust, it will also pick up 97 to more than 99 percent of allbacteria on a surface. Appendix I contains an excellentintroductory article on microfiber and a companionpiece that describes the maintenance of microfibercloths. Both appeared in the February 2003 issue of Ex-

ecutive Housekeeping Today. Microfiber cloths are de-signed to perform specific tasks such as window and mir-ror cleaning, dusting, and the cleaning of bathroomfixtures. They also come in different colors so that guestroom attendants can be trained to avoid cross con-tamination (see Figure 6.17).


Dust mops are meant to be used daily to remove dustand small particles of soil from the floor. Daily dustinghelps to protect the floor’s finish by removing smallabrasive particles that erode the finish. Dust mops rangein size from 12-inch to 60-inch widths.

SqueegeesThere are two types of squeegees: floor and window.Floor squeegees have a much heavier rubber than thewindow variety. Window squeegees come with a numberof attractive features, from telescoping handles that en-able a worker to clean a third-story exterior windowwithout the aid of scaffolding or a ladder, to U-jointsthat allow a worker to squeegee a window at an angle.

Pads, Bonnets, and BrushesFloor machines and burnishers use floor pads, bonnets,and brushes. Pads are made from either natural or syn-thetic fibers. Floor pads have a universal color code sothat users can tell at a glance if they are using the rightpad for a particular application (see Chapter 5). Bonnetsare made of yarn and are intended to be used on a floormachine to spray clean carpets. Floor machine brushesare used to shampoo carpets. The fibers are synthetic.

Ultraviolet LampsUltraviolet lamps or black lights constitute just onemore small, but important, weapon in the executivehousekeeper’s war against dirt. In a dark room, an ultra-violet light will cause certain materials to fluoresce, that

Figure 6-16 The splitmicrofiber is far more effectivethan ordinary cotton at pickingup soil. (Photo courtesy of Newport

Marketing Group, Inc., Costa Mesa,

California.)

Figure 6-17 Not only do microfiber cloths come indifferent colors, but they also can be made into dustinggloves. (Photos courtesy of Newport Marketing Group, Inc., Costa

Mesa, California.)

Green Tip

Here is a chemical to avoid if at all possible: ethy-lene glycol monobutyl ether (EGBE). It is oftenused in water-based cleaners, degreasers, wax, andfinish strippers. In tests it has had negative effectson the central nervous system, kidneys, blood,hematopoietic tissues, and the liver, and it maycause lasting effects after just one exposure.

is, to glow in the dark. Among the substances that havebeen found to glow are flavins; the riboflavin vitamin Bis the most well known. Other examples include soapscum and urine. Bacteria often accumulate where thereare high concentrations of flavins. Hence, glowing spotsin the guestroom and bathroom are considered to be un-clean areas.

Housekeepers should not use these lights to play“gotcha” with the staff, but as an aid to correcting prob-lem areas. Staff can be trained to use these black lightsto see where they should concentrate their efforts.

Many sophisticated travelers also carry these lights toinspect their rooms for soil and bacteria. They are oftenfor sale in the consumer catalogs found in the pockets ofairline seats.

Cleaning Equipment

When purchasing housekeeping equipment, it should beremembered that there are many products that willseem to fulfill a requirement but will fall short of lastingneeds. The challenge is to find the right piece of equip-ment, one that is of a quality that will withstand contin-uous use with limited maintenance, and that will be themost cost-effective in the use of resources.

The decision as to what equipment best meets theneeds of the department is usually made as job descrip-tions are being written. Quality, however, becomes an-other issue. Some managements stress price of purchaserather than quality of product and do not consider theoverall value of more substantial equipment. Othermanagements will demand a high quality of equipmentfor employees and will then expect the highest standardsof cleanliness. The executive housekeeper should pre-sume that management desires the highest level ofcleanliness possible and expect that workers be suppliedwith the wherewithal to accomplish the task.

Many product suppliers also act as equipment repre-sentatives.When new hotels open, suppliers will seek ap-pointments to present their products and equipmentlines. A manufacturer’s representative who can be de-pended on is an asset worth considering when purchas-ing equipment.

The executive housekeeper should have the final sayregarding the type, quantity, and quality of equipmentrequired for cleaning the guestrooms and public areas ofthe rooms department. Equipment purchases will besubstantial and will therefore require the utmost careand consideration in selection.An analysis of the variousitems of equipment listed in Table 4.1 is appropriate fora hotel the size of our hypothetical model. General in-formation about this equipment follows.

Housekeeper’s CartThe housekeeper’s cart is a most significant piece ofequipment. There should be one cart for each section ofrooms. This cart must be large enough to carry all of the


supplies that the GRA might readily be expected to usein the workday. (Repeated trips to the main or satellitelinen room for two extra sheets or three more glasses isdistracting and will decrease work efficiency.) Since thecart is large and may be heavily loaded, it must be ma-neuverable and capable of being pushed by someoneweighing less than 100 pounds. Surprisingly, such cartsdo exist. Quality housekeepers’ carts are maneuverable,with fixed wheels at one end and castered wheels at theopposite end. The solution lies in quality caster and ball-bearing wheels.

Carts should have three deep shelves, facilities to han-dle soiled linen sacks and rubbish sacks that are detach-able, storage for a maid’s vacuum, and a top that is par-titioned for small items. Figure 6.18 shows a three-shelfhousekeeper’s cart that, when fully loaded, will service20 guestrooms (30 beds). Notice the neoprene bumperguard that surrounds the cart and protects corridor wallsand door casings. These bumper guards should not leaveunsightly marks if they come in contact with walls. Thecart in Figure 6.18 weighs over 500 pounds when fullyloaded. Figure 6.19 shows a cart-top basket used with ahousekeeper’s cart and various small, high-cost guestsupply items needed during the workday at a hotel.

The partitioning of the top of the cart is best accom-plished on a local basis when the specific items to be car-ried are available for sizing. The hotel carpenter shouldbe able to make the appropriate partitions.

At the Bellagio, the housekeepers’ carts are deco-rated with the same design used in the wall coverings.One of the hallmarks of a world-class property is the ob-sessive attention to detail (see Figure 6.20).

Small service carriers are also available to support thework of lobby and public area housekeepers.

Housekeeper’s VacuumThere are many ways to provide vacuums for cleaningguestrooms. Some hotels have tank-type vacuums forguestroom attendants. Others have tank-type vacuumsinstalled on the housekeeper’s carts, with 24-foot vac-uum hoses that will reach from the hotel corridorthrough the entire room. The main concern about tankvacuums being permanently installed on the housekeep-ers’ carts, however, is the noise that permeates the hall-way when one or more vacuums are in use. The vacuummost readily seen in hotel operations remains the up-right vacuum with bag and belt-driven beater brush. Fig-ure 6.21 is a photograph of such a vacuum cleaner.

An improved variation of the single-motor uprightvacuum pictured in Figure 6.21 is the dual-motor vac-uum shown in Figure 6.22. One motor drives the beaterbrush, and a second motor provides the suction. Thesedual-motor varieties often have a convenient built-inhose for cleaning corners and upholstery.

Recent studies have called into question the need forbeater brushes or beater bars and upright vacuumcleaners. A very interesting study by Robert Woellner,

Senior Scientist for Quality Environmental Servicesand Technologies, Inc. of Denver, Colorado, appears inAppendix J.

When shopping for a commercial-grade vacuum, con-sideration should be given to the rated volume of airflowin cubic feet per minute (cfm). The higher the cfm, thebetter. There is also the term water lift or static lift. Thisis a measure of the vacuum’s force. It is the force appliedthat can lift a column of water x number of inches.Again, the higher the number, the better. The third mea-sure of performance is filtration efficiency. Little is ac-


complished if a vacuum with high airflow and tremen-dous force is spewing the dust and particles out the otherend, ultimately resoiling the carpet and degrading theIAQ. There are vacuums on the market that have “high-efficiency particulate air” (HEPA) filters that can effec-tively stop 99.8 percent of all particulates 0.3 microns orlarger from passing through the filter. HEPA filters areenormously expensive, but reasonably priced filtrationsystems on vacuums are available with only a slightly re-duced filtration capability. Other criteria are price, main-tenance, and noise levels.

Figure 6-18 GRA’s cart loaded withenough linen to service 20 guestrooms.Note the three deep shelves and trashand soiled linen containers. Cartsshould be of high quality with goodcasters and neoprene bumpers. (Photo

used with permission of Forbes Industries.)

Figure 6-19 A cart-top basket usedin conjunction with a housekeeper’scart. (Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Airport

Marriott Hotel.)

The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) now evaluatesand certifies vacuums. The CRI certification carried by avacuum assures the user that the machine will removedirt, will protect the operator and others nearby fromparticulate emissions, and will not harm the carpet. Anarticle by Jennifer C. Jones in Appendix J, entitled,“Raising the Bar for Vacuum Effectiveness” explains ingreater detail the CRI’s certification program. There arealso two articles written by the president of ProTeam,Larry Shideler, in Appendix J. One of them is entitled


“What Your Customers Need to Know about VacuumFiltration” and the other is entitled,“The Science of Suc-tion.”These articles are all groundbreaking works on thescience of vacuums and vacuuming.

Traditionally, there should be one vacuum cleaner foreach GRA, one for each public area housekeeper, and a10 percent complement of spare vacuums. However,there has been considerable speculation about how toreduce vacuum cleaner expenditures and, at the sametime, increase the productivity of guestroom cleaning.

Figure 6-21 The Sensor XP® fromWindsor Industries, Inc. is a single-motor vacuum with attached wandand on-board accessories, whichcarries CRI certification. (Photo

courtesy of Windsor Industries, a Castle

Rock Company, Englewood, Colorado.)

Figure 6-20 The Bellagio’s cartsare not only functional, butaesthetically appealing. Notice theneoprene bumper. (Photo courtesy of

Bellagio, MGM Mirage, Las Vegas,

Nevada.)

Backpack vacuums are recognized as being much fasterto use than the traditional push-pull varieties, but per-forming other functions, such as making the bed, whilewearing a backpack vacuum would be too cumbersome.Perhaps one or two members of a housekeeping team,such as the housekeeping aide, could perform all of thevacuuming. Time-and-motion studies would have to bedone, but there may be an opportunity to cut back onvacuum expenditures, increase productivity, and actuallyreduce some of the stress and strain associated withhousekeeping activities, all at the same time.

Corridor VacuumHousekeeping teams have section housekeeping aideswhose responsibilities include vacuuming extensive sec-tions of hotel corridors. Such areas have open expansesof carpet that require an efficient form of vacuuming.The section housekeeping aide should have a vacuumthat can do this heavy and time-consuming task. A motor-driven vacuum with an 18-inch to 28-inch foot,shown in Figure 6.23 is appropriate for this type of work.


All manufacturers of commercial equipment makemodels of this type and size, and each should be investi-gated and compared before purchase.

Space Sweepers and VacuumsSpace vacuums and sweepers (Figure 6.24) look likelawn mowers. Vacuum/sweepers can be used on carpetsand hard floors. Approximately 30 inches (76.2 centime-ters) wide, motor-driven, and capable of picking up largeitems of debris, space vacuums are best suited for vacuuming the large expanses of carpet found in ball-rooms, meeting rooms, and corridors. In a hotel the sizeof our model, both the banquet and housekeeping de-partments need space vacuums. On occasion, one spacevacuum can substitute for the other if one is out of com-mission. There will be times when the catering depart-ment will need to use both space vacuums.

Pile LifterPile lifting, as the term implies, means lifting carpet pilethat has become packed. This process usually occurs inconjunction with shampooing.

A pile lifter used before shampooing assists in clean-ing the carpet and, if used after shampooing, assists indrying the carpet. Pile lifters are another form of vac-uum cleaner, having a very heavy vacuum and large ro-tary brush that is operated by pulling the machine across

Figure 6-22 The Versamatic® is a dual-motor unit fromWindsor, with crevice tools and an attached wand. It toocarries CRI certification. (Photo courtesy of Windsor Industries, a

Castle Rock Company, Englewood, Colorado.)

Figure 6-23 The CRI-certified Wave® vacuum has anon-board wand and accessories, two 802-watt motors, afour-stage filtration system, and a 28-inch brush. (Photo

courtesy of Windsor Industries, a Castle Rock Company, Englewood,

Colorado.)


the carpet. One pile lifter is usually found in the arsenalof equipment of every hotel with more than 300 rooms.

Wet VacuumsWet vacuums (Figure 6.25) are an absolute necessity inhotel operations. Even though wet vacuums can be usedfor both wet and dry vacuuming, they are usually main-tained in their wet configuration and are therefore readyfor any spill emergency. There should be two wet vacuums on the property, one in the banquet depart-ment and one in housekeeping, both clean and ready foruse. Wet vacuums are also required when large areas ofnoncarpeted floor are being stripped and cleaned. Theygreatly aid in water removal, making such operationsmore efficient.

Backpack VacuumsBackpack vacuums (Figure 6.26) are very efficient for alltypes of cleaning, including floors, drapes, ceiling cor-ners, furniture, and walls. The weight of the units hasshrunk considerably, making them ergonomically viable.An excellent article on backpack vacuums by ChrisMurray, entitled “Ergonomics and Backpack Vacs,” ap-pears in Appendix J. Backpacks are particularly effectiveon stairs and in public areas (e.g., lobbies, hallways,restaurants, and meeting rooms).

Figure 6-24 The Radius34™ is a self-propelled (gas orbattery) sweeper that can be used on carpet or hardfloors—indoors or out—and has a 34-inch cleaning path.(Photo courtesy of Windsor industries, a Castle Rock Company,

Englewood, Colorado.)

Figure 6-25 The Titan™ Wet Dry vacuums come in 8-, 16-, and 20-gallon models with attachments. (Photo courtesy of

Windsor Industries, a Castle Rock Company, Englewood, Colorado.)

Electric BroomsElectric brooms are very lightweight vacuums that haveno motor-driven beater brush. Electric brooms are usedprimarily for very light vacuuming and are sometimesused in place of the housekeeper’s vacuum. Electricbrooms are excellent for quick touch-ups on carpet andhard floors or for sand and spills when full vacuuming isnot required. They should not be relied upon to replacethe housekeeper’s vacuum.

Single-Disc Floor MachinesThe single-disc floor machine, also known as the bufferor scrubber, is the most versatile item of equipment inthe housekeeper’s inventory. This machine can scrubfloors, strip floor finishes, spray buff floors, sand woodfloors, polish floors, and shampoo carpets. Machines areavailable in 17-, 18-, 19-, 20-, and 21-inch models. Thesemachines will accommodate pads, brushes, and bonnets.As has been noted already, different pads are designedfor different jobs, from stripping to buffing (see Figure6.27).

Brushes are used to scrub floors and shampoo car-pets, and bonnets are used to “bonnet clean” carpets (de-scribed in Chapter 5). When selecting a standard single-disc scrubber, do not select too small a scrubber.A largermachine will cover an area faster, thus reducing laborcosts. Depending on the model, a single-disc floor ma-chine will operate between 175 rpm and 350 rpm.


Figure 6-26 The SuperCoachVac™ from ProTeam is idealfor hotel lobbies, meeting rooms,restaurants, and all other high-traffic areas. It has an impressive150 cfm airflow and a 10-quartcapacity, but weighs only 10pounds. The unit also has CRIcertification. (Photo courtesy of

ProTeam, Boise, Idaho.)

Figure 6-27 The Merit™ Dual Speed Floor Machine hasa 175 rpm speed for scrubbing and stripping, and a 300rpm speed for spray buffing. (Photo courtesy of Windsor

Industries, a Castle Rock Company, Englewood, Colorado.)

BurnishersBurnishers or ultrahigh-speed (UHS) buffers resemblesingle-disc floor machines, but they operate at between350 rpm and 2500 rpm. They were developed to polishthe new harder floor finishes that were introduced intothe market. Unlike the pads of single-disc floor ma-chines, the pad of a UHS buffer does not rest entirelyupon the floor. Only the front part of the pad comes incontact with the floor; the rest of the weight is distrib-uted to the wheels. Many models have caster wheels inthe front of the machine to distribute the weight. UHSbuffers operate in a straight line, whereas traditionalscrubbers operate from side to side. There are batteryand propane models that enable the operator to covervast areas without the need for troublesome electriccords. Propane models are noisy, they create noxiousfumes, and they present a possible fire hazard. They areillegal in some municipalities.

Recent IAQ studies have shown burnishers to be asignificant source of indoor air pollution. As they grindthe floor finish to a high gloss, they blow the floor finishparticulates into the air. The individual at greatest riskfor lung problems is the operator of the equipment, butothers in the vicinity are also exposed. Only a few unitscome with dust control systems. The astute housekeepershould purchase only those units that have these sys-tems. Pictured in Figure 6.28 is an ultra-high-speedbuffer with such a system.

Automatic ScrubbersThe purpose of the automatic scrubber is to scrub orstrip hard and resilient floors. The units apply a cleaningor stripping solution, scrub the floor, and vacuum up thedirty floor solution in one continuous operation. Mostunits are self-propelled. Some have attachments thatturn them into wet/dry vacuums, and others can also beused to buff dry floors. In addition to AC electric-cordmodels, there are battery-driven models. The better battery-driven models are preferred because the con-stant plugging and unplugging of electric cords is an in-convenience and reduces employee productivity. Auto-matic scrubbers come in a wide variety of sizes, from awidth of 17 inches to widths more than 4 feet.

When purchasing a machine to clean halls and aisles,consider the number of passes necessary to clean a hall.If a machine cleans aisles in the same number of passesas a smaller machine, then there is no benefit in payingthe additional cost for the larger machine. Figure 6.29shows an automatic scrubber in action.

Wet-Extraction SystemsWet-extraction machines are sometimes referred to as“steam” or hot water carpet machines. These terms areactually misnomers, for steam is never produced bythese machines and hot water is not often used becauseof the shrinkage and fading risk.


There has been some recent research on wet extrac-tion, confirming the experiences operators have had: themore water discharged and picked up, the more dirt ex-tracted from the carpet. Most truck-mounted extractionunits and the John Downey Company’s™ Steamin Demon have a flow rate of more than three gallons perminute. Tank machines typically discharge only a halfgallon per minute.

However, a number of self-contained tank units havemotorized beater brushes that help to dislodge dirt. Theself-contained tank machines may be electric-cord orbattery-powered. Figure 6.30 is an example of a self-contained unit, the Voyager™ E from Windsor, and Fig-ure 6.31 is an illustration of the John Downey Com-pany’s Steamin Demon. Fans are often employed to help

Figure 6-28 The Merit 2000 burnisher has a 2000 rpmspeed and a “smart handle” that eliminates the need fora front wheel. It also contains a dust control system.(Photo courtesy of Windsor Industries, a Castle Rock Company,

Englewood, Colorado.)

dry the carpet. A carpet should not be used, and nothingshould be placed on the carpet, until it is perfectly dry.This requires taking the carpet out of commission fortwo to four hours. A carpet that is not properly driedmay support mold growth, and if put back into use wet,


will become soiled very quickly. The inconvenience ofwet-extraction is offset by its benefits. There is no betterway to extract soil from a carpet.

Dry foam carpet cleaners brush a low-moisture foaminto the carpet that is vacuumed up after it has been al-lowed to briefly dry. It does leave a residual amount offoam in the carpet. Units come in a variety of width sizes,from 12 inches to more than 28 inches. Many have at-tachments for upholstery.

Figure 6-29 The Sabre Cutter™ with Squeeze Play hasa cleaning path of 36 inches, which can be reduced to 26inches for narrow aisles. (Photo courtesy of Windsor Industries,

a Castle Rock Company, Englewood, Colorado.)

Figure 6-30 The Voyager E from Windsor® features a40-gallon solution tank that can clean 8100 square feetof carpet per hour. (Photo courtesy of Windsor Industries, a

Castle Rock Company, Englewood, Colorado.)

Figure 6-31 The SteaminDemon™ by the John DowneyCompany is a tankless high-flowextractor that utilizes theoperator’s own water supply anddischarge into the sewer. The unitcomes with 250 feet of supply/discharge hose on the single-pumpmodel. The company also makes adual-pump model with 400 feet ofhose. (Illustration courtesy of the John

Downey Company, Granville, Ohio.)

Dry Powder SystemsDry powder systems normally use three pieces of equip-ment. First, the dry powder is laid down on the carpetwith an applicator. Then a brush unit works the powderinto the carpet; this dislodges the soil from the carpetfibers.The powder is then vacuumed up using a standardvacuum cleaner. Pictured in Figure 6.32 is the Host DryExtraction Carpet Cleaning System. As mentioned inChapter 5, this system allows the carpet to be walked onimmediately following cleaning.

Convertible Mobile ShelvingConvertible mobile shelving is unique in its versatilityand construction. (A typical convertible mobile shelvingunit, shown in Figure 15.28, is discussed further in Chap-ter 15.)

A shelving unit in a satellite linen room, with shelvesadjusted to receive soiled linen, acts as a storage hamperfor used linen. At the end of the day the soiled linen ismoved to the laundry in its own conveyor. In the mean-


time, another unit, with shelves adjusted to receive cleanlinen being processed in the laundry, may be moved tothe satellite linen room so GRAs can load their house-keepers’ carts for the next day’s operation. Once emp-tied, the shelves are repositioned for a repeat of the cy-cle the next day. Mobile convertible shelving not onlyremoves the need for permanent shelving in the laundryand satellite linen rooms, it reduces the three-step taskof moving linen from shelf to conveyor to shelf to a one-step loading process. There should be at least two unitsfor each satellite linen room.

Trash-Handling EquipmentAnother piece of equipment used by the section house-keeping aide is some form of conveyor, whereby rubbishand other materials may be moved from various sectionsof the hotel to a disposal area.

A conveyor (Figure 6.33), known as a hopper, is rec-ommended. The hopper may be used to remove soiledlinen several times each day from housekeepers’ carts to

Figure 6-32 The Host Dry ExtractionCarpet Cleaning System. (Photo courtesy

of Racine Industries, Inc.)

the satellite linen room, or it may be used to carry rub-bish sacks from maid’s carts for emptying. A great dealof moving of material supplies and rubbish occurs eachday in each section of the hotel. Each housekeepingteam (section housekeeping aide) will therefore need aconveyor for moving material.

Sewing MachinesA sewing machine of commercial quality is useful in themain linen room.This sewing machine will be used to re-pair drapes and bedspreads and may be used to makecertain fabric items. The machine must be of commercialquality, because one item requiring repair will be heavyblackout drapes. No automatic or multiple-stitch ma-chines are required.

Glass WashersDepending on whether guestroom drinking glasses willbe made of plastic or glass, and depending on the avail-ability of the hotel dish room dishwasher, the house-keeping department may need its own glass washer. Inhotels of major size (1000 rooms) a properly equippedlinen room should have a glass washer to prevent usinglabor to move 15 or 20 cases of glasses to the kitcheneach night.

Glass washers are expensive and are major items ofequipment. The use of real glasses as opposed to plasticones is a matter of quality as well as economics, and the

Guest Supplies 135

multiple uses of glasses justify the expense of a glasswasher.

Guest Supplies

A guest supply is any item that is conducive to theguest’s material comfort and convenience. The termamenity is commonly used to identify luxury items thata hotel gives away to its guests at no extra charge, al-though the cost of those items is often hidden in theroom rate.

There are also those guest supplies that are expectedto be used up by the guest that cannot be classified asluxuries even at the most spartan budget property. Weshall categorize those items as guest expendables.

Then there are items essential to the guestroom thatare not normally used up or taken away by the guest.These items shall be referred to as guest essentials.

Guest loan items are those guest supplies that are notnormally found in the guestroom, but are commonlyavailable to the guest when requested.

These categories of guest supplies are fairly arbitrary,but they represent an attempt to distinguish those itemsthat are necessary in every room from those items thatare discretionary purchases.

Quite often the rate to be charged for each guestroomwill have a bearing on the quantity and quality of theseguest supplies. Although the guest supplies are not par-ticularly expensive if considered on an item-by-item ba-sis, their aggregate can add substantially to a hotel’scosts. Today, many budget properties are scaling back ontheir amenity packages.Yet luxury hotels can ill afford toreduce their amenity packages. Many think that a reduc-tion in the amenity package would seriously reduce theperceived value of many luxury hotel rooms.10

Guest supplies are a major storage and security con-cern. Some items such as guest pens, stationery, and en-velopes appear in such great quantity and appear to beof such little significance that employees who are notwell trained may feel that their use at home is quite ac-ceptable. Other items of higher value (such as portionpackages of guest laundry detergents and bleaches) mayrequire even greater security in storage. In such cases,locked-cage storage (inside storage rooms) is in order. Ifnot properly controlled, the indiscriminate use and neg-ligent storage of guest supplies can become a costly expense.

Amenity Packages

Although amenities extend well beyond the guestroom(free breakfasts, recreation facilities, and so on), our dis-cussion encompasses only those amenities that arefound in the guestroom.

Figure 6-33 A housekeeping aide with his hoppermaking a run. (Photo courtesy of Bellagio, Las Vegas.)

Bath AmenitiesWhen members of the general public think of guestroomamenities, they typically think of bathroom amenitypackages.Table 6.1 contains a listing of common amenityitems.

There are two opposing schools of thought when itcomes to bathroom amenities. One believes that theguest appreciates seeing name-brand products on thevanity counter, whereas the other is of the opinion thatthe products should be “branded” with the hotel’s logo.Fortunately, a number of suppliers can arrange (for aprice) to print both.

What should be of even greater concern to the hotelis the cost-benefit relationship of amenities. Far too of-ten the management of a hotel believes that customerloyalty can be won by throwing money into an amenityprogram. Management would be better served if it firstanalyzed what is truly important to the guests.

Another major concern in regard to amenities is thewaste they create. A number of prestigious hotel chainshave switched to bulk dispensers in the room, eliminat-ing all of the thousands of small bottles from the wastestream. At the Saunders Hotels in Boston, the savingsgenerated from buying shampoos and conditioners inbulk is reinvested in the product, giving the guest higher-quality soaps and shampoos. Dispensers need not havean institutional look (see Figure 6.34), and many do have locks preventing anyone from compromising theproducts.

At some hotels, there is nothing but the best in bathamenities for their guests. Some, like the Bellagio, mayeven have different tiers of amenities, as shown in thephoto in Figure 6.35.


Guestroom AmenitiesGuestroom amenities are items that can be found in theguest’s bedroom.Table 6.2 is a list of common guestroomamenities.

Guest Essentials

Guest essentials are intended to remain with the hotelafter the guest departs. Unfortunately, this is not alwaysthe case. One particularly troublesome area for guests

TABLE 6.1 Bathroom Amenity Items

Aftershave Hair conditioner

Bath gel Hand lotion

Bath salts Loofa sponges

Body oils Mouthwash

Body powder Nail clippers

Bubble bath Perfumes

Colognes Razors

Cosmetics Scissors

Deodorants Sewing kit

Deodorant soap Shampoo

Emery boards Shaving cream

Fabric wash Shoehorn

Face lotions Shoe mitt

Face soap Shower cap

Facial mud packs Tanning lotion

Glycerin soap

Figure 6-34 There is nothing institutional or pedestrianabout the look of these dispensers. These are from theAVIVA™ line by Dispenser Amenities Inc. (Photos courtesy of

Dispenser Amenities Inc., London, Ontario.)

and the hotel is the question of the clothes hanger. Yearsago, hotels eliminated the standard wooden hanger be-cause these hangers frequently found their way into theguest’s luggage. They were replaced by the knob-headedhanger, which was not stolen, but it was and continues tobe a source of irritation to the guest. Enter the hangerwith an undersized hook. This compromise item has ahook that is too small to fit over a standard clothes rack,but it is far easier to use.

Guest Supplies 137

A colleague of the author’s, who is a designer by tradeand a frequent business traveler, once suggested a guestessential that would warm the heart of any traveler whouses a suit bag: a small but well-anchored hook oppositethe clothes rack or closet in a hotel room. These hookswould be placed approximately 6 feet 6 inches from thefloor and would serve as hooks for suit bags. Unloadinga suit bag from inside the closet or from the bed, con-tends the designer, is extremely inconvenient. Although

Figure 6-35 An elegant display ofhouse-branded bath amenities atthe Bellagio are shown in the topphoto, but in the bottom photo arespecial bath amenities found onlyin the “Villa Suites” at Bellagio. Ifyou look very closely, you will seethat the label says, “Hermes.” Onlythe very best will do for the highestof high rollers! (Photos courtesy of

Bellagio, MGM Mirage, Las Vegas,

Nevada.)

a few hotels have recognized this need, they are an ex-tremely small minority.

One final note on guest essentials: The hotel logo willoften make these items souvenirs and, as such, will causethem to disappear at alarming rates. If it is decided thatthis is an effective form of “advertising,” then perhapsthe cost for these items should be shared with other de-partments in the hotel, particularly the marketing department.

A list of guest essentials appears in Table 4.2.

Guest Expendables

Guest expendables, those items expected to be used upor taken by the guest, are sometimes supplied by organi-zations other than the housekeeping department. For ex-ample, laundry bags and laundry slips are usually sup-plied by the cleaning establishment that provides valetservice. Many guest expendable items (such as soaps)are not necessarily used up or taken away upon the


guest’s departure but are replenished when the room ismade ready for a new guest. All expendable items arenormally inventoried and stored by the housekeepingdepartment.

Guest expendables are also listed in Table 4.2.

Guest Loan Items

Guest loan items are not maintained in the guestroombut are available if requested by the guest on a receiptedloan basis. Guest loan items are usually stored in themain linen room (housekeeping center of operations)and, when requested, are delivered to the guest with areceipt form. Such receipts should specify when the itemmay be picked up so as not to convey the idea that theyare free for the taking.

Summary

The financial success of any institution is not necessarilythe result of a few isolated strategic decisions. It is oftenaccomplished through hundreds of small decisions con-cerning such minutiae as the selection of the right soapcake for the guestroom, the purchase of the right size offloor machine, and using a bathroom cleaner that willnot harm fixtures. The professional housekeeper muststay abreast of technological developments in house-keeping supplies and equipment and must base all pur-chase and use decisions on objective fact finding, not onthe hype of smooth-talking vendors.

TABLE 6.2 Guest Amenities

Bathrobes Flowers

Chocolate Free in-room beverages

Clothes sachets Free snacks

Coffeemaker In-room movies

Corkscrews Luxury stationery

Expensive pens Quality pens

KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS

Pathogenic microorganismsDetergentsDisinfectantsDwell timeBacteriostatQuaternary ammonium compoundsIdophorsHypochloritesHydrogen peroxidePhenolic compoundsSanitizer

Stock-outsAll-purpose cleanersOdor-pair neutralizationNosocomial infectionAntichlorsSoursNonionic detergentCationicPetroleum naptha solventsFlash pointVolatile organic compound (VOC)

Indoor air quality (IAQ)DefoamersMetal cross-linked polymer finishesThermoplasticHazCommMaterial safety data sheetsAmenityGuest expendablesGuest essentialsGuest loan items

DISCUSSION AND REVIEW QUESTIONS

1. What amenities would you feature in a budget hotel property? In a midsized property? In a luxuryproperty?

2. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of relyingprimarily on an all-purpose chemical cleaner.

3. In which areas of the hotel should a housekeeper use adisinfectant cleaner? In which areas would a sanitizerbe appropriate?

4. List the applications for a single-disc floor machine.

5. Define these terms:

disinfectantsanitizerdetergentsourantichloramenity

6. Explain the benefits of using convertible mobile shelv-ing.

Summary 139

7. What constitutes a “green” chemical?

NOTES

1. Green Seal, “Who We Are and What We Do.” Avail-able from http://www.greenseal.org/about.htm; ac-cessed May 20, 2003.

2. Michael A. Berry, Protecting the Built Environment:Cleaning for Health (Chapel Hill, NC: Tricomm 21stPress, 1994), p. 81.

3. John J. Dykstra and Andrew R. Schwarz, “Sanitationand Disinfection Key to Infection Control,” ExecutiveHousekeeping Today, November 1990, p. 4.

4. “Handwashing: The Most Effective Method in Pre-venting Nosocomial Infection,” Executive Housekeep-ing Today, May 1990, p. 12.

5. “Premeasured Detergents and Costs,” ExecutiveHousekeeping Today, November 1982, p. 12.

6. Ron Gillette, “Aerosols under Pressure,” SanitaryMaintenance, June 1990, p. 22.

7. Christine O’Dwyer, “Chemical Warfare,” Lodging, De-cember 1990, pp. 59–60.

8. Buzz Flannigan, “Mopping Equipment,” SanitaryMaintenance, May 1989, p. 42.

9. Buzz Flannigan, “Mopping Equipment,” SanitaryMaintenance, May 1989, p. 80.

10. Christine O’Dwyer, “Should You Cut Amenities?”Lodging, October 1990, pp. 73–75.

material planning: supplies and equipment

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