Housekeeper Responsibilities:
- Wet floor cleaning
- Care: furniture, carpets (brushing, vacuuming).
- Washing windows, loggias
- Cleaning plumbing, sanitary ware, tiles
- Cleaning of vases, figurines, decorative dishes, paintings, pendants, lamps, etc.
- Change of bed linen
- Care of kitchen utensils, stove, refrigerator, microwave, etc.
- Laundry, ironing of bed linen as needed VIP wardrobe
- Housekeeper in Gauteng
Often, owners of large apartments and country houses turn to professional housekeepers for help. A housekeeper should not only be able to clean the premises EXCELLENTLY but also know modern household chemicals and be able to handle appliances. Such skills can greatly facilitate the cleaning process.
Most often, clients turn to the services of visiting housekeepers who do general cleaning in the apartment once a week. If more thorough care of the house is needed, the housekeeper works 2-3 times a week.
If it is necessary to manage the entire household, when the housekeeper, in addition to cleaning, washing, and ironing, makes household purchases, pays bills, etc., the employee is busy 5 days a week.
From the housekeeper, the employer may require a fairly wide range of work performed: dry or wet cleaning, machine or hand washing, dry cleaning is possible, and, of course, ironing. Making beds, preparing meals, shopping for groceries, washing dishes, watering flowers, caring for pets, and more. In short, the duties of a housekeeper include all the necessary things for which there is not always time or desire, but without which home comfort is impossible.
The services of housekeepers are in high demand in the labor market and are well paid. Finding a good and trusted housekeeper in Gauteng is easier through an agency.
Clean, disciplined, tidy, friendly with experience…
To begin with, I would like to note that any client, without exception, wants to see in his house not just a cleaning professional, but also a decent, hardworking and friendly person who knows how to:
- be invisible;
- adequately respond to criticism;
- follow the rules of the family.
The trust of employers is ensured, among other things, by the neat appearance of the housekeeper: collected hair, clean clothes that correspond to the situation, socks, and house slippers. The mistake of some housekeepers is that they dress provocatively, lose their hair and walk around the house barefoot. Such nuances annoy employers, and quite justifiably.
Among the moments that spoil the relationship, I would also include the desire of the housekeeper to give advice and enter into disputes with the owner of the apartment. I would recommend that you comply with the reasonable requirements of the employer, and report the disagreement to the director of the employing agency.
Thus, problems will be solved, and opinions about you as a quarrelsome person will not arise. A conscientious attitude to their duties, coupled with their own dignity, will allow the housekeeper to become a completely indispensable person for the house,
If we talk about the work of a housekeeper, then I immediately want to draw attention to several important details. To begin with, homemade rags from used duvet covers and pillowcases are UNACCEPTABLE.
Only specialized ones are used in the work, which is sold in every hardware store. Divorces remain from self-made tools. So – there are claims of employers. Household chemicals are provided by clients, but if it does not suit you, you can recommend the owners the means at their discretion. Personally, I prefer Loc (Amway). It is suitable for washing almost any surface in the house, as long as contact with water does not harm them.
In general, handling any household chemicals requires careful study of the instructions for their use. And new materials that are used in the decoration of the apartment,
Another nuance is the handling of household appliances. Vacuum cleaners, horizontal and vertical irons, etc. – are expensive things, and handling them requires certain skills. Therefore, do not be shy to ask the owners to instruct you, or you should read the instructions yourself or seek help from the managers of the salon where the equipment was bought.
Remember that smart people learn from the mistakes of others, and in order not to get into a mess and not bear financial responsibility later, you should consult with the owners or specialists on all issues that are in doubt. They don’t take money for demand, but for damaged things – it’s a must!
Cleaning of apartments and houses, including after repair
Cleaning of apartments and houses involves the following:
- Floor washing by hand. I emphasize – that washing the floor with a mop is unacceptable! The housekeeper must wash the floor by hand, using a special brush and products suitable for this floor covering. And do not forget about floor skirting boards, which also need to be cleaned of dust and dirt;
- Removing dust and dirt from carpets with a vacuum cleaner (if there is no vacuum cleaner, then a brush is used);
- Removal of dust from all horizontal and vertical surfaces, chandeliers, and lamps. Usually, special long-handled brushes, rags, and a stepladder are used for these purposes. If the ceilings are too high, I recommend using a vacuum cleaner.
- As for small figurines, decorative dishes, and other interior decorations at home, it is recommended not only to clean them from dust but also to wash them. For this, either a special cleaning agent is used, or a mixture of ammonia and water (if the owners do not mind the smell). Of course, when handling fragile and valuable things, special care and accuracy are required;
- Washing of windows: washing of glasses, frames, window sills, and ebbs; if the house (apartment) is located near the road, then window sills and slopes must be wiped every time during cleaning. Blinds also require attention from the housekeeper. If they are in a neglected state, you can hint to the owners to replace them, because. it is often impossible to clean them. I wash my blinds like this: I remove the plastic, put it in bags, wash it on a delicate wash, then iron it;
- Cleaning of kitchens and dining rooms. These rooms require special cleanliness. The kitchen set, refrigerator, and microwave ovens are moved away, and not only the internal surfaces are washed, but also all external ones (both side and rear). The walls behind them are being washed away. This is done weekly. The interior of the refrigerator must also be kept clean. Built-in wardrobes and hanging shelves are wiped from the outside, and if they are free, then inside. The kitchen furniture is cleaned of dust and dirt;
- Cleaning furniture from dirt and dust inside and out. Wash cabinet and built-in furniture outside (if empty – inside). Furniture and household appliances are treated with a fiber cloth, and hard-to-reach places are cleaned using a special nozzle on the vacuum cleaner.
- Cleaning radiators, switches, sockets, and doorways from dirt. From the gaze of the housekeeper, nothing should leave. All those places that are not visible to the eye are subject to mandatory clearing. If necessary, the supply and exhaust ventilation grilles are removed and washed;
- Cleaning toilets, bathrooms, showers. Tiles and sanitary ware should always be clean. The mirror and surfaces above the sink should be thoroughly cleaned of traces left by personal hygiene products and perfumes (toothpaste, toilet water, shaving foam, etc.) Suspended ceilings are washed, and bedside tables and cabinets are wiped from the outside. Toilets, sinks, bathtubs, and showers are washed and disinfected. Plumbing, mirrors, and chrome elements are cleaned to a shine, limescale, and rust are removed. From my own experience, I can say that the owners pay special attention to such details. If the house has pools with hydromassage, massage nozzles must be cleaned of plaque and dirt either with a toothbrush or filled with a specialized agent;
- Taking out the trash;
- Balcony cleaning. Washing balconies and loggias is a laborious, but necessary, job. dust that falls on the glazing and frame from the street delays the penetration of light into the rooms. In these rooms, proper order should be observed, external and internal, as well as glazed surfaces should be washed using special devices (for example, brushes with a long handle);
- Cleaning the bed, change bed linen. If the housekeeper comes for cleaning once, it is not included in her duties. If two or three visits are planned, this item is required. The linen of all family members is changed. Dirty is washed, ironed, and then stored in the intimate area;
- Cleaning closets. At the end of the season, clothes are cleaned and stored in the place specified by the employer. At the same time, the housekeeper makes minor repairs to clothes, for example, sewing on loose buttons. In the same paragraph, I would like to say about the mandatory washing of shoes. It is common for wealthy people to walk around the house shod, so it is better to immediately wash the sole and wipe the surface with a damp cloth;
- Flowers are cared for with a minimum number of flowers. If the house has a winter garden or a greenhouse, then care is provided for a fee. If the housekeeper visits the employer once a week, then caring for the flowers is not her responsibility;
- Speaking about caring for paintings, and antiques, I would like to note: that the main thing here is not to be self-willed. Since each medium requires individual care (oil and watercolor, for example, require completely different cleaning methods), a masterpiece can be irretrievably lost as a result of rough and wrong handling. The same can be said about the care of fireplaces and metal products. Before sanding and polishing them to a shine, it is necessary to consult with the owner about the intricacies of care.
Additional duties of a housekeeper – cooking, washing windows, etc.
It is better to specify in advance what duties are assigned to the housekeeper, whether she should cook food, walk the dog, run small errands, etc., and whether these services will be paid additionally. The housekeeper may refuse some duties if they are associated with a risk to life.
This can be washing windows from the street side (when you need to stand on the ledge for this), or walking a dog of a fighting breed if it poses a danger to its health or the health of others. Often a situation arises when the employer asks to do something that is not specified in the contract. I would not recommend saying a sharp “no” right away.
It is better to answer that “with pleasure, but for a fee.” Some employers want to see not just a housekeeper, but also a cook all rolled into one. This option is possible if a woman loves and knows how to cook. But the menu should be varied and original. You can use a cookbook, as well as unobtrusively and carefully clarify with the hosts their culinary preferences.
I would like to point out that there are no bad employers and bad employees. There are unfinished relationships. And a wise woman always knows how to preserve her own dignity, inspire respect for herself, and create and maintain a trusting atmosphere.
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