What qualities do you need to be a good housekeeper?
What responsibilities can you have as a housekeeper?
Where can you work as a housekeeper?
Working hours?
Whether it’s a house, an office space or a hotel, cleanliness is always a must. Often, however, the role of housekeeper involves not only cleaning in certain spaces, but also additional responsibilities, which are discussed when hiring.
Under these conditions, it is not surprising that housekeepers are always in high demand. If you want to find such a job, it is good to know what to expect, what skills you should have, where you can get a job and what the salaries are in this field.
What qualities do you need to be a good housekeeper?
The role of housekeeper is not exactly a simple one, so you should make sure, first, that you can handle such a job.
Theoretically, you do not need higher education or other special qualifications (however, the requirements may vary depending on the employer). Here are some things that might help you get the job done:
- Diligence: First of all, your employer needs someone to work with and not treat things superficially, so he will be very careful about how you do your job.
- Skill: You will have to take care of the cleanliness of the premises, which means that there should be no mistakes in this regard, things left in disarray, neglected areas or dirty objects, which could attract sanctions from the employer.
- Trust: people are always looking for housekeepers they can trust, especially if they hire them for house cleaning where they are given access to personal belongings.
- Respect: Regardless of the field in which you work, respect must be the basis of the relationship between employee and employer.
- Seriousness: a good housekeeper performs their tasks responsibly, comes to work on time and takes into account the instructions received.
- Flexibility: in this case, we refer both to the flexibility of the work schedule (when you work as a housekeeper, you may not have a fixed schedule), and to the flexibility in terms of working conditions (new tasks and responsibilities, change in working environment, etc.).
In short, the above criteria make up the overall profile of a responsible, hardworking and trustworthy housekeeper. In addition, it is preferable for the person who wants to work in such a position not to have a criminal record, to know how to react in emergency situations, to be physically fit (because the cleaning process is your responsibility, especially if it is a question of maintaining large spaces), but it also helps to have some experience in the field.
At the same time, the recommendations of former employers are very useful. Those who want housekeepers for their own homes are often looking for recommendations from acquaintances and friends, so this system works very well.
What responsibilities can you have as a housekeeper?
The housekeeper is not just a person who cleans the space. Your duties may include: washing and ironing clothes, going to the market and buying food, preparing meals or other activities that should be discussed and negotiated from the beginning.
Broadly speaking, the list of tasks you will have to complete if you are hired as a housekeeper looks like this:
- a) surface vacuuming;
- b) washing and cleaning floors;
- c) wiping dust and stains off furniture;
- d) cleaning and disinfecting sanitary ware in bathrooms;
- e) changing consumables (liquid soap, toilet paper, paper towels, etc.);
- f) washing and changing bed linen.
- g) washing and ironing clothes.
- h) window cleaning.
- i) cleaning the refrigerator.
- j) cleaning the spaces in the drawers.
- k) garbage collection and disposal.
In addition to these responsibilities, as a housekeeper you can have, as far as possible, a dual role. You could also take care of the supervision and care of the child / children in the family, so you will also have the role of nanny. Of course, in this situation, the remuneration should be higher, and the contractual arrangements would change.
Another case would be that of the housekeeper who cooks at home or at the office. If you are required for such a job, you should discuss with your employer how you will divide your time between the two tasks, cleaning and cooking, and how frequent this would be. Also, because the tastes of families differ, a menu should be drawn up in advance, preferably a traditional one, with well-known recipes.
Where you can work as a housekeeper:
In private homes, in private companies or offices, in hotels, guesthouses, resorts or restaurants.
In companies or hotels, you can have more responsibilities and coordinate the cleaning teams.
Housekeeper in a house
When working for private individuals, you should discuss with the employer the work schedule, its requirements and the salary offered. Usually, the amount you receive is determined by the size of the space (studio, multi-room apartment, villa) in which you will clean.
Moreover, there is the option of hiring an internal housekeeper, who lives in the same house as those for whom they work. In such a situation, the employer should provide you with a room and set up a work schedule with you, with days off and rest hours.
Housekeeper in a company
The job description for a housekeeper working in a company generally includes cleaning common work areas, sanitising bathrooms, changing garbage bags and consumables (toilet paper, paper towels, etc.).
Housekeeper in hotel / resort / guesthouse/cottage/ bed & breakfast
With this case, the role of the housekeeper is very important, because your work contributes to maintaining a good image for that place. Your responsibilities may vary from employer to employer, but in general, the tasks are limited to cleaning rooms, bathrooms and hallways, sanitising sanitary ware and replacing consumables (shampoo, shower gel, toothpaste, toilet paper, etc.), but also the change of bedding after each visit of the guests.
Housekeeper abroad
As a result of better working conditions and salaries, many people are attracted to the idea of working abroad, and jobs that do not require a qualification, such as housekeeping, are in high demand. Whether it’s housekeeping at home or cleaning in public places, you can earn more in western countries, and in some places your employer can provide you with meals and accommodation. Knowledge of a foreign language (English or the language of the country where you want to work) is an advantage.
Working hours
If you are looking for a job as a housekeeper, you should also consider the schedule you will have.
Part-time
As a part-time housekeeper, you will usually be employed by private individuals. That way you can have more customers and spend a few hours cleaning their homes or offices. You do not have a fixed schedule and the rate will usually be per hour or per apartment.
Full-time
Most of the time, as a full-time housekeeper, you will have a stable job linked to a company, or cleaning company or other institution. The work schedule is eight hours a day, but in some places you will work shifts.
Housekeeper
As I said above, as a housekeeper you may clean and live in the same house with your employers. Even if you are with them 24 hours a day, you do not have to be at their disposal all the time.
To avoid misunderstandings, you need to discuss the conditions, work schedule, break, and days off with your employer from the outset.
In conclusion, if you are looking for a housekeeper job, you should know that the job offer is very varied, so all you must do is find the best one for you
