CLEANING EQUIPMENTS

CLEANING EQUIPMENTS

Efficient cleaning and maintenance are dependent upon high-quality cleaning equipment, correctly using.

 Though only 5-10% of the overall cost incurred on cleaning is accounted for by cleaning equipment and 

agents, selecting the ideal equipment plays a major role in the cleaning process. There will often be several 

ways of carrying out any particular cleaning task and different types of equipment that can be employed for 

it. It is the executive housekeeper’s responsibility to select the most appropriate piece of equipment 

according to the hotel’s requirement. Most types of cleaning equipment fall under the category of recycled 

items, but a few large pieces of items may be considered as fixed assets. The correct choice of quality 

cleaning equipment could save costs due to breakdowns, reduce fatigue and also ensure overall efficiency 

in operations.

Equipment used in the cleaning of surface, furniture and fittings in a hotel building include both manual and 

mechanical equipment .

Manual Equipment

Manual equipment can include all types of equipment that clean or aid in the cleaning process by directly 

using manoeuvre, operation and energy of employees.

Brushes

These may be designed to remove dry or wet and/or ingrained dust and dirt from hard or soft surfaces.

Basic parts of a brush: The basic parts of a brush are as follows -

Bristles:

These may be of animal, vegetable or manmade origin. Horsehair, nylon and polypropylene are commonly 

used to make bristles for cleaning brushes. In general, the finer, softer bristles are best for smooth and 

hard surfaces. The harder the bristles, the softer the surface on which the brush should be used, exception 

beingtoilet brushes and brushes found on all-purpose flour machines. Bristles, if not maintained properly, 

have a tendency to bend, splay or fall out of the stock. Bristles should be closely set in tufts and the stock 

well covered with tufts.

Head stock:

This is the part of the brush into which the bristles are inserted. The stock may be of wood, metal, or 

plastic. A good brush is one that has a sturdy stock.

Handle:

Brush handles may be detachable or non-detachable. Detachable handles must be fixed firmly in place on 

the stock when the brush is in use.

Types of brushes:

Three main types of brushes are used for cleaning surfaces.

Hard brushes:

Hard brushes have bristles that are fairly stiff and well spaced out. They are most suitable for the removal 

of heavy soil and litter from carpets and for cleaning rough surfaces.

Soft brushes:

Soft brushes have bristles that are fairly flexible and set close together. These help to remove loose soil 

and litter on hard, smooth surfaces. Such brushes may be designed to dust carpets and furniture, too, 

especially those made of cane, wicker and bamboo.

Scrubbing brushes:

Scrubbing brushes have short, coarse bristles designed for use on surfaces that have become stained and 

heavily ingrained with dirt. These brushes should only be used to remove stubborn, heavy soiling from small 

areas that are difficult for a scrubbing machine to access. Long handled scrubbing brushes, called deck 

scrubbers or T-scrubbers, are useful for cleaning larger areas as well as corners.

Brushes are also classified on basis of their function:

• Toilet brushes: These are WC brushes, radiator brushes and Johnny mops.
• Bottle brushes: These are used for cleaning overflow vents in wash basins and tubs.
• Cloth scrubbers: These are used for scrubbing clothes.
• Deck scrubbers: These are used for cleaning large areas.
• Carpet brushes: These are used for brushing carpets.
• Upholstery brushes: These are used to loosen out dust embedded between the fabric fibres in 
  upholstered chairs and sofas
• Feather brushes: These are brushes with feathers, for light dusting.
• Hearth brush: These are used for cleaning heavy soiling and removing ash out of fireplaces.
• Flue brush: These are used for cleaning chimneys.

Brooms

Sweeping brooms consist of long bristles gathered together and inserted into a handle. The bristles of a 

broom may be made of grass, corn or coconut fibres. Depending on the type, brooms may be used for 

removing dust or dirt in large areas.

Types of brooms:

As with brushes, brooms may be classified into 3 main categories:

Soft-bristled brooms:

Soft bristled brooms such as corn-fibre brooms, grass brooms and whisk brooms are used on smooth floors. 

A good soft broom has comparatively fewer split ends and any splits that do form are short.

Hard/Coarse-bristled brooms:

Brooms such as yard brooms and coconut fibre brooms are used on course surfaces, especially outdoors.

Wall brooms:

These are also called ceiling brooms or Turk’s heads. They have a soft head and long handle, usually made 

of cane. These brooms are used to remove cobwebs as well as dust from cornices, ceilings and high ledges.

Mechanical Equipment:

All kinds of brooms raise and dissipate dust, so that, with the advent of the more hygienic process of 

vacuum cleaning, brooms are used less often for cleaning purposes in hotels.

Box Sweepers

These are also called carpet sweepers and are used for sweeping up dust and litter from soft floor 

coverings as well as rugs and carpets. They are ideal for the removal of spills and for light cleaning of small 

carpeted areas. A box sweeper consists of a friction brush that revolves when the equipment is pushed 

manually over the carpet bottom to facilitate emptying after use. Choose sweepers with a wide base that is 

low enough to be pushed under furniture and that will clean close to a wall. In sweepers meant to clean 

hard floors as well as soft floor coverings, the brush can be lowered to the floor to sweep.

Dry Mops

Also called dust control mops, these are designed to remove soil and debris from floors, walls and ceilings 

without raising and dissipating dust. These mops generally consist of a handle to which a metal frame is 

attached. The mop head is either inserted into the frame or stretched over it, according to the type.

Types of dry mops: There are 4 principle types of dry mops:

Mops with impregnated fringes: These mops consist of dense cotton fringes, approximately 15 cm in 

length, inserted into a metal frame of 15-120 cm length. These mops are usually pre-impregnated or will 

require impregnation by soaking in or spraying with mineral oil or a synthetic impregnating fluid. The dust 

is held onto the mops by the oil.

Impregnated mop sweepers: These mops consist of a double-hinged frame and are thus called 

‘V-sweepers’ of ‘scissor-action sweepers’. The mops can be pre-impregnated or may require impregnation 

before each use. Following impregnation, sufficient time must be allowed for the mineral oil to cure the 

fibres; else the mop will leave a film of oil on the cleaned surface due to improper curing. To be effective, 

an impregnated mop must also be manoeuvred correctly. It should be worked in long, even strokes in a 

continual movement, keeping the mop head in contact with the surface all the time. This way, maximum dust 

collection and minimum dust dissipation is ensured.

Static mops: These mops consist of acrylic, nylon or polyester strands fixed to a backing stretched over a 

metal frame. When in use, the fringes splay out to form a large surface area, holding dust by means of a 

static charge that builds up on the fringe. Static mops are more easily maintained than impregnated mops.

Disposable mops: These mops consist of a handle with a soft pad at the end, onto which a cheap cotton or 

synthetic material is affixed. The material has properties enabling it to attract and hold dust. The fabric is 

held in place by clips or a special tape and is usually purchased in large rolls, from which the desired 

amount can be cut. The fabric is disposed off after each use and replaced immediately. Although very 

expensive due to constant replacement of the head, they are extremely hygienic and are particularly 

suitable when infection control is required.

Wet/damp mops:

These mops are used in conjunction with buckets for the removal of dirt adhering to a surface. The mop 

heads can be made of cotton, sponge or any other fibre capable of absorbing moisture well.

Types of damp mops: There are 4 types of damp mops available:

Do-all mops: These mops consist of strands of twisted cotton fixed to a circular metal plate, which in turn 

is fixed to a stock.

Kentucky mops: These mops consist of cotton strands fixed to a length of cotton fabric which is in turn 

inserted into a flat metal stock. They are available in weights ranging from 330g to 670g. The strands may 

be stitched together or unstitched. The former are less likely to tangle, can be laundered more easily and 

are likely to last longer than unstitched mops.

Foss mops: These consist of a dense cotton fringe inserted into a heavy metal stock. They are available in 

a wide range of weights.

Sponge mops: These consist of cellulose sponge fixed to a replaceable, lever-controlled head, hinged for 

wringing out and attached to a long handle. Using a sponge mop is one of the easiest ways to wash a hard 

floor. Short handled sponge mops are also available for cleaning windows.

Squeegee: A squeegee consists of a long metallic handle and a wooden or rubber blade to remove excess 

water from a surface being cleaned It is effective when followed by mopping with a damp mop. A smaller 

version called the window squeegee is used for wiping away water from windows after washing.

Cloths

Various cloths are used extensively in wet and dry cleaning by housekeeping staff. For efficient and correct 

usage, cloths may be colour-coded and the staff well-trained.

Types of cloths: A variety of cloths are available for specific purposes:

Dusters and cloth mittens: These are meant for dusting and buffing. Soft, absorbent plain or checked cotton 

material or yellow flannelette of up to 15 sq. Cm is ideal for dusters. When used for damp dusting, they 

must be sprayed with a fine mist of water or dusting solution. Cloths may be impregnated with a mineral oil 

instead. Dusters must be folded several times into a hand-sized pad before use so as to provide a number 

of clean surfaces and avoid spreading dirt again to a clean surface instead.

Swabs and wipes: These are all-purpose cloths made of soft, absorbent material. They are used for wet 

cleaning and damp dusting of all surfaces above floor level. They are also used for cleaning sanitary fittings 

such as bathtubs and wash basins. Wipes include loosely woven or knitted cotton cloths and non-woven 

cloths. Synthetic sponges may also be grouped under this category. They are available in various sizes and 

shapes. Sponges are better than cloths for washing walls, woodwork, glass and upholstery.

Floor cloths: Floor cloths are bigger, thicker and made of coarser cotton material than all-purpose swabs. 

They are used to wipe WC pedestals and remove spills from floors.

Scrim: This is a loosely woven linen material resembling fine sackcloth. Scrim, because of its high 

absorbency and lint-free nature, is often used instead of chamois leather for cleaning windows and mirrors.

Glass cloths: Glass cloths are made up of linen tow yarns and do not leave behind lint. They can therefore 

be used for wiping mirrors and drinking glasses. These must not be confused with fabrics made from glass 

fibres (glasscloth).

Rags and polishing cloths: Rags are disposable cloths usually obtained from the sewing room or bought 

by the sack from tailors. They are used for applying polish or strong cleaning agents are disposed off when 

dirty. Polishing cloths need to have a fleecy napped surface and pieces of flannel are ideal.

Wet cloths: Wet cloths need to be very absorbent and of a manageable size, so that they can be wrung out 

by hand easily during cleaning. They are used for mopping large floor areas.

Chamois leather: Real chamois leather is the skin of the chamois goat antelope, but now various cheaper 

imitations are available. These simulated chamois leathers are usually skivers, that is, split sheepskin. 

Chamois leather can be used wet for cleaning windows and mirrors; when dry; it is used as a polishing cloth 

for silver and other metals. It is also ideal for wiping squeegee blades.

Dust sheets: Dust sheets are made of any thin cotton material, being about the size of a single sheet. 

Discarded bed sheets or curtains from the linen room are ideal for use as dust sheets. They are used to 

cover floors, furniture or other articles during spring cleaning or decorating.

Druggets: These are made up of coarse linen, fine canvas or clear plastic. They may be the size of a carpet 

square or runner. They are placed on the floor in doorways to prevent excessive dirt being tracked in or out 

during bad weather and during redecorating projects. They are sometimes placed in the passage between 

the kitchen and dining area to catch spills and debris.

Hearth and bucket cloths: These are made up of thick fabrics and used to protect the carpet and 

flooring when a fireplace is being cleaned or placed under buckets to prevent marks on the surface they are 

kept on. They also catch splashes of water.

Polish applicators

These are usually oblong in shape for efficiency of application. The polishing head should slide out from the 

metal or plastic casing to enable easy replacement.

Types of polish applicators: There are 3 kinds of polish applicators:

a) Natural lambswool, with a built in polish reservoir or tray.

b) Synthetic wool, with a built in polish reservoir or tray.

c) Solid-wax pressurized applicators.

Containers

Work becomes much easier and efficient if the staff is given appropriate containers in which to carry, 

transport, collect and store supplies and other items.

Types of containers: The various types of containers used are:

Buckets: These may be made of plastic or galvanised iron. Plastic buckets are more popular these days as 

they are lighter in weight, quieter to use and easier to clean. Buckets to be used with mops may have one 

or two sections and may have a wringer device that can be detached for easy cleaning. Twin buckets on a 

low trolley enabled the brush to be rinsed more effectively each time. Larger buckets should have castor 

wheels which must be kept free of hair, fluff and dust. Buckets should be thoroughly washed, inside and out, 

every time they are used and then allowed to dry before being stored.

Basins and bowls: These are used to carry small amounts of water, cleaning solutions and powders for 

cleaning small areas.

Dustpans: These are used in conjunction with a broom or brush for gathering dust. They may be made of 

plastic or metal, plastic ones being the usual choice these days. Dustpans with long handles that eliminate 

stooping are ideal. In order that the dustpans are effective, the edge in contact with the floor must be thin, 

sharp and flat. They should always be emptied after use and occasionally washed. They should never be 

stored resting on their flat edge, as it will wear out and warp so that the pan becomes inefficient. Store 

dustpans suspended from a hook or lying horizontally, sideways.

Dustbins : The housekeeping department is concerned about following areas:

a) In guestrooms: These bins may be made of plastic or wood. Some properties also use jute or wicker 

bins. Individual dustbins in guestrooms may be lined with a disposable inner lining made of recycled paper 

or plastic. These bins must be emptied and wiped daily. They should be washed once a week.

b) In the service rooms: These are used to collect waste from guestrooms, brought in by the room 

attendants’ carts. The carts contain a sack called the trash bag for guestroom trash. There should be 2 

types of bins in the service room, a metal bin for disposing of ash from guestroom ashtrays and a plastic or 

thick paper bin for other types of trash. The latter can be incinerated directly.

c) In public areas such as guest corridors and lobbies: These bins may have a creative design since 

they are constantly on view. They should be emptied daily.

d) In waste-collection areas: These are usually located outside the main building and are hidden from 

view. These bins should be kept covered and emptied t least every alternate day

Sani-bins: These are metal or plastic bins with lids. They are found in toilets for the collection of soiled 

sanitary towels. They should be lined with plastic or paper bags for easy cleaning. The bins must be 

emptied and wiped daily for reasons of hygiene. Disposable paper bags (sani-bags) should be provided in 

the guests’ toilets for wrapping sanitary towels, before disposing in the sani-bin. Some metal sani-bins may 

be provided with incinerators, but these are not available in India yet.

Spray bottles: These are lightweight containers that deliver a fine mist or cleaning solution through a fine 

nozzle, particularly used for spray cleaning. It is essential that the nozzle is properly adjusted and free from 

any blockage. The nozzle must be kept clean, by spraying clean, pure water through it after every use.

Polish applicator trays: These are used in conjunction with a polish applicator mop for polishing floors 

with a liquid polish. They should be labelled with the kind of polish that they hold. Cleaning them after use 

is difficult. Pour any excess polish back into the polish container. Soak the tray in a small amount of solvent 

used to remove that particular type of polish. Wipe with rags and store.

Hand caddies: Also called ‘cleaners’ boxes’, these were originally made of wood or metal but are 

nowadays usually made of plastic. They consist of a box with a handle and fitted tray. They are used by 

room attendants for carrying cleaning supplies from room to room for guestroom cleaning. After each shift, 

they must be cleaned and topped up with replacement supplies for use in the next shift.

Carts and trolleys:

These are more useful than hand caddies when a large amount of supplies and items are to be carted or 

replaced. They are ideal for the efficient removal and carriage of smaller pieces of cleaning equipment, 

cleaning agents, linen and rubbish. They eliminate the time wasted in assembling equipment at the work 

location or moving them from one place to another. The various kinds of carts and trolleys that may be used 

in the housekeeping department are discussed here.

Maid’s cart/Room attendant’s cart: Also called a room attendant’s trolley, maid’s cart or chambermaid’s 

trolley, this is perhaps the most significant piece of equipment in the housekeeping department. It is like a 

giant tool box; stocked with everything necessary to service a guestroom effectively such carts available are 

now made of metal, but sometimes wooden carts may be in use. The cart should be spacious enough to 

carry all the supplies needed for a GRA to complete half a day’s room assignments. Since the cart is large 

and may be heavily loaded, it must be easily manoeuvrable as well. The ideal cart would have fixed wheels 

at one end and castor-wheels at the other. The cart should be well organised so that the GRAs do not have 

to waste time in searching for supplies or make frequent trips back to the supply room. Also if the cart is 

not stacked neatly, it will look very unsightly when in the guests’ view. There is usually one such cart for 

each room section and it is stored in the floor pantry along with other housekeeping supplies. Fig 7.6 shows 

an organized room attendant’s cart.

Mechanical Equipment:

The various pieces of mechanical equipment used in the housekeeping department are usually powered by 

electricity or gas. The staff should be well-trained in the operation of these equipments since incorrect 

usage will not only lead to inefficient cleaning but may also become a safety hazard.

Vacuum cleaners/ Suction cleaners:

Vacuum cleaners remove debris and soil and/or water from a surface by suction. All vacuum cleaners work 

on the same operating principle. In all types, motor drives an impeller, which sucks in air through an inlet, 

creating a difference in pressure between the air within and outside the machine. Air drawn in from the 

inlet passes through and out of the machine. Air drawn in from the inlet passes through and out of the 

machine. Usually the air is sucked in together with soil, debris or water. The dust is collected into a 

container provided, which may be within the body of the machine (as in cylindrical and canister models) or 

on the outside in the form of a bag (as in upright models). The dust-collecting apparatus in the heavy duty 

models used in hotel properties usually consists of 2 types of dust bags. The inner bag is made of 

disposable paper and the outer one is made of fabric.

Types of vacuum cleaners: Various types of vacuum cleaners are available.

Dry vacuum cleaners: These are used for removing dust and small pieces of debris from floors, 

upholstery, furnishings, walls and ceilings. Those using a flexible hose come with attachments, such as a 

floor-cleaning head, a power head, a crevice-cleaning head, an upholstery-cleaning head, a dusting head 

and extension tubes. Many variations of the dry vacuum cleaner are in use:

Electric brooms: These are very lightweight vacuums without a motor-driven beater brush. They are used 

only for light vacuuming and for touch-ups on carpets and hard floors. In other words, they come in handy 

when a full vacuuming is required.

Dustettes: These are small, lightweight vacuum cleaners used for cleaning curtains, upholstery edges, 

mattresses, computers and music systems. They clean by brushing and suction and are very easy to handle. 

The may be carried in hand or strapped to the back of the operator.

Backpack vacuums: These are very efficient to clean high, hard-to-reach areas. The vacuum unit in these 

machines can easily be strapped to the back of the operator. These machines have hand-held wands that 

come with various attachments for flexibility in cleaning. They are ideal for use on curtains, drapes and 

ceiling corners. These vacuums are also referred to as piggyback vacuums.

Upright vacuums: These vacuums are the ones more frequently seen in hotels. The main body of the 

vacuum lies horizontal on the floor and is driven by a single motor. The dust-bag is outside the machine’s 

main body. There is a belt-driven beater brush to facilitate removal of dust from thick-pile carpets. In an 

improved variation, there is a dual-motor system – one motor drives the beater brush and the other 

provides the suction. The machine also has a built-in hose for cleaning corners and upholstery. This machine 

is most suitable for use on large carpeted areas.

Cylindrical vacuums: These have no rotating brushes and work by suction only. The term ‘suction 

cleaner’ is generally used for these kinds of vacuum cleaners. A filter-cum-diffuser is fitted at the outlet 

which removes fine dust and micro-organisms from the flow of air passing through the outlet. The filter-

cum-diffuser also reduces air disturbance and noise. The dust-bag is inside the cylindrical body of the 

vacuum cleaner. A flexible hose along with the different attachments is used to clean a variety of surfaces. 

These are the type commonly used by GRAs in guestroom cleaning.

Pile-lifter vacuums: These vacuum cleaners are used to groom long-pile carpets. They lift up the carpet 

pile that has become packed down and restore their vertical orientation. It is especially useful before 

shampooing the carpet, more so if the soiling is heavy.

Centralized vacuum: In this type of unit, suction is generated at one point in the building. Meanwhile, 

soiling can be removed at vacuum points somewhere else in the building by suitable nozzles connected to 

detachable flexible hoses. The collected dirt is then conveyed by a network of pipes to a central container. 

This unit is expensive to install and is generally done at the building construction stage. The advantages of 

this kind of system are :

It is extremely hygienic, since all the dust is carried away from the point of cleaning.

Maintenance costs are usually lower.

Operative fatigue is lower.

There are no frayed flexes to repair and no individual machines to go wrong.

Wet-and-dry vacuum cleaners: These are extremely useful in hotel housekeeping operations. They can 

pick up spills and excess wash water when on the wet mode. When on the dry mode, they help in removal of 

dust and debris. In hotels, these machines are usually used in their wet mode to pick up spills. They are 

also required when large areas of floors are being stripped of polish and cleaned. They have a flexible hose 

with attachments such as a squeegee head. The waste water collects in a tank that needs to be emptied 

after use. A variation of this is the large tank-type vacuum cleaners. These are also called canister-type or 

industrial vacuum cleaners. They can be used for dry and wet pick-up or both. The waste water is scooped 

up by a squeegee attachment through a nozzle and travels back into the tank. They are used for cleaning 

large areas when time is a constraint. They are ideal for cleaning lobbies, banquet halls and restaurants.

Care and storage:

Vacuum cleaners will give maximum cleaning efficiency when they are maintained well. Housekeeping staff 

need to be trained in the care and maintenance of the machines. The wheels of the machine need to be 

oiled periodically. After use, the dust bags should be checked and emptied. If the machine is operated with 

the dust bags full, cleaning will not be operated, the machine may heat up too much and the bags may get 

damaged. Wipe the casing daily and check the hose and flex before use. Clean the attachment heads after 

each use. Check the filter after use. If the machine is meant for dry suction only, never use it to clear even a 

little amount of water, else the dust bags will get damaged.

Incase of wet vacuums, the bucket should be washed, rinsed and dried. The squeegee should be wiped 

clean and replaced whenever necessary. The hose needs to be rinsed out, the casing and wheels wiped and 

the filter checked after use. The wheels need oiling periodically.

The hoses should be stored hanging on hooks. The tubes and attachment heads of a dry vacuum cleaner 

should be stored in boxes, drawers of shelves. The hoses and attachment heads of wet vacuum cleaners 

should be stored off the ground on a rack, in a well-ventilated place.

Floor maintenance machine (scrubbing and polishing machines)

These are designed for scrubbing, buffing, burnishing, scarifying and spray maintenance.

Scrubbing: The bristle tips of a brush or the surface of a pad abrade and cut the soiling to remove it.

Buffing: The bristle tips of a brush or the surface of a pad create a high-gloss finish on the floor surface. In 

case of a surface on which a polish has been applied, it will involve generation of a local heat to harden 

waxes and resins.

Burnishing: The tips of a brush or the surface of a pad abrade and cut the floor surface to create a 

smooth surface with a glossy finish. In case of a polished surface, it will involve the removal of a surface 

layer of polish.

Scarifying: The bristle tips or edge of a cutting tool, cut into impacted soiling and remove it by means of a 

chisel-like action.

Spray cleaning : This is similar to spray cleaning, but the term is applied to the maintenance of floors 

where a buffable or semi-buffable polish has been applied and the bristle tips of a brush or the surface of a 

pad remove both soiling and the surface layer of polish to leave a smooth, glossy surface. Resins and waxes 

in the maintenance product form part of the restored finish. These machines consist of one large or several 

small brushes that revolve and scrub the floor. Water and detergent are released from a tank attached to 

the machine. These machines can be used for shampooing carpets, polishing floors and spray maintenance. 

Such general-purpose machines are preferred in many establishments as the machine can be put to greater 

use due to its versatility. In some machines, coloured, abrasive nylon pads replace the scrubbing brushes. 

For normal-speed machines:

Beige pads are used for buffing;

Green pads are used for scrubbing; and

Black pads are used for stripping.

The lighter the colour of the pad, the lesser abrasive is the action. These machines may come with or 

without the suction capacity to pick up water. If the machine is one without a suction action, then the 

machine will have to be used in conjunction with it while scrubbing. The usual attachments for these 

machines are brushes, drive discs, coloured nylon pads, a water tank, a shampoo tank and a sprayer.

Wet-extraction systems:

These machines are used to restore the surface appearance of carpets, upholstery and curtains. They 

remove the more deeply embedded soilage not easily removed by suction cleaning. They are also useful in 

the application of soil-retardant finishes on carpets.

Types of wet-extraction systems: There are various types of wet-extraction systems.

Hot-water extraction machines: These are machines with no rotary action. They carry a tank for hot 

water and detergent, which are used for deep cleaning carpets. The hot water and detergent are shot into 

the carpet from high-pressure spray nozzles. The dirt is thus flushed to the surface and this, along with the 

soiled water is removed by suction into a container in the machine.

Solvent extraction machines: These machines are primarily used for cleaning upholstery and curtains 

and to a lesser extent for carpets.

Carpet shampoo machines:

These machines, as indicated by the name, are designed for the deep cleaning of carpets that are heavily 

soiled.

Types of carpet shampoo machines: There are 4 broad groups of these machines:

Steam-extraction machines: Though these machines are universally called steam extraction machines, 

there is in fact no generation of steam and the cleaning agents are simply hot water and detergent. Hot 

water containing the detergent is injected at a prescribed rate and subsequently extracted by a wet vacuum 

system built into the machine.

Cylindrical-brush dry-foam machines: This system has a cylindrical brush that scrubs that scrubs and 

picks up in one pass, the foam generated by the machine.

Rotary-brush wet-shampoo machines: A rotary brush cleaner in conjunction with a wet shampoo is 

employed for the cleaning of carpets here. The machine comes with a range of accessories including 

vacuum and drying equipment.

Small rotary-brushes wet-shampoo machines: This is also a rotary brush cleaner, but employs 2 

brushes instead of 1 and is somewhat smaller than the rotary-brush wet-shampoo machine.

Scrubber-drier-sweepers

These machines remove debris, soiling and/or water. They are suitable for large areas where mechanical 

sweeping, scrubbing and drying are required.

Power sweepers: These are self-propelled or manually propelled machines designed to remove debris and 

loosen soiling from roads, pavements, carpets and large areas of hard flooring. For eg.

High-pressure washers:

This type of equipment is designed to remove soiling by subjecting the surface to water, steam and/or sand 

under pressure. Water under pressure physically dislodges the dirt. The process can be assisted by the use 

of hot water, steam or sand.

Scarifying machines:

Scarifying is the process by which heavy grease, mud, wet sawdust and thick deposits are removed from 

the surface of floors. The process is employed when simple scrubbing has been ineffective. Here dirt 

deposits are broken up by the chisel-like action of a wire-brush cutting tool.

Storage, Distribution and Control of Cleaning Equipment

All housekeeping equipment must be stored under lock & key. When issuing equipment for use, proper 

records must be maintained with information regarding:

The items issued

The attachments given along with them

To whom they were issued

The date and time of issue

The area where they are to be used

By whom they were issued

The date and time of return

The signature of the personnel involved must be obtained on the document during both issue and return. A 

card-index system is a useful method of collecting all the relevant info about each piece of equipment being 

used in a particular establishment.  This system is of great 

value to the manager and supervisor for the following reasons:

It gives up-to-date info concerning the equipment.

It indicated the location of the equipment.

It indicates who usually operates the equipment.

It contains a record of what servicing has been carried out, costs, new accessories supplied, and so on.

When purchase of new equipment is being considered, this info can be used as a reference to check on 

reliability.

Selection of Cleaning Equipment

It is the responsibility of the executive housekeeper to procure the ideal, most efficient equipment for her 

staff to ensure maximum productivity. The choice of equipment to be purchased is made after considering 

the following factors:

Safety in operation.

Suitability to the type of area, surface, work, amount of obstruction and cleaning frequency.

Versatility to undertake various types of cleaning

Work performance in terms of capacity and machine and consumer reports on performance.

Ease of handling in terms of size, weight and height of the machine and ease of manoeuvring and operating.

Portability in terms of ease of transfer between floors and the provision of wheels and detachable parts and 

consumer reports on life expectancy.

Noise level which is a more important consideration for hospitals than hotels.

Availability of spare parts, easy servicing conditions and lead time after booking of equipment.

Protective design which may feature a protective edging to prevent damage to wall furniture and fittings 

and no sharp edges.

Ease of storage in terms of ease of dismantling detachable parts and storage space required (compactness).

Cost as a sum of initial costs, operating costs, maintenance and depreciation, as well as hiring 

considerations as opposed to purchasing.