Housekeeping touches our lives each and every day. As such it’s important to understand and discuss the two types of housekeeping we experience in the spaces that occupy our lives. The two types of housekeeping are simple: domestic and institutional.
Most folks are already somewhat familiar with domestic housekeeping, so let’s begin here. As the name suggests; this category deals with the cleanliness of our homes. We engage in domestic cleaning every single day, sometimes not even really thinking about it. When dinner is over you wash the dishes and put them away. It’s automatic for most folks. Weekly maintenance is what we’re really aware of and something that a lot people loathe. Let’s not forget the dreaded annual spring clean! (Sorry, but I had to mention it). Without the time we spend to keep a clean home and everyday diligence, our home environment can become chaotic and unhealthy. It is no longer a place for us to unwind. It can be overwhelming looking around and seeing all the stuff that has piled up that will takes days to put right again. However, we also know that unsanitary conditions can cause disease in people and animals that live in our homes. Certain types of mold can be deadly, pet dander and dust can cause allergies, and surfaces can cause food-borne illness. A clean space provides a refuge from the outside world, in a tranquil relaxing environment.
Professional domestic housekeeping is performed by hard workers who make our lives easier so we don’t need to worry about having a clean home, achieving all the fantastic qualities outlined above. Domestic cleaners are efficient and thorough making it a joy to come home.
A typical workday for a domestic housekeeper might start off as tidying up each room in the home. Washing up bedding and towels may come next followed by disinfecting surfaces, scrubbing bathrooms, scrubbing kitchen counters, dusting, vacuuming and washing floors. Sometimes windows are added to the list twice year.
This is often done on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. Molly Maid and Merry Maids are examples of a domestic housekeeping company.
Domestic housekeeping also provides great employment opportunities due to the need and desire for housekeepers. It may also appeal to those who want to help make others’ lives easier or to help out a family.
Institutional housekeeping is something we are not always cognizant of. Sure when we stay at a hotel we experience housekeeping during our stay, but there is so much more! Institutional cleaning is crucial in hospitals and healthcare facilities. These cleaners save lives just as nurses and doctors do. They dispose of hazardous waste, disinfect patient and exam rooms. They disinfect medical equipment and launder things like scrubs and patient gowns and blankets.
All of our public, office and commercial buildings need cleaned. A clean workspace is a huge component of staff productivity. Dirty disorganized workspaces are distracting and can contribute to anxiety. Cleaners take out garbage and recycling and make sure the communal kitchen is clean for everyone to enjoy.
Public transit cleaning is a huge undertaking and not for those who haven’t a strong constitution. As anyone who rides public transit frequently, the vehicles and stations can get pretty gross. Staff will often work night shifts to clean when service for the day is over. Theme park cleaning also has a huge “ick factor” involved.
One example of institutional cleaning often overlooked (or unaware of entirely) is agricultural cleaning. I’m not just talking barns, pens and coops but where processing meat takes place, packaging plants and shipping trucks as well as livestock carrier vehicles.
Both domestic and institutional cleaning is intrinsic in the health and safety of our everyday lives.