Housekeeping Terminology

1. Amenity

A service or item offered in guest rooms for continence and comfort at no extra cost.

2. Back office

The section of the department located at the backside, which has no direct relation with the guest like linen, pantry, laundry, grading.

3. Bath mat

A mat used for wiping feet after taking

4. Business kit

A kit consists of basic business supplies such as file or pepper clips, pins, rubber band, glue stick, etc for the emergency business purpose.

5. Cabana

A type of room located at the swimming pool, away from the main building, use for changing purpose.

6. Caster wheel

Wheels under the Housekeeping trolley, which helps to make the trolley mobile.

7. Clear room
   

   

Room that has been already cleaned by housekeeping for the sale.

8. Crib rate

A type of room rate for children below twelve years also referred as day rate or half rate.

9. Deep Cleaning

A deep cleaning is undertaken in the guest room and in a public area.

10. Departure room

Room to be vacant for guest or it is also known as check out room.

11. Discrepancy Report

A report prepared by housekeeping department against a room status report that differs from the front desk in the number of room cleaned.

12. Disposal bag

A paper bag used for discarding used sanitary napkins' or toilets and tissue papers kept near to the toilet bowl.

13. DND card

A "Do Not Disturb" card hung outside the doorknob of the room by a guest to inform staff and visitors not to disturb.

14. Elevator

Lift in a hotel for guest and staff separately.

15. Emergency key
    

    

A key that unlocks and opens all the doors in the hotels even when the door are double locked also referred as the grand master key used only in emergency cases. For example (if the guest does not open the door for a long time)

16. Executive floor

A floor of the hotel that offers world class service in the rooms.

17. Floor key

A key that opens all the guestrooms of any particular floor in the hotel, handled by a housekeeping attendant or room boy to clean the room.

18. FOC

Free of Charge

19. Front of the house

Functional areas of the hotel that have extensive contract with the guest such as F and B outlets and Front office.

20. Guest comment card

A card provided in each room or in F and B outlets to fill about the likes and dislikes regarding the services provided in a different department of their necessary suggestions or comments to be improved in the future.

21. Guest stationary

A stationary folder which includes letter head, envelops, fax, papers, laundry list, brochure, tariff card, etc kept in hotel rooms for guest use.

22. Hand candy

A portable bag or a container used for storing and transporting cleaning supplies.

23. Hoppers

An opening in washing machine through the detergents can be poured.

24. Horticultural

The department responsible for maintaining the garden and flowers required in the hotel.

25. House call

A telephone call made by a member of hotel staff or guest within the hotel.

26. Housekeeping room report

A report made by each floor attendants on the basis of the current status of room cleaned.

27. King sized bed

The largest sized bed in a hotel of 78 centimeters to 80 centimeters.

28. Laundry
    

    

A place where linens and uniforms are washed, dry, cleaned, pressed, etc.

29. Maids cart

A housekeeping trolley that consists of all guest supplies and equipment necessary for cleanliness of bathroom and bedroom.

30. Master key

A key that can open or unlock any door in the hotel which has a single lock.

31. Mattress protector

The protector that helps to keep the mattress away from being wet and strain for long term use.

32. MITRE

The corner fold of the bed sheet while making the bed.

33. MSDS

Its full form is Material safety data sheet. A sheet or data that consists information about chemicals and their use in a safe way.

34. Napery

It refers to all the table linens in the hotel.

35. O.O

It means Out of Order. It means the room is under maintenance

36. OSHA

(It means Occupational safety Health act) the rules or act that protects from the unsafe condition.

37. Par stock

The standard or a minimum number of linen or things materials for required for work to be performed in the day to ensure smooth functioning.

38. PH scale

The scale that measures the acidity and alkalinity of a substance or solution.

39. Queen sized bed

The second largest bed in the hotel after king sized bed.

40. Room service

A section of F and b outlet that provides F and B facilities in a room as per the order of the guest.

41. Room status

The current condition or position of a guest room whether it is vacant or occupied, out of order, dirty, clean, etc.

42. Sewing kit

A kit that contains sewing supplies such as needles, thread, a button for emergency purpose.

43. Shoe mattress

Flannelette or soft cloths materials used for shining or polishing the shoes.

44. Shower cap

A plastic cap used to protect hair from keeping wet during the shower for the ladies.

45. Tent card

The card placed in as tent style for promotion and publicity of hotel products.

46. Turndown service

It refers to evening service provided in the evening in all the guest room by turning the bed linen, keeping the lights on and by drawing the curtains, replacing necessary guest supplies so that the room is ready to sleep comfortably for guest.

47. Upholstery

Fabrics or linens used for furniture décor.

48. Vacuum cleaner

An equipment or machine that is used to clean floor, furniture or carpet etc.

49. Valet

A person in the housekeeping department under laundry section who takes the guest linen or uniform and returns back in time after washing. It also refers to personalize service.

50. Vitreous china

Materials from which toilet bowls, wash basins, commode are made.

51. Water closet

A European term for toilet bowl and water closet.

References:

Oli Gopal Singh et.al., Hotel Management Principles and Practices-XI, Buddha Prakashan, Kathmandu.

Bhandari, Saroj Sing et.al., Principles of Hotel Management-XI, Asmita Books Publication, Kathmandu.