There have been several developments in the world of Housekeeping with relation to cleaning without chemicals. These include exclusive the use of microfibre, the combined use of microfibre and steam and advances in nanotechnology for surfaces.
Microfibre
Radisson Blu in Sydney, Australia is now in its 6th year of using only microfibre and water in the cleaning of their guest rooms and public areas. Maureen Jolowicz, the Executive Housekeeper and also President of the Professional Housekeepers Association of NSW has maintained the overall system she first started in 2008 with some modifications.
Housekeeping Room Attendants pick up their cleaning pack every morning at the start of their shift that includes a blue microfibre cloth for each room, three scourers for the floors and shower tiles and their bucket with a water spray bottle and the only chemical used – a disinfectant spray for the toilet bowl. Their cleaning routine, incorporated in the sequence of service, is to use ine clean cloth to clean the bathroom glasses, then dust in the room, wipe down all bathroom surfaces finishing off with the toilet. One microfibre cloth is used per room. Separate cleaning tools including the extendable wand for high surfaces and a fluffy duster for bedroom walls are also part of their equipment.
With an estimated saving of one million litres of water a year (10 litres of water per room cleaned), a reduction of 95% in the use of chemicals and a reduction in housekeeping health and safety issues – it’s easy to see why this is the natural choice for housekeeping cleaning in the future.
Words of advice for those who want to install microfibre: it is best to trial it thoroughly for a minimum of three months on one or two floors. The staff from the trial floors will become ambassadors for the system because they will realise it is so much easier.
Microfibre and steam
Hotel housekeepers could learn a thing or two from hospitals. At Monash Health in Victoria, Australia a major change has been made in the cleaning of their facilities. The technology implemented across the entire health service of 2150 inpatient beds with over 500 cleaning staff is the use microfibre and steam.
The traditional cleaning method of using the 2-step cleaning process of detergent and water cleaning followed by disinfection with hypochlorite has been replaced with microfibre and use of 97% dry steam with temperatures of 140 degrees Celsius.
Patient room cleaning times have been slashed from 160 minutes to 50 – 60 minutes, a massive saving of $142 AUD per room.
The advantages of microfibre and steam not only includes the elimination of chemicals and the reduction in water use by 90%, but also reduction in risk of back injury, slips and falls, along with reduction in risk of allergy/chemical irritation.
Nanotechnology
The treatment of surfaces with a nano-coating, such as Bacterlon liquid glass, a German product is currently being tested in Hong Kong.
About the author
Liz Lycette, founder of Lycette & Associates was born in New Zealand and is a graduate of École Hotelière de Lausanne, Switzerland. She started her career in the hospitality industry in 1981 and at the age of 23 became Executive Housekeeper for the grand opening of Mandarin Oriental in Macau. She subsequently held this position at The Conrad Hong Kong, Mandarin Oriental Jakarta, Le Meridien Hotel, London, and The Regent Hotel, Sydney. Liz was also Project Manager for the opening of 3 properties in China for Harbour Plaza Hotels and Resorts.
Liz established Lycette & Associates in 1999 and has since undertaken hospitality consulting assignments and training both in Australia and overseas including work for Moevenpick Middle East, Taj Hotels & Resorts in India and Australia, Marriott Hotels India, Hong Kong Hotels Association, Langham Hotels & Resort, Venetian Macau, Hotel Nikko Bali, Galaxy Macau and Westin KL to name just a few.
Liz has presented training workshops through the Singapore and Malaysian governments to Housekeepers in both Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. She also brought the 3 day Development Programme globally including Fiji, Bali, London, Egypt, Abu Dhabi, India and China. She has also spoken at various conferences on topics such as “Trends and innovations in Housekeeping” including San Francisco, Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong and London.
Liz’s extensive international expertise and considerable Housekeeping knowledge, has given her a truly multi-cultural approach and a wide range of diverse contacts throughout the industry. Her excellent organisational skills, passion, adaptability and integrity enable her to complete any assignment with energy, efficiency and positive results.
