15 Basic Skills You Need to Be a Good Housekeeper

Co-authored by Sydney Axelrod and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: March 9, 2023 References

Few careers require as much flexibility and versatility as housekeeping. From motels and hospitals to businesses and homes, housekeepers are hired to keep everything in clean, tip-top shape.^{[1]
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Trustworthy Source
US Bureau of Labor Statistics
U.S. government agency that collects and reports labor-related information
Go to source} Interested in giving this career path a try? We’ve got you covered. Scroll through this handy list to see how you can be the best possible housekeeper that you can be.

1

Organization

Being organized is an essential skill for a housekeeper. You’ll have to keep track of numerous jobs and tasks, and keep all of your equipment and supplies organized.^{[2]
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Research source} Overall, good organization will help you do the very best job that you possibly can.
- At a hotel, you’ll need to double-check your housekeeping cart to make sure you have the right supplies.
- Always do a full, 360-degree when you enter a room. This helps you pinpoint and organize your top cleaning priorities in that space.^{[3]
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- Practice splitting up big tasks into smaller, more manageable goals—this can be a really handy way to stay organized when you’re on the job.^{[4]
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  Expert Source
  
  Sydney Axelrod
  Certified Life Coach
  Expert Interview. 30 June 2020.}

2

Time management

You’ll have to juggle multiple tasks at once. Depending on the position, you might be expected to clean multiple rooms and spaces in a set amount of time. A good housekeeper can make the most of their shift by being as efficient as possible.^{[5]
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- Get in the habit of planning ahead before each workday. When you wake up, jot down the most important tasks you’ll need to finish while you’re at work.^{[6]
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- Being a perfectionist can make it really tough to finish tasks efficiently.^{[7]
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  Expert Source
  
  Sydney Axelrod
  Certified Life Coach
  Expert Interview. 30 June 2020.} Try to focus on doing your best instead of being 100% perfect.

3

Self-discipline

Housekeeping can involve some pretty tedious, unpleasant tasks. As a housekeeper, you’ll have to persevere day after day, performing each duty to the best of your ability. You likely won’t be supervised 24/7, so you’ll have to go out and do your best even when no one’s watching.^{[8]
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- Boost your self-discipline by keeping all of your devices out of sight. If your phone is stashed away somewhere, you won’t be tempted to check your texts, emails, and socials when you’re on the clock.^{[9]
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- Try to eat a consistent, healthy diet, too! Heading to work hungry can make it harder for you to stay focused and disciplined.
- Take good care of yourself to be energized and focused.^{[10]
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  Expert Source
  
  Sydney Axelrod
  Certified Life Coach
  Expert Interview. 30 June 2020.}

4

Thoroughness

Thoroughness helps you stand out when you’re on the job. As a housekeeper, you’ll be wearing many hats—you might be polishing the floors one moment and changing bedding the next. Whatever the task, you’ll have to go the extra mile to make sure everything is as clean and tidy as it can possibly be.^{[11]
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- For instance, you’d want to smooth out any wrinkles after making a bed, or dust behind picture frames while you’re cleaning off a fireplace mantel.
Expert Answer

Q

What can I do to be more productive?

Sydney Axelrod
Certified Life Coach
Sydney Axelrod is a certified life coach and the owner of Sydney Axelrod LLC, a life coaching business focused on professional and personal development. Through one-on-one coaching, digital courses, and group workshops, Sydney works with clients to discover their purpose, navigate life transitions, and set and accomplish goals. Sydney has over 1,000 hours of relevant coaching certifications and holds a BBA in Marketing and Finance from Emory University.

EXPERT ADVICE

Answer from Sydney Axelrod:

Take care of yourself so that you feel energized and focused. It makes an impact on your productivity. Get enough sleep, take a break, and find ways to unwind. If you work excessively without replenishing yourself, there will be diminishing returns.

5

Trustworthiness

Trustworthiness can be a big factor if you’re working at a hotel or motel. You’ll learn plenty of private information about your customers, which you’ll have to keep under wraps.^{[12]
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Research source} In any job, your employer will be trusting you to clean an entire building or residence with integrity and honesty.
- For instance, you might pass by a lot of valuable items when you’re on the clock, such as money, jewelry, and other expensive accessories.

6

Careful listening

A lot of information can get thrown at you when you’re a housekeeper. You’ll need to listen actively and closely when your client tells you what they’d like you to complete that day. If something doesn’t make sense, you’ll have to feel comfortable enough to ask some follow-up questions about your workload.
- For example, your supervisor might ask you to prioritize cleaning a certain room at the hospital.

7

Interpersonal communication

Housekeepers have to play well with others. Depending on the scope or size of your job, you might be working with other housekeepers. Do your best to be friendly, polite, and accommodating to everyone around you, especially if you work at a business.^{[13]
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- Interpersonal skills are important for any housekeeping job, even if you only work for a single household.

8

Physical flexibility and strength

Housekeeping can involve a lot of heavy lifting. You might have to rearrange pieces of furniture while you clean a room, or drag around heavy pieces of equipment from space to space. Other cleaning duties involve plenty of stretching and bending, so it may help to be in pretty good shape.
- You’ll need to stand on your tip-toes as you dust hard-to-reach places and bend over to sweep up messes with a broom and dustpan.
- Some job positions might have physical strength requirements, like being able to lift at least 10 to 25 lb (4.5 to 11.3 kg).^{[14]
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9

Sweeping and mopping

Cleaning floors is the bread and butter of housekeeping. No matter where you work, your workload will probably include some variation of sweeping and mopping. Some clients may even ask you to wax and polish the floors, too.
- A hospital might ask you to sweep and mop the floors every day, while an at-home client might ask you to polish their hardwood floors.

10

Dusting

You’ll need to keep every surface looking spick-and-span. From homes and hospitals to office buildings and hotels, you’ll be running into plenty of dust on a day-to-day basis. As a housekeeper, you’ll need to clean off any dust from each and every surface and piece of furniture. You might even be asked to do some polishing once you’re done cleaning it off.
- For instance, you might be asked to dust off all the furniture in a motel room before another guest stays there.

11

Trash management

Taking out the trash is a less glamorous but necessary part of housekeeping. As a housekeeper, you’ll need to dump smaller waste baskets into a large garbage bag or can. From there, you’ll need to take out the trash—this might mean bringing it out to the client’s curb or driving it to a larger disposal site.

12

Changing bedding

As a housekeeper, you’ll be in charge of someone’s living space. Whether it’s a bedroom, hospital bed, or hotel room, you’ll need to feel comfortable stripping off the old bedding and replacing it with fresh, clean sheets and blankets. Then, you’ll need to remake the bed and smooth everything out so it looks nice and cozy.^{[15]
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- You might have to replace linens in the bathroom, too.

13

Laundry

Housekeepers are in charge of washing a client’s clothes and bedding. With this in mind, you’ll need to know the ins and outs of basic laundry care before applying for this type of job. Study the laundry essentials, like sorting garments, reading fabric care symbols, and choosing the best settings on a washer and dryer.^{[16]
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- Get in the habit of doing laundry with cold water, which is better for a client’s clothing and the environment.^{[17]
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- You might want to brush up on basic stain-fighting techniques, like applying a pre-treatment product to a stain before washing it. Refresh your memory by checking out this stain-fighting master list: https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/cleaning-tips/clothes/stain-removal-guide

14

Equipment know-how

Housekeepers use a variety of different home and cleaning equipment. Depending on the job, you’ll have to feel comfortable using different types of laundry equipment, like washers, dryers, and irons. Other cleaning tasks might require vacuums, floor polishers, carpet cleaners, and more.
- Your technical know-how doesn’t have to be a dealbreaker! Some employers might be willing to give you a run-through for different types of equipment.

15

Strong stomach

Housekeeping can be pretty icky at times. If you work at a hospital, you’ll probably need to clean up blood, vomit, and other bodily fluids as needed. A strong stomach is a must for tackling these types of tasks.^{[18]
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Expert Q&A

Question

How should I set goals?

Sydney Axelrod
Certified Life Coach
Sydney Axelrod is a certified life coach and the owner of Sydney Axelrod LLC, a life coaching business focused on professional and personal development. Through one-on-one coaching, digital courses, and group workshops, Sydney works with clients to discover their purpose, navigate life transitions, and set and accomplish goals. Sydney has over 1,000 hours of relevant coaching certifications and holds a BBA in Marketing and Finance from Emory University.

Sydney Axelrod

Certified Life Coach

Expert Answer

Be specific and clear on what you are going to do and why. Then break down your goals into small steps. Setting small goals that you can meet is more motivating. It builds confidence and is more sustainable in the long term.