Turn any job into a career with the right skills and knowledge! Click To TweetBasic home cleaning is a job. Housekeeping, particularly for estates, is an art. Providing a superior housekeeping service requires both knowledge and refined skills; attributes that are best acquired through specialised housekeeper training.
For typical homes, on-the-job training can be enough to learn how to tidy up and move on to the next house. However, the experience may leave you with a desire for more. When you obtain the knowledge necessary to take care of specialty surfaces (marble, crystal, brass, etc.) or the proper ways to mix cleaning chemicals, you can actually begin to see your housekeeping career progress. Perhaps this means progressing to a beautiful property, or into a position of authority, like an executive housekeeper.
The same is true for developing specialty cleaning skills, which are highly sought after by the most discerning estate owners.
Of course, there is an important third ingredient: your attitude. Along with the proper skills and knowledge, your approach to your daily tasks will ultimately determine how far you can advance in the estate housekeeping industry.
We will look at some components for each of these qualities, as well as how you can obtain them and find a truly fulfilling career in specialty housekeeping.
Knowledge Requirements for Maids and Housekeepers
Safety Knowledge
It cannot be stressed enough: safety should be everyone’s number one concern on the job. Cleaning tasks are labour-intensive and can be the source of injury when improper techniques are used. The same is true for the use of cleaning chemicals. Without proper chemical-based knowledge, errant mixtures can become harmful in a hurry. Knowledge of proper cleaning procedures, safety policies, and chemical use and storage will keep you and your co-workers safe from harm.
English Proficiency
Obviously, if you are reading this, English isn’t a hurdle for you. However, there is plenty of talented workers whose only holdup is their knowledge of English. If you have advanced your position to manager or supervisor, and you are made responsible for hiring new staff. You can really expand your search options to non-English speaking candidates (or with beginners skills), knowing that there are some excellent training programmes which focus on job-specific, English skills development.
Housekeeping Supervision and Management
Knowledge is not only the ability to perform a specialty cleaning task properly, but also the ability to communicate those techniques to new staff in an effective manner. When in a supervisory position, answering “why” certain tasks must be performed in a certain way will become necessary for staff to have a deeper understanding of the task at hand.
When in a management position, your knowledge must extend to resource management, such as coordinating product orders. You will also need managerial knowledge about staff scheduling and task allocation. When you are knowledgeable about your staff’s strengths and weaknesses, you can put them in the right position to apply their most developed skills.
Imagine a housekeeper training programme which offers comprehensive knowledge about worker safety, job-relevant English proficiency and managerial knowledge so you won’t need to stumble through on-the-job mistakes to acquire this knowledge!
Skill Requirements for Maids and Housekeepers
Specialty Cleaning Techniques
Along with the knowledge about specialty surfaces comes the physical techniques. For clothing, this means proper ironing, pressing, steaming, folding and mending. Additional skills, such as proper silverware cleaning, brass polishing, floor buffering and even flower arranging doesn’t come without repetitious practice and a trainer who can guide you through the proper techniques.
Speaking and Listening
Daily housekeeping tasks require a lot of instruction; under tight time frames, having to repeat instructions, again and again, can cost your team valuable time and cause you to rush a project which should be performed slowly and thoroughly. As well, your ability to speak up when something doesn’t look right or you need further explanation can mean the difference between a task done properly (and safely), and potential property damage and even injury.
Time Management
As a staff member, you will need to manage your own time. Efficiently and consistently performing daily tasks within allotted time frames will keep you from falling behind. And also from displeasing your client. When you do not have time management skills. You will often find yourself behind schedule. And perhaps tempted to rush your work. And speciality cleaning should never be rushed!
A hands-on training programme can give you space to practice (and make mistakes). All under the guidance of an expert in the estate keeping arts. Not only will you be able to develop specialised cleaning skills. But you will also avoid developing bad habits on the job and risk property damage, or even personal injury.
The Right Attitude for Housekeeping Success
Knowledge and skills can be acquired and developed externally through training programmes and job experience, but your general attitude and your approach to work all come from within. A specialised, high-end housekeeping career can be within your grasp if you are someone who:
- Thrives on challenges.
- Appreciates being depended upon.
- Can bring consistent energy to work each day.
- Works well as part of a team.
- Is open to criticism and can make honest self-assessments.
- Has a desire to continue improving and expanding your skillset.
Making the Leap to Housekeeping Artistry Through Specialised Training
Knowledge, skills, attitude; in the end, it’s all about having a deeper understanding of the housekeeping trade. So that you can perform any task at any time at the highest level. The best way to achieve this is through a training programme custom-designed to fit your learning needs and style.
Polo & Tweed offers specific, module-based lessons. Which focus on specific cleaning tasks (by room, by surface, by fabric). We offer individual training classes or as part of a group. Our trainers come from a professional housekeeping background with years of top-tier estate keeping experience that they are eager to pass along.
Furthermore, we take a training approach which emphasises practical application. As the most effective way for students to develop necessary housekeeping skills. Classes are hands-on and detailed practice is repetitious, so proper technique becomes close to second nature before you even join a new housekeeping team.
We believe that the quality of training is the key to a deeper understanding of house and estate keeping. To see it as an art form and a rewarding career. When you bring your winning attitude to our training programme. We will give you the knowledge and the skills to succeed in any domestic setting!
Our training team would love to chat with you about all the different options we have. Please get in touch here and we will look forward to speaking to you about improving your housekeeping knowledge and skills!