housekeeper job description

A housekeeper has the following duties and responsibilities: cleaning and vacuuming: as a housekeeper, your primary responsibility is to clean offices and tidy residential houses and hotel rooms to ensure they meet the expected standards. Some of the cleaning tasks you perform include hoovering, dusting, sweeping and mopping floors. You also empty the rubbish bins, do the dishes and change the linen in hotel rooms. replenishing supplies: as a housekeeper, you ensure every hotel room or bathroom in residential buildings and offices has the necessary supplies. For instance, replenish the toiletries and restock the bathroom shelves when they run out. cleaning walls: besides interior cleaning, housekeepers provide external cleaning services like cleaning the walls, windows and exterior air vents. performing deep cleaning tasks: if your client requires deep cleaning services, your job involves emptying rooms of furniture so you can access all surfaces. You clean every part of the room, including carpets and curtains or blinds. You may be required to deep clean specialist rooms like pet rooms. disinfecting surfaces: aside from cleaning, a housekeeper maintains the health standards of a building by disinfecting surfaces. In hospitals, you disinfect every surface you clean to avoid spreading infections and germs.

You work in various environments as a housekeeper, including businesses, homes and public buildings. A typical housekeeper's workplace is indoors, and work travel is rare. If you supervise multiple sites, travelling between them is part of the job. Workplace safety is integral to a housekeeper's responsibilities; your environment contains slip and trip hazards, while your tools include hazardous chemicals.

who are your colleagues?

Depending on your employer and industry, your colleagues might include plumbers , cleaners and janitors. You might also be working close to caregivers and groundskeepers, as well as other specialists that could consist of, but not be limited to, administrators , facilities managers, receptionists , caretakers and hotel managers.

Like other aspects of your role, your schedule as a housekeeper is very varied. In many businesses, housekeeping staff work around the clock. For some work settings, such as hotels, weekends and holidays can be the busiest times. As a result, your work schedule as a housekeeper can include work on evenings or weekends. Changing shift schedules are also typical for housekeepers. Flexibility and time management skills will help you succeed in this fast-paced job.

A housekeeper role's varied nature means you can move to various positions. In a workplace with a large housekeeping department, you could advance to a function such as a head housekeeper or domestic services manager. Alternatively, if you're interested in focusing on the customer service aspects of housekeeping, consider moving to a job such as a front-of-house manager. Working as a housekeeper qualifies you for training manager or accommodation manager positions.

advantages of finding a housekeeper job through randstad

Finding your housekeeper job through Randstad provides essential benefits such as: a wide variety of training and development opportunities an experienced contact person to provide help if needed a range of opportunities in your area get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job temporary and permanent contracts Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a housekeeper is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers every year thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too.

what does a housekeeper do?

A housekeeper is responsible for the cleanliness and organisation of an institutional building or a home. This means performing tasks like cleaning or ordering supplies and supervising teams of maids or cleaners. You also organise the rooms to ensure they are tidy at all times. Some housekeepers perform waste disposal tasks to maintain high cleanliness standards.

what is the difference between a maid and a housekeeper?

A maid usually works under the supervision of a manager, while a housekeeper has managerial responsibility for cleaning an establishment. A maid often works under a housekeeper's direction and is confined to working in people's homes. A housekeeper can also work in industrial or commercial settings.

what is a personal housekeeper?

A personal housekeeper is responsible for a family or individual home rather than an institution such as a hospital. A personal housekeeper may supervise a staff of maids or combine housekeeping with cooking or childcare. A housekeeper can also become the caretaker of the owner's property and be responsible for maintaining it.

how do I apply for a housekeeper vacancy?

Applying for a housekeeper job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here .

housekeeper

what is a housekeeper?

A housekeeper is in charge of ensuring a home or institution maintains a high standard of cleanliness. A housekeeper is responsible for cleaning, laundry and dealing with tradespeople like plumbers or electricians in a private home or small business. In a larger institution, a housekeeper supervises a team of cleaners or other housekeeping staff. In this work environment, your responsibilities include setting team schedules, inspecting work, ordering supplies, and managing personnel.

Housekeepers work in various environments, each with its specific responsibilities. For instance, you maintain the expected standards of hygiene needed to keep a medical facility running smoothly. You also monitor strict adherence to safety and waste disposal protocols. In a hotel, your job includes cleaning, customer service and coordinating with other team members. When you work in a private household, your role involves many tasks like cooking, shopping or driving. Housekeepers working in industrial premises like mining or manufacturing facilities clean the floors and ensure the work premises are ready for daily production.

housekeeper vacancies

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average housekeeper salary

As a housekeeper, you receive an average salary of $68,000 per year. The remuneration package varies based on your skills and experience. Hence, a housekeeper can earn $60,000 annually when starting in the role. With knowledge and additional skills, you take home a salary of $75,000 yearly.

what factors affect a housekeeper's salary?

The remuneration package of a housekeeper depends on the level of experience. While housekeepers don't require educational qualifications, having a few years of experience in cleaning and cooking tasks improves your earnings prospects. Your employer also influences your earnings. For instance, domestic housekeepers are likely to earn less than hospital or industrial housekeepers. When you work in residential houses, your job is limited to cleaning the premises. However, your role may involve handling hazardous waste in commercial buildings and hospitals. The size of the facility also influences your remuneration. If you clean an entire industrial complex, you earn more than a housekeeper with a few square feet of residential property to clean.

Want to know what you will earn as a housekeeper? Check out what you are worth with our salary checker.

housekeeper careers

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types of housekeepers

Some of the types of housekeepers include:

hotel housekeepers: as a hotel housekeeper, you clean hotel rooms and prepare them for guests. You must prepare hotel rooms to high standards and organise toiletries and other guest amenities.
private housekeepers: as a domestic housekeeper, you work for one family. Your job is to perform maintenance and housekeeping tasks as the family requests. Some positions may also involve cooking, gardening and childcare.
commercial housekeepers: as a commercial housekeeper, you work for industries and large companies providing cleaning services. You clean, dust, and remove waste from offices. You may also organise minor maintenance jobs in the building.

female and male housekeeping staff along hotel hallway

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working as a housekeeper

You will enjoy working as a housekeeper if you love everything in order and know how to handle equipment and stand for long hours. Read on to explore some of the housekeepers' daily duties, responsibilities and work environments.

housekeeper job description
A housekeeper has the following duties and responsibilities:
- cleaning and vacuuming: as a housekeeper, your primary responsibility is to clean offices and tidy residential houses and hotel rooms to ensure they meet the expected standards. Some of the cleaning tasks you perform include hoovering, dusting, sweeping and mopping floors. You also empty the rubbish bins, do the dishes and change the linen in hotel rooms.
- replenishing supplies: as a housekeeper, you ensure every hotel room or bathroom in residential buildings and offices has the necessary supplies. For instance, replenish the toiletries and restock the bathroom shelves when they run out.
- cleaning walls: besides interior cleaning, housekeepers provide external cleaning services like cleaning the walls, windows and exterior air vents.
- performing deep cleaning tasks: if your client requires deep cleaning services, your job involves emptying rooms of furniture so you can access all surfaces. You clean every part of the room, including carpets and curtains or blinds. You may be required to deep clean specialist rooms like pet rooms.
- disinfecting surfaces: aside from cleaning, a housekeeper maintains the health standards of a building by disinfecting surfaces. In hospitals, you disinfect every surface you clean to avoid spreading infections and germs.
work environment

You work in various environments as a housekeeper, including businesses, homes and public buildings. A typical housekeeper's workplace is indoors, and work travel is rare. If you supervise multiple sites, travelling between them is part of the job. Workplace safety is integral to a housekeeper's responsibilities; your environment contains slip and trip hazards, while your tools include hazardous chemicals.
who are your colleagues?

Depending on your employer and industry, your colleagues might include plumbers, cleaners and janitors. You might also be working close to caregivers and groundskeepers, as well as other specialists that could consist of, but not be limited to, administrators, facilities managers, receptionists, caretakers and hotel managers.
work schedule

Like other aspects of your role, your schedule as a housekeeper is very varied. In many businesses, housekeeping staff work around the clock. For some work settings, such as hotels, weekends and holidays can be the busiest times. As a result, your work schedule as a housekeeper can include work on evenings or weekends. Changing shift schedules are also typical for housekeepers. Flexibility and time management skills will help you succeed in this fast-paced job.
job outlook

A housekeeper role's varied nature means you can move to various positions. In a workplace with a large housekeeping department, you could advance to a function such as a head housekeeper or domestic services manager. Alternatively, if you're interested in focusing on the customer service aspects of housekeeping, consider moving to a job such as a front-of-house manager. Working as a housekeeper qualifies you for training manager or accommodation manager positions.
advantages of finding a housekeeper job through randstad
Finding your housekeeper job through Randstad provides essential benefits such as:
- a wide variety of training and development opportunities
- an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
- a range of opportunities in your area
- get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job
- temporary and permanent contracts
Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a housekeeper is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers every year thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too.

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education and skills

Housekeepers do not require any academic qualifications. However, the following courses prepare you for the role:

certificate in hospitality: to improve your qualifications and knowledge in housekeeping, complete a Certificate III in hospitality at a registered training organisation or a TAFE. The course takes 18 months of full-time study. Consider completing short courses to improve your skills in various areas. If you work in the hotel industry, complete a short course for a Statement of Attainment in Food Handling.
gain experience: improve your experience with entry-level jobs in housekeeping and cleaning. You can also find on-the-job training opportunities to improve your skills. When you have experience, you increase your chances of landing better-paying jobs.

housekeeper skills and competencies

Some of the skills that a housekeeper requires include:

physically demanding: your tasks require you to be active. Your typical workday involves walking and cleaning surfaces using various equipment. It would help if you had the strength to lift and operate heavy equipment. Standing for long hours also requires physical fitness.
attention to detail: as a housekeeper, your job involves following a specific cleaning routine required by your employer. Attentiveness to detail also helps ensure surfaces are spotless since you can identify areas that need extra cleaning.
time management: as a housekeeper, you are expected to perform multiple tasks at specified times, so managing your time well is crucial. If clients need their rooms cleaned at a specified time, you organise your workload to ensure a balanced work schedule.
dependability and autonomy: as a housekeeper, you often work with a small team of cleaners. Hence, it is crucial to complete your assigned tasks on time. When you are dependable, your supervisor or manager can rely on you to complete your tasks without supervision. Your reliability increases your chances of promotion.

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FAQs about working as a housekeeper

Here, you will find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the profession of a housekeeper.

what does a housekeeper do?

A housekeeper is responsible for the cleanliness and organisation of an institutional building or a home. This means performing tasks like cleaning or ordering supplies and supervising teams of maids or cleaners. You also organise the rooms to ensure they are tidy at all times. Some housekeepers perform waste disposal tasks to maintain high cleanliness standards.
what is the difference between a maid and a housekeeper?

A maid usually works under the supervision of a manager, while a housekeeper has managerial responsibility for cleaning an establishment. A maid often works under a housekeeper's direction and is confined to working in people's homes. A housekeeper can also work in industrial or commercial settings.
what is a personal housekeeper?

A personal housekeeper is responsible for a family or individual home rather than an institution such as a hospital. A personal housekeeper may supervise a staff of maids or combine housekeeping with cooking or childcare. A housekeeper can also become the caretaker of the owner's property and be responsible for maintaining it.
how do I apply for a housekeeper vacancy?

Applying for a housekeeper job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here.

housekeeper.