Housekeeping

Note: This has been written from the point of view of instructing the bedders.

Domestic Assistants Weekly Work Schedule

• Noise is to be kept to the minimum until 9am; this includes no hoovering or talking in the vicinity of bedrooms.
   
• Kitchens have to be cleaned thoroughly daily, before any bedrooms. This includes emptying rubbish, washing down work surfaces, cleaning the sink and cooker, wiping paintwork etc. Bedders are not to wash up; students are responsible for their own. If there is an excessive amount of washing up, it is to be put into a box under the sink daily and disposed of at the end of each term
   
• Bathrooms and toilets have to be cleaned thoroughly daily and toilet rolls filled up
   
• Bedrooms have to be propped open with a bucket or a doorstop, meaning that bedders are not to be in rooms with the door closed.
   
• A room-cleaning rota will be put up in each staircase. If any student wishes to change their allotted time, then they must swap with another student and change it on the rota. Any bedders covering for holidays or sickness will also use the rota.
   
• All rooms are to be entered (unless the bin is out) and have the bin emptied daily - DO NOT ASK STUDENTS TO PUT THEIR BINS OUT
   
• All rooms have to be cleaned thoroughly once a week, this includes cobwebs and high dusting, polishing / dusting everywhere, skirting boards, washing paintwork, window ledges and frames, doors and doorframes. Wash bins, descale taps and plug holes etc. as required. The occupants are to leave their room tidy, so that it is possible to hoover the floor and clean.
  If the bin is outside the door on the agreed day then you are to knock and confirm that the occupant is in. If the room is empty you are to go in and clean, irrespective of the bin being outside.
   
• All en-suite bathrooms have to be cleaned twice a week. The only exception is if the bin is left outside the room and the students do not want to be disturbed.
   
• Bedders are responsible for reporting any Health and Safety issues i.e. candles in rooms, unable to get into rooms for more than two days, guests staying more than two nights. Any minor request i.e. curtains falling down are to be entered into the feedback and request book below the clocking in machine.
   
• Notices are to be left on the beds of any students continuing to use Blue Tac. If it is not removed then the room number is to be entered into the feedback and request book and passed onto the Domestic Bursar to deal with.
   
• Breaks are to be taken at 10.30am, in the allocated area. Smoking is not allowed in or near accommodation.
   
• Bedders are not to use student fridges for anything other than milk
   
• Housekeepers will be checking cleaning and maintenance in rooms at regular intervals

The key to this proposal is the new 'Sign up Sheet'

Each household / staircase will be give a ‘Sign up Sheet’ which look s like this.

You will all be expected to fill in 3 days when the bedders can enter your room. (Please note that they are expected to clean en-suite rooms twice a week, and non en-suite rooms only once a week, but by giving three options will maximise the flexibility).

When thinking about these days consider when you have lectures, when you are likely to be out rowing, or days you think it might be a good idea to get up a little bit earlier!

Housekeeping will then review these sheets to ensure that there are a reasonable amount of rooms for the bedders to attend to each day. If any changes need to be made they will contact you to confirm that it is all right.

When all is agreed these will be laminated and placed in your kitchen.

Please note that if your bin is outside on your cleaning day, the bedders will knock once and confirm that the occupant is in. If the room is empty they will go in and clean.

Page last updated on 27 Feb 05 (eja40)