Core Standard 3 – Household Cleaning and Organization

The purpose of this Care Standard is to establish a structured approach to household management, ensuring the home remains clean, hygienic, organized, and efficiently run. This document defines the standards for daily maintenance, deep cleaning, and organization to create a comfortable and functional living environment for the family.

This Care Standard applies to all domestic helpers residing within the employer’s household. It covers all internal and external areas of the property, including:

• Common Areas: Living rooms, dining rooms, and hallways.
• Private Rooms: Bedrooms (family and helper), bathrooms, and study areas.
• Functional Areas: Kitchen, pantry, laundry service area, and storage spaces.
• Appliances and Inventory: Care of household machines and management of supplies.

Care Principles

As a domestic helper, you are responsible for the physical upkeep of the home. Your key responsibilities include:

• Routine Maintenance: Executing daily cleaning tasks to prevent clutter and dirt buildup.
• Deep Cleaning: Performing thorough cleaning of specific areas on a weekly or monthly rotation.
• Organization: Keeping items in their designated places to ensure the home runs smoothly.
• Laundry Management: Ensuring clothes and linens are washed, dried, ironed, and stored correctly.
• Asset Care: Properly using and maintaining household appliances to prevent damage.
• Waste Management: Handling trash disposal and recycling according to local regulations.

Procedures

To fulfill your responsibilities, you must adhere to the following cleaning and organization procedures:

Daily Cleaning Routines

• Floors: Sweep and mop kitchen and high-traffic areas daily. Vacuum carpets and rugs in common areas.
• Surface Cleaning: Wipe down dining tables, kitchen counters, and coffee tables. Dust visible surfaces to control allergens.
• Tidying: Return items to their designated spots throughout the day. Ensure main living areas are clutter-free before the family retires for the night.
• Kitchen & Bathroom Maintenance: Clean dishes immediately after meals. Wipe down bathroom sinks and toilets daily to maintain hygiene.
• Waste Disposal: Empty kitchen bins daily. Sort waste into recyclables and general trash as per household rules.

Weekly Deep Cleaning

• Bathrooms: Scrub tiles, grout, shower screens, and bathtubs. Disinfect toilets thoroughly. Polish mirrors and chrome fixtures.
• Kitchen: Deep clean the stovetop, oven exterior, and microwave. Wipe down cupboard fronts and clean out the refrigerator (discarding expired food).
• Dusting: Dust blinds, ceiling fans, skirting boards, lampshades, and decorative items.
• Windows: Clean internal glass surfaces and windows within reach to remove fingerprints and smudges.

Organization and Storage

• Toy Management: Sort children’s toys into designated bins. Check for broken items regularly.
• Pantry and Fridge: Organize food items by category. Ensure older items are moved to the front (First-In, First-Out method) to reduce waste.
• Personal Space: Maintain your own room and bathroom to the same high standard of cleanliness as the rest of the house.
• Seasonal Rotation: Assist with rotating seasonal clothing, bedding, and equipment (e.g., fans or heaters) as instructed.

Laundry Management

• Sorting: Separate laundry by color (whites, darks, colors) and fabric type (delicates, cottons, heavy duty).
• Washing and Drying: Follow care labels on clothing strictly. Use mesh bags for delicates. Do not overfill the washing machine or dryer.
• Ironing and Folding: Iron work clothes and school uniforms promptly. Fold clothes neatly and store them in the correct drawers or closets immediately after processing.

Appliance Maintenance

• Routine Care: Empty the vacuum cleaner dust bin after use. Clean the washing machine detergent drawer and lint filters (dryer) regularly.
• Defects: Do not attempt to fix broken electrical appliances. Unplug them and report the issue immediately.

Reporting and Documentation

Effective communication ensures that household issues are resolved quickly.

• Maintenance Issues: Report any broken appliances, leaking taps, blown lightbulbs, or structural damage to the employer immediately.
• Supply Management: Monitor levels of cleaning supplies (detergent, trash bags, sponges). Report shortages to the employer at least 3 days before supplies run out to allow time for restocking.
• Pest Control: Immediately report signs of pests (ants, cockroaches, rodents) so appropriate measures can be taken.
• Damage Reporting: If an item is accidentally broken or damaged during cleaning, report it to the employer honestly and immediately.

Training and Compliance

• Product Training: You must understand how to use different cleaning chemicals safely to prevent damage to surfaces (e.g., using specific cleaners for marble or wood).
• Appliance Training: Do not operate complex appliances until you have been shown how to use them correctly.
• Compliance: Adherence to these cleaning standards is essential for the comfort and hygiene of the household. Consistent failure to maintain cleanliness or recurring damage to property due to negligence may result in performance reviews.