Learning English > Business English > English For Work > Housekeepers

English for Housekeepers

Are you working as a housekeeper in a foreign country? Is English your second language? If you answered yes to these questions, then these pages are for you! Good communication is very important in the service industry. Misunderstandings take a lot of time to fix. These pages will help you learn important vocabulary related to houses, furniture, appliances, and cleaning. They will also help you to follow instructions, and use simple English in polite and friendly ways. Whether your job is to clean private houses, cruise ship cabins, hotel rooms or offices, these pages will help you communicate more effectively with clients and guests. Read and listen to the lessons. Then take the quizzes to test your comprehension.

For the purpose of these pages, English Club uses the general terms housekeeper andhousekeeping. These terms refer to people who help out with domestic or household duties, especially the cleaning and upkeep of a home, office, hotel or business. Depending on the country of employment, and the duties of the worker, various terms are used to describe a worker in this industry, including:

chambermaid (usually in a hotel)
cleaner
domestic servant
executive housekeeper (manages housekeepers, maids etc)
house cleaner
maid
nanny (main duty is childcare)

Rooms in a House

Word	Meaning
attic	storage room at the very top of the house
basement	the lowest level of the house
bathroom, washroom	the room for bathing and using the toilet
bedroom	the room where people sleep
dining room	room with a table and chairs for eating; in some houses this room is only used on special occasions
hallway	long narrow area that joins one room to another
kitchen	place for preparing food; sometimes has a table and chairs for eating informal meals
living room; family room	place where family spends leisure time; often has a TV, also used for entertaining
lobby	area in the front entrance for hanging coats and placing shoes
master bedroom	the largest bedroom in the house; used by parents
nursery	room for baby or young child
pantry	room off the kitchen for keeping dry foods and storage items
patio	outdoor area in front or backyard; usually sits slightly off the ground; often made of wood
playroom	room filled with toys; books and games; indoor area for kids to play
rec room	often in basement; extra room for watching TV and playing games such as billiards or ping pong
sunroom	enclosed room with large windows; often used for relaxation, visiting, or reading

Furniture and Decor

Word	Meaning
bed	long frame with a mattress on top for sleeping; has blankets and pillows for comfort
bookshelf, bookcase	tall wooden piece used for holding books
chair	various types of furniture used for sitting on
change table	surface found in the nursery, used for changing a baby's diaper
couch/sofa	long comfortable piece for sitting on; found in common rooms
counter	surface in the kitchen; used for preparing food and holding small appliances
cupboards	storage area with doors; used for holding food, dishes, cleaning supplies, etc.
desk	piece used for doing work and holding papers, books, writing tools; usually found in an office
dresser, bureau	piece of furniture for holding folded clothing
entertainment centre	piece of furniture for holding television, stereo, and other electronic devices
fireplace	square opening on a wall to hold a fire and warm up the home; may be electric, gas, or wood
mirrors	special glass placed on a wall or counter, used for viewing one's self
pictures, paintings	decorations hung on walls or placed on surfaces; often framed
shelves	long surfaces for organizing and storing household items
tub, bathtub	found in bathrooms, a large area where you lie down and wash your body
window sills, ledges	long shelf-like surface beneath a window

Appliances

Word	Meaning
dishwasher	electric appliance that washes dishes; can be "built-in" (under a sink) or "portable" (moved and attached to the sink when in use)
dryer	electric appliance used to dry laundry
fridge	electric appliance used for keeping food cold
freezer	electric appliance used for keeping food frozen (very cold)
garbage disposal	located inside a drain; chops up bits of food into small pieces to fit down the pipes
microwave	electric appliance for cooking food quickly
oven	electric appliance for baking and heating food
stove, range	elements on top of an oven for heating, frying, and boiling food
washing machine	electric appliance for cleaning laundry

Cleaning Supplies

Word	Meaning
baking soda	white powder used for cleaning and removing odours
bleach	liquid added in small amounts to water; has strong chemicals that remove stains on white clothing; also used to clean bathrooms
broom	brush with a long handle on it for sweeping floors
carpet cleaner	foam or liquid soap used on rugs and carpets
deodorizer	product that removes bad smells from a room; often scented
dishwashing detergent	liquid or powder soap that goes into a dishwasher
dust pan	flat container used for collecting dirt and dust swept up with a broom
duster	a cleaning tool with a handle and feathers (or a soft cloth) used for wiping dust off surfaces
garbage or trash bag	large, heavy bag for collecting the household garbage
garbage or trash bin	container with a lid that holds large garbage bags
gloves	coverings for the hands, with separate holes for the fingers
hose	a long tube that fills with water; often kept outside and used for outdoor cleaning
laundry detergent	powder or liquid soap used for cleaning clothes and linen
mop	long stick with a sponge at the bottom that is soaked in water and soap; used for cleaning floors
recycling bin	a container that holds paper, tins, glass, and other garbage that can be reused
scouring pads	tough cleaning pads used for scrubbing pots, pans, and ovens
scrub brush	a brush with a handle on it; often used for cleaning toilets
sponge	a soft cleaning product that absorbs water and is used for washing surfaces
stain remover	laundry product used specifically on spots that regular laundry detergent cannot clean (stains include red wine or blood)
vacuum cleaner	a machine that sucks up dust and dirt on the floor as you push it around
vinegar	a clear sour tasting liquid mixed with water and used for cleaning; environmentally friendly alternative to store bought cleaners

Linen and Laundry terms

Word	Meaning
bath towel	large towel used for drying the body after a shower or bath
face cloth or wash cloth	small, square shaped towel or cloth used for washing the face and hands
fitted sheet	sheet with elastic that goes on top of the mattress and stays in place
fold verb	make articles of clothing small and neat for storage
hand towel	a towel hung in the bathroom; used for drying hands
hanger noun	a wire or plastic hook used for hanging clothes in a closet
iron noun and verb	an electric appliance used for making clothes flat; to remove wrinkles
king size	the largest size bed or bed covering
laundry noun do the laundry	the washing of clothing
pillow case	a covering similar to a sheet that protects the head cushion
queen size	large size bed and bed covering (smaller than king, larger than double)
sheet noun	a light cover on the bed
single	smallest bed or bed covering size; made for one person
stain noun	a spot that is difficult to clean
top sheet	the sheet that goes on top of the fitted sheet and under a heavier blanket
twin size	bed or bed covering size that is larger than a single and smaller than a double; used for one person

Describing words for Housekeepers

Word	Meaning	Example sentence
allergic	when a person must stay away from a certain food or cleaning product because it can cause them to get very sick	Our daughter is allergic to that laundry detergent.
clean	remove dirt and stains	When the kitchen is clean I will start on the laundry.
clogged, plugged	when something is blocking the hole of a tube or pipe	The kitchen drain is cloggedwith potato skins.
damp	a little bit wet	I hung up your suit, but it is still a little damp.
dirty	opposite of clean	The floors are dirty because the kids walked through with their boots on.
dusty	when furniture and surfaces are covered with a small layer of matter	The office furniture upstairs is very dusty.
filthy	very dirty	The bathroom is filthybecause we went away for the weekend and left the kids at home.
messy	out of order, opposite of neat and tidy	The children's rooms aremessy, but it's their job to clean them.
neat, tidy (often expressed as "neat and tidy")	in good order, opposite of messy	Thank you for leaving the house so neat and tidy.
slippery	surface that is wet or polished and is easy to fall on	I just mopped, so the floors are a bit slippery.
soapy	covered with lots of soap bubbles	Can you rinse the dishes again? They are still soapy.
wet	filled or covered with water, opposite of dry	I put the dryer on twice but the clothes are still wet.
environmentally friendly	good for the world, doesn't contain strong chemicals	We only use cleaning products that are environmentallyfriendly.

Action words for Housekeepers

Word	Meaning	Example sentence
clean; clean up	remove dirt, dust, and other messes	After you clean up the kitchen you can take your break.
dry	take the water out of something	Please dry the dishes fully before you put them away in the cupboards.
dust	remove the dust from surfaces such as furniture	I'm sorry I forgot to dustthe entertainment stand last week.
finish; complete	have no more work to do	I'm finished everything on the list, so I guess I'll be going home now.
freshen up	make a room smell and look more inviting	The master bedroom is relatively clean, but you could freshen it up a little.
hang; hang up	organize and store items (often clothes) by putting them on hooks and hangers	After you have folded the laundry, please hang the guest towels in the washroom.
mop; mop up	clean the floors with soap and water	The dishwasher flooded, so Imopped up the water.
organize	sort or put away in a neat and tidy manner	I organized the indoor and outdoor shoes.
polish	wipe with a special cleaner that makes something (such as floors) shine; remove smudges or prints	Make sure to polish the silverware before you put it away.
rinse	pour water over something for a long time to remove soap	You'll have to rinse the dishes a little better. My coffee tasted soapy today.
sanitize; sterilize	remove any bacteria or other harmful substances that could cause illness, often by using boiling water or a special cleaner	You have to sterilize the baby bottles in boiling water.
scrub	use a lot of physical energy and a heavy cleaning tool to remove dirt or stains	You'll have to scrub the upstairs tub because it's pretty dirty.
tidy; tidy up	make a room or area look neat by organizing and putting things away	You don't need to vacuum the family room, but you could tidy up the books and toys.
vacuum	use a special hose that sucks up dust and dirt from the floors and furniture	Please pick up large items like coins before youvacuum the basement.
wash	make clean with water and soap	Please wash the windows with water and vinegar.
water	pour water onto plants or grass	You forgot to water the indoor and outdoor plants.
wipe; wipe up	clean up a mess or spill	Don't use bleach to wipe the counters.

Finding a Housekeeping Job

Finding a job in a foreign country can be very difficult. First, you need to read and understand the English job listings. Next, you need to contact a potential employer. Finally, you need to have an interview and prove that you are the best person for the job. Your work experience and skills are very important, but so is your English. You can prepare yourself for the real job search by studying the vocabulary and exercises on this page.

Key words found in ads:

The following terms are commonly used in ads for housekeepers. Become familiar with them, and use them on your own resumes and cover letters. They are also useful terms to use in interviews.

Word or phrase		Meaning
competitive wages		pay or salary is the same or better than most in the area
detail oriented, meticulous		notices everything that needs cleaning or doing, even if it's small
diligent worker		a person who works very hard
domestic help		help around the home (often the subject of housekeeping ads)
duties include		things the worker will have to do
flexible		not strict or set, usually related to work schedule or duties
hard-working		not lazy, works quickly and doesn't take a lot of rest time
honest, trustworthy		tells the truth, will not steal or damage property on purpose
ideal candidate		the best person for the job
is seeking		is looking for, requires
live-in		lives in the home he or she works at
live-out		lives in a different home from the home he or she works at
mature		acts like an adult, not childish
must be legal		has permission from the government to work in this country
pay in exchange for room and board		food and a home are given to the person who looks after the house, no pay
perfectionist		describes a person who wants everything to look perfect (for example one fingerprint would bother this person)
positive attitude		is usually in a happy mood
professional		has a lot of experience and treats clients with respect
reliable		always comes to work on time and always does a good job
responsible for		work will include the following tasks
verifiable references		past employers someone can contact to prove that the applicant is a good worker

Here are some expressions to use in an interview or cover letter:

I will clean your home "from top to bottom".
Feel free to contact my references.
I have been cleaning houses/offices for _______ years now.
I promise to leave your house looking neat and tidy.
I work quickly and efficiently.
You won't be disappointed.
Your satisfaction is important to me.
My hourly rate is _______.
I am very good with children.
My English is improving every day.

Matching Exercise

Read all of the classified ads (advertisements) below.
Read the descriptions of 5 housekeepers looking for work.
Match the person to the ad that he or she should apply for.
Check your answers.

Instructions for Housekeepers

The hardest part of your job as a housekeeper may not be the cleaning. If you and your client speak different languages, miscommunication can be a problem. Be upfront about your English ability from the beginning. Ask your client to speak slowly if you don't understand the instructions. It is a good idea to ask your client to give you a checklist of things that need doing. Impress your client by preparing a checklist ahead of time, and asking them to take a moment to check off anything that needs doing. Leave extra space for specific instructions and details. You may want to personalize your checklist for each client.

Sample Blank Checklist

Please place a Y (Yes) beside any item you would like completed today. Specify details where needed.
Sweep
Mop
Vacuum
Laundry
Tidy
Clean Appliances
Dust
Bathrooms
Bedrooms
Windows
Dishes
Take garbage out
Other
Errands or Shopping:





Notes to housekeeper:
Notes from housekeeper:

Sample Filled-in Checklist

Please place a Y (Yes) beside any item you would like completed today. Specify details where needed.
Sweep	Y	*main floor*
Mop
Vacuum
Laundry	Y	load of whites
Tidy	Y	upstairs
Clean Appliances
Dust
Bathrooms	Y	all 3 please
Bedrooms
Windows
Dishes
Take garbage out	Y	only if full
Other	Y	water all plants
Errands or Shopping:
pick up kids at school 3.15
pick up milk and postage stamps



Notes to housekeeper:	*Vacuum isn't working. It's getting repaired.*
Notes from housekeeper:	*Where are the extra towels?*