What is a housekeeper?

A housekeeper is a professional responsible for maintaining a home clean and orderly. For this, they typically handle general cleaning tasks, such as:

• Cleaning and dusting all surfaces
• Mopping and vacuuming the floor
• Doing laundry
• Washing dishes
• Making beds
• Organizing household items
• Running errands

The role of a housekeeper can change depending on the household or the type of hotel or building.

For instance, a private home housekeeper may also be responsible for other tasks like grocery shopping, cooking, and taking care of kids, depending on what the family needs. Such additional services will typically cost extra.

Hard skills for a housekeeper

Let’s explore some of the hard skills a housekeeper needs, like cleaning, laundry care, and organization.

Laundry care

Housekeepers are responsible for handling the laundry of clothes, bedding, and towels.

For this, they need to:

• Know how to properly wash and iron clothes, towels, blankets, and sheets
• Sort different fabrics correctly by textile type and color
• Be able to read and follow the specific care requirements of each item
• Be proficient in stain removal techniques
• Set the correct washing temperature and know how to operate equipment correctly

They also need to be extra careful when handling personal items given by the employer or guests, some of which might have their care labels removed.

Cleaning

Cleaning is a must-have skill for any housekeeper. In addition to sweeping and mopping, housekeepers need to know how and when to use advanced cleaning and dusting methods.

More experienced housekeepers will also have experience with using specialized materials and techniques for cleaning items such as hardwood floors, valuable antics, glassware, or delicate fabrics.

Housekeepers are also responsible for sorting and disposing of trash responsibly, which means that they must know trash disposal and recycling rules in your area.

Basic repair and maintenance

Housekeepers often work with different household appliances and tools such as stoves, ovens, mops, vacuum cleaners, washing machines, and fridges.

This means that they should know how to operate them, as well as keep them clean and functional; familiarity with basic maintenance requirements will help ensure they’re working properly and for a long time.

Ideally, housekeepers would also be able to take care of basic maintenance and repair tasks such as changing light bulbs, unclogging drains, or fixing leaky faucets.

Organization

What makes a housekeeper great is their organizational skills, i.e. how well they can:

• Keep track of the multiple tasks and chores
• Arrange belongings, furniture, decor, and accessories in an orderly way
• In a hotel (or a house that is run like a hotel), a housekeeper must check in on guests’ rooms regularly to make sure they’re clean and tidy – and also to top up bathroom supplies, check the minibar, and add complementary items as needed.

Strong organizational skills help a housekeeper streamline their workflow, stay productive and efficient, reduce clutter, and be consistent in cleaning routines.

Time management

Housekeepers juggle multiple tasks simultaneously and must manage them efficiently to ensure they’re able to do everything on time. Their list of duties depends on their position and whether they’re working alone or in a team, but they must complete all tasks in a specified amount of time.

They also need to:

• Avoid being late
• Manage their workload effectively
• Complete tasks on time
• Make the most of their shift

That’s why time management is a crucial skill for a housekeeper that you need to assess before you make a hiring decision.

Housekeeper soft skills

Housekeepers need to have several soft skills to succeed in their career, such as:

Communication

Housekeepers frequently interact with family members, clients, guests, and staff members, so they need excellent communication skills.

They need to grasp every bit of information, such as instructions and requests, and respond to queries politely. In hotels, they must also notify management about any complaints guests raise.

Clear communication is key for this and promotes a harmonious relationship with clients and guests, so look for housekeepers who are good communicators.

Adaptability

An adaptable housekeeper can easily adjust to changing circumstances and evolving client needs. For example, you might ask your housekeeper to take care of a new task on a given day or do things periodically, such as wash the windows.

Housekeepers must also be able to adapt to different work environments and requirements:

• They wouldn’t have to deep clean a regular flat daily, but it’s a necessity for a hospital
• They might need to work late (after everyone in the office has left) or come early in the morning
• Some families hire housekeepers who can take care of their every need, be it cooking, cleaning, taking care of office supplies, or watching the children

Employer service

Providing a stellar experience to all employers/family members and guests is the ultimate goal of any housekeeper; their work revolves around satisfying their clients’ needs and providing excellent customer service.

If you’re using a platform, consider other customers’ reviews given to a candidate before interviewing them; additionally, you might also decide to assess customer service skills.

Trustworthiness and reliability

Trustworthiness is paramount for a housekeeper, especially if you want to hire a private home housekeeper.

Their reliability and integrity are extremely important, because they’ll have access to private spaces, belongings, and documents – not to mention that they might overhear sensitive information in conversations. Maintaining confidentiality ensures a secure and trustworthy atmosphere.

Shortlist housekeepers who are punctual, follow instructions diligently and can complete tasks without constant supervision.

Attention to detail

A housekeeper needs to have a keen eye for detail. They need to ensure that they’ve cleaned every corner and surface, put all items in place, and that all spaces feel welcoming and fresh.

Housekeepers often need to take care of several tasks simultaneously, so it’s essential for them to be very detail-oriented while also staying efficient and organized.

Look for housekeepers who take initiative and go the extra mile, for example by paying attention to seemingly trivial details like smoothing out wrinkles after making the bed or putting everything back in place after cleaning a room.

Using an agency when recruiting a housekeeper in London

If you’re looking for a housekeeper to take care of a refined home or similar, we think you should explore agencies or professional associations. A housekeeper agency like Bespoke Bureau has a vast pool of pre-screened housekeepers who are experienced in several types of work and will be able to match you with the right person easily, based on your needs. Agencies like us will take care of vetting applicants and performing background checks, so that you don’t need to.

How much does a housekeeper cost?

Housekeepers work in residential homes, offices, hotels, and other areas. Their responsibilities can differ according to where they work; hence, their base salary also varies.

The average salary for a housekeeper in the UK earns about 48,000GBP per annum gross

This salary depends on several factors, including the experience of the housekeeper, their responsibilities, the total number of hours, place of work, and more. Housekeepers with little to no experience working for a family tend to earn less than their counterparts working in hotels or homes.

As they gain experience, housekeepers’ salaries increase as well. Some housekeepers also earn additional pay through bonuses, tips, and overtime.

Sample housekeeper interview questions when recruiting a housekeeper

Here are some questions you can ask when interviewing candidates:

1. What motivated you to become a housekeeper?
2. How does your previous experience align with the role we’re offering?
3. How do you clean different surfaces and materials to ensure optimal results?
4. Can you describe a time when you had to deal with a challenging task? How did you handle it?
5. How do you prioritize tasks and manage your time efficiently?
6. How would you handle a situation where the homeowner has specific preferences for cleaning techniques or products?

Contact us for help recruiting housekeeper in London

First of all, contact us to tell us your requirements. Obviously, if you are not sure of what you need, we will help guide you.  Also, you may only need one Butler or you may wish to hire a number of domestic staff. Needless to say, no job is too small or too big for us. Finally, you can rest assured that we will be able to help you and your family find the best house manager there is.

Last but not least, we look forward to hearing from you soon. Welcome!

Bespoke Bureau Contact:

Phone: +44 (0) 2032900142
Email: info@bespokebureau.com

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