Cleaning

Kothai Pandiaraj

Using a vacuum cleaner:



Objective: To learn how to use a vacuum cleaner to dust and clean

Equipment and materials:
  • Vacuum cleaner
  • Paper bag to collect the waste
Vacuum cleaner:
The vacuum cleaner is a device, which can clean perfectly, if used correctly. This machine runs on electricity. It is expensive, and must be handled and maintained very carefully. The vacuum cleaner helps in cleaning the minute dust particles, cobwebs and dirt that collect in the corners of walls, cupboards, and couches can be removed. We can also use the vacuum cleaner to clean the library, the medical records department, and store rooms. It is very useful in cleaning the AC units, AC grills, computers, keyboards, and carpets. Accessories suited to these different tasks are provided with the vacuum cleaner

Assembling the different parts before using the vacuum cleaner:

 

Use of different accessories:

   
   
   

Using a vacuum cleaner
  • The vacuum cleaner can be used in two ways. This instrument has a suction part, which sucks the air along with the dust and waste matter into it. It also has a blower, which cleans by blowing the air out, and thus cleans dust from places where hands cannot reach. Dust and waste like cobwebs and pieces of paper are removed by suction. This method removes dust without letting it fly around the room, and is therefore preferred to the blower. While cleaning the floor too, the suction part should be used. The pipe used for this can be lengthened or shortened as required.
  • Along with the vacuum cleaner, accessories are provided. These accessories can be used for different jobs like dusting, sweeping, cleaning the carpet, cleaning the sofa & the mattress, spraying, spray painting, and cleaning the ACs. Using the vacuum cleaner leaves the room spotlessly clean, as it removes dust that is invisible to us.
  • Each time we use it, we must decide what we need to clean, and attach the appropriate accessory. These accessories should be attached carefully and properly so that they do not become loose when in operation.
  • The speed of the cleaner can be adjusted according to our need. The speed can be increased, decreased or kept moderate.
  • The vacuum cleaner should be switched off for a short while every half hour, to prevent the motor from getting hot.
Method of attaching the waste collection bag:
When the lid of the vacuum cleaner is opened, the waste collection pocket is seen. The waste collection bag has to be fitted here, and the lid should be tightly closed. After the waste bag is full, it should be discarded.

The method of attaching the bag is illustrated below:

   
   

Maintenance of the vacuum cleaner:
  • After use, the different parts should be removed, wiped thoroughly and kept safely.
  • The machine should always be kept in a vertical position and the pipe should be hung in the shape of the number 8
  • To prevent accumulation of dust on the machine, place a cover over it.
POINTS TO REMEMBER
  • The appropriate accessory should be used to do a particular job
  • Stop the machine for a short time every half hour
  • Fix the pipe tightly onto the machine. Otherwise due to the pressure of air the pipe will come off
  • Discard the waste paper bag when it is full and replace it with a new one.
Cleaning the elevator:


Objective: To learn how to clean the elevator effectively

Equipment and supplies:
  • Soft broom
  • Dust pan
  • Coir brush
  • Vim
  • A blunt knife
  • Swabbing cloth
  • Cleaning liquid
  • Scrubber
Cleaning the elevator:
In a hospital, several people use the elevator everyday. It is used to carry patients and their attendants to different floors of the hospital building. The lift is also used to carry operated patients, old people, people who cannot walk, articles that are too heavy to be carried, or that are many in number, wheelchairs, and garbage disposal carts. Therefore, keeping the elevator clean is an important job of the housekeeper. Since the elevator is used for so many purposes, it gets dusty and collects dirt. Hence it needs to be cleaned every day. Like cleaning a room, the elevator should be cleaned thoroughly.

Method of cleaning an elevator:
  • A notice informing that the elevator is being cleaned should be placed outside the elevator. Apologize for the inconvenience.
  • The elevator should be switched off during the cleaning
  • Keep all the necessary materials and equipment ready and at hand.
  • Dust the top, and the walls and remove all cobwebs from the corners
  • Sweep the floor and remove the dust
  • Rinse a swabbing cloth in the cleaning liquid and wipe the lift thoroughly
  • If any pictures adorn the walls of the elevator, see that they are cleaned and put back neatly
  • Wipe any oil or grease on the door of the lift.
  • Remove the dust and lose soil from the door groove with the help of a coir brush.
  • Any stains on the floor of the lift should be removed using the cleaning solution and a scrubber. If any glue-like substance is found stuck to the lift floor, remove it very carefully with the blunt knife without damaging the floor.
  • The fan, light and other items should be wiped thoroughly.
  • The switchboard should be wiped with spirit.
  • Check if the light and fan is working. If not, inform the electrician
  • Inspect the work. Ensure that there are no stains or marks on the walls and the floor of the lift
  • After cleaning and checking everything, switch on the lift
  • Remove the notice put outside the lift
  • All the articles used for the cleaning should be returned to the store-room
POINTS TO REMEMBER
  • Place a notice outside the elevator before starting the cleaning work
  • Switch off the elevator before starting the cleaning
Cleaning glass:


Objective: To learn the method of keeping glass spotlessly clean

Equipment and materials:
  • Glass-cleaning liquid
  • Lint-free cloth
  • Sponge
Cleaning glass:
Glass is used in many places in the hospital such as windows, doors, photo frames, mirrors, aquarium, cupboards, tabletops and notice boards. Articles made of glass look beautiful only if they are kept spotlessly clean. Glass needs to be cleaned every day.

 

Procedure:
  • Wipe the glass with a wet sponge to remove the dust
  • Spray the glass-cleaning liquid on the glass.
  • Wipe the glass horizontally from left to right, using a cotton lint-free cloth.
  • Now wipe again, this time vertically, from the top to the bottom.
  • In the same way, clean the other side of the glass.
  • If the glass is not wiped uniformly in one direction, marks will show and the glass will appear unseemly.
  • Inspect the work. Stand at a distance and see if both sides look clear and clean
  • If there are any marks on the glass, remove them immediately
POINTS TO REMEMBER
  • The glass-cleaning liquid should be used in the required quantity. If it is used in excess, it will stain the glass.
  • Tinted glass should be wiped with a sponge to remove the dirt
  • The corners of the glass on doors, windows and other places should be wiped with a wet cloth and the dust should be removed.
  • Both sides of the glass should be wiped in a uniform manner.
Cleaning the telephone:


Objective: To learn how to disinfect and clean a telephone

Equipment and materials:
  • Cotton cloth
  • Spirit
Cleaning the telephone:


The most widely used means of communication is the telephone. The phone is used by many people and should be wiped and cleaned with a disinfectant. When a phone is used, the dirt from the hands of the user is transferred to the phone and it appears dirty. There is also the possibility of saliva being sprayed on the receiver while talking. There are many microbes present in the saliva, and there is every chance of these microbes accumulating in the phone. Hence, it is important to clean the telephone daily, using a disinfectant.

Method of cleaning and disinfecting the phone:
  • First wipe the mouthpiece and the receiver of the phone with a clean cloth
  • Cotton soaked in spirit should be used to wipe all the parts of the phone
  • Wipe the numbers on the phone to clean the dust
  • Stretch the wire and wipe with spirit
  • Now wipe all these parts with a clean, dry lint-free cloth
  • Inspect the work. There should be no marks on the phone.
POINTS TO REMEMBER
  • The receiver and the mouthpiece of the phone should be cleaned thoroughly.
  • While cleaning the phone ensure that the spirit on the cotton does not get into the holes on the mouthpiece and the receiver.
Cleaning and polishing brass:


Objective: To learn how to make brass items sparkle.

Equipment and supplies:
  • Cloth
  • Brasso
  • Cup
  • Toothbrush
  • Cleaning liquid
  • Scrubber
  • Polythene paper
Cleaning and polishing brass articles:
Brass articles are used to decorate the rooms. These articles in course of time turn dull and get tarnished due to chemical changes. Hence they need to be polished once in three days. This lesson deals with the devices used to clean them, procedure and points to remember while cleaning.

Brass articles used daily:
  • The kuthuvizhakku (brass lamp) and its stand are used as decorative pieces in the reception area and as puja lamps in the Meditation Room
  • Large and small brass articles are used as decorative pieces in the reception area.
  • Flowerpots are placed inside large brass vessels.
  • Brass flower vases, plates, kumkum container, and small idols are also placed in the Meditation Room
  • Brass flower vases are placed in the dining hall and other places.
  • Some nameplates are also made of brass, and need to be polished.
All these brass articles, which serve different purposes, should be cleaned and polished once in three days to look like new.

Method of polishing brass articles:
To clean brass articles we use the Brasso liquid. Each brass article should be cleaned separately, taking utmost care. When the cleaning is finished, the article should shine like it was new.

Polishing the kuthuvizhakku:
  • Remove the oil in the kuthuvizhakku
  • Dismantle the lamp and keep the different parts of the lamp in a line.
  • Scrub every part of the lamp using the cleaning liquid
  • Use the toothbrush to scrub corners and any engraved figures on the lamp
  • Fold the cloth into 4 or 8 folds, depending on the size of the cloth. Wipe each part of the lamp to remove the dirt on the surface.
  • Wipe the lamp dry using a clean cloth.
  • Pour the required quantity of Brasso into a cup.
  • Dipping a clean cloth into the Brasso liquid, wipe the lamp thoroughly, starting at the bottom.
  • Let the liquid soak into the lamp for 5-10 minutes.
  • Now wipe the lamp rubbing it vigorously. Do this three times, each time using a clean cloth.
  • Assemble the polished and shining lamp.
  • Holding the lamp at the top very carefully, rub it again with a dry cloth, to remove any finger marks that are on the polished surface.
Polishing immovable and heavy brass articles:
For brass items that are heavy and cannot be moved, the polishing should be done in the place of the article itself. Follow the same procedure as given above, but polish the article from the top to the bottom. Move the cloth in one direction only otherwise it will leave marks.

Brass plates:
Most decorative brass pates have designs on them. The Brasso and dirt runs into the thin lines in the design. This can be removed using a toothbrush. The process of polishing is the same as above.

Brass flower vase:
While polishing a vase, after the Brasso is applied, move lengthwise from top to bottom. When wiping it the second time, move horizontally, starting at the bottom. The third wipe is to give it the final polish, removing any fingerprints that may be there.

Brass vessel:

Method:
  • Wash the vessel with the cleaning liquid, on the inside and the outside.
  • Take a clean cloth and wipe the vessel dry, especially on the outside
  • Apply Brasso on the outside, and let it soak in for 5-10minutes.
  • Polish it by rubbing uniformly, as per the procedure given above.
  • Remove any finger marks in the final polish.
  • If a potted plant has to be placed inside the vessel, first spread a polythene paper inside. Now place some bricks on the polythene paper, and place the pot carefully on the bricks.
  • If water is used in a vessel, then scrub the inside everyday with the cleaning liquid and a nylon brush. Wipe the outside thoroughly with a dry cloth to prevent moss formation.
  • Prevent water from falling on the polished surface.
POINTS TO REMEMBER
  • It is a must to have at least 3 dusters for polishing. If a cloth duster is used for one coat of polish, do not use it again.
  • Brasso is expensive. Do not waste it. Take only the required amount in the cup.
  • If a brass article has not been cleaned for a long time, first scrub it with a lemon and then wash it with the cleaning liquid and polish it with Brasso
  • After polishing and wiping, if marks are still seen, the article should be wiped again.
  • After the polishing is done, put all the materials in their respective places.
  • Only brass articles can be polished using Brasso. Alloys such as copper and bronze cannot be given a shine using Brasso.
Cleaning class rooms and the conference hall:


Objective: To learn how to clean and arrange a classroom.

Equipment and supplies:
  • Cloth
  • Cleaning liquid
  • Soft broom
  • Mop
  • Waste basket
  • Maintenance handbook
Cleaning the class room and conference hall:
A classroom is used by students every day to attend lectures. Officers and managers also use the classroom to conduct meetings or to hold discussions with their staff. Classrooms are also used to conduct workshops and training courses, for our various training programmes. Discussions and training not related to the hospital are also conducted in these rooms. Hence the much used classrooms and conference hall should always be kept neat and well arranged.

Method of cleaning a classroom or conference hall:
  • As in the case of ordinary rooms, dusting, sweeping and mopping should be carried out every day.
  • Tables, chairs and other items in the room should be dusted and cleaned every day. The table and chairs should be arranged neatly in rows unless instructed otherwise.
Pay attention to the following details:
  • All parts of the room should be dusted
  • Tables and chairs should be wiped thoroughly
  • Window grills and frames should be wiped first.
  • The white board, used for writing should be wiped clean, and it should be ensured that the wet duster used for wiping does not leave any stains on it. Wipe the metal strip used for placing the marker pens thoroughly
  • Clean the overhead projector carefully
  • Clean the LCD screen and ensure that there are no marks on it
  • Now sweep and mop the room thoroughly
  • The lights and fans should be kept clean. Ensure that they are in good working condition.
  • Check if the doors close properly and smoothly. Make sure that the hinges do not squeak. If there is a problem, have it rectified immediately
  • Make sure the door-stoppers are in good condition, otherwise have them replaced.
  • Make sure the air conditioner is functioning. If not, inform the electrician and have it rectified immediately.
  • Ensure that the doors and windows are closed tight when the AC is in operation.
  • An attractive flower arrangement should be kept in an appropriate place.
  • Ensure that drinking water and glasses are made available in the classroom / conference hall
  • The waste-baskets should be cleared everyday and placed in the class / conference hall.
  • When the class / meeting is over, ensure that the lights, fans and other electrical equipment are switched off.
Exercises:
  • What are the advantages of using a vacuum cleaner for cleaning?
  • What are the points to be borne in mind when cleaning the elevator?
  • When cleaning glass, why is it important to move the duster only in one direction?
  • Describe the procedure of polishing brass
  • Why is it necessary to clean the telephone using spirit?
  • Explain the important points to be kept in mind when preparing a conference hall for a meeting.
Teaching suggestions:
This lesson is best demonstrated through video clippings,

After the class-room session, the students need to do the work for a few days to get the technique right.