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Housekeeping
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other uses, see Housekeeping (disambiguation).

See also: Homemaking

This article possibly contains original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made
and adding inline citations. Statements consisting only of original research should be
removed. (June 2015)
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this
article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and
removed. (August 2011)
Housekeeping refers to the management of duties and chores involved in the running of
a household, such as cleaning, cooking, home maintenance, shopping, laundry and billpay. These
tasks may be performed by any of the household members, or by other persons hired to perform
these tasks. The term is also used to refer to the money allocated for such use. [1] By extension, an
office or organization, as well as the maintenance of computer storage systems.[2]
A housekeeper is a person employed to manage a household,[3] and the domestic staff. According to
the Victorian Era Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management, the housekeeper is second in
command in the house and "except in large establishments, where there is a house steward, the
housekeeper must consider his/herself as the immediate representative of her mistress". [4]
Contents
[hide]

1 Housecleaning
o

1.1 Removal of litter

1.2 Dusting

1.3 Removal of dirt

1.4 Household chemicals

1.5 Tools

1.6 Yard

2 House chores

3 Social significance

4 See also

5 References

Housecleaning[edit]

Broom, sponge and duster

It includes activities such as housecleaning, that is, disposing of rubbish, cleaning dirty surfaces,
dusting and vacuuming. It may also involve some outdoor chores, such as removing leaves from rain
gutters, washing windows and sweeping doormats. The term housecleaning is often used also
figuratively in politics and business, for the removal of unwanted personnel, methods or policies in
an effort at reform or improvement.[5]
Housecleaning is done to make the home look and smell better and be safer and easier to live in.
Without housecleaning lime scale can build up ontaps, mold grows in wet areas, smudges on glass
surfaces, dust forms on surfaces, bacterial action make the garbage disposal and toilet smell
andcobwebs accumulate. Tools used in housecleaning
include vacuums, brooms, mops and sponges, together with cleaning products such
asdetergents, disinfectants and bleach.

Removal of litter[edit]
Disposal of rubbish is an important aspect of house cleaning. Plastic bags are designed and
manufactured specifically for the collection of litter. Many are sized to fit common waste baskets and
trash cans. Paper bags are made to carry aluminum cans, glass jars and other things although most
people use plastic bins for glass since it could break and tear through the bag. Recycling is possible
with some kinds of litter.[6]

Dusting[edit]

Some dusting tools

Over time dust accumulates on household surfaces. As well as making the surfaces dirty, when dust
is disturbed it can become suspended in the air, causing sneezing and breathing trouble. It can also
transfer from furniture to clothing, making it unclean. Various tools have been invented for dust
removal; Feather and lambs wool dusters, cotton and polyester dust cloths, furniture spray [1],
disposable paper "dust cloths", dust mops for smooth floors and vacuum cleaners. Vacuum cleaners
often have a variety of tools to enable them to remove dirt not just from carpets and rugs, but from
hard surfaces and upholstery.[7]

Removal of dirt[edit]
Examples of dirt or "soil" are detritus and common spills and stains that exists in the home.
Equipment used with a cleaner might be a bucket and sponge or a rag. A modern tool is the spray
bottle, but the principle is the same.

Household chemicals[edit]
Various household cleaning products have been developed to facilitate the removal of dust and dirt,
for surface maintenance, and for disinfection.[8] Products are available in powder, liquid or spray form.
The basic ingredients determine the type of cleaning tasks for which they are suitable. Some are
packaged as general purpose cleaning materials while others are targeted at specific cleaning tasks
such as drain clearing, oven cleaning, lime scale removal and polishing furniture. Household
cleaning products provide aesthetic and hygiene benefits but are also associated with health risks
for the users, and building occupants.[9] The US Department of Health and Human Services offers
the public access to the Household Products Database. This database provides consumer
information for over 4,000 products based on information provided by the manufacturer through
the material safety data sheet.[10]
Surfactants lower the surface tension of water, making it able to flow into smaller tiny cracks and
crevices in soils making removal easier. Alkaline chemicals break down known soils such as grease
and mud. Acids break down soils such as lime scale, soap scum, and stains of mustard, coffee, tea,
and alcoholic beverages. Some solvent-based products are flammable and some can dissolve paint
and varnish. Disinfectants stop smell and stains caused by bacteria.
When multiple chemicals are applied to the same surface without full removal of the earlier
substance, the chemicals may interact. This interaction may result in a reduction of the efficiency of
the chemicals applied (such as a change in pH value caused by mixing alkalis and acids) and in
cases may even emit toxic fumes. An example of this is the mixing of ammonia-based cleaners (or
acid-based cleaners) and bleach.[11] This causes the production of chloramines that volatilize
(become gaseous) causing acute inflammation of the lungs (toxic pneumonitis), long-term
respiratory damage, and potential death.[12]
Residue from cleaning products and cleaning activity (dusting, vacuuming, sweeping) have been
shown to impact indoor air quality (IAQ) by redistributing particulate matter (dust, dirt, human skin
cells, organic matter, animal dander, particles from combustion, fibers from insulation, pollen,
and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) that gaseous or liquid particles become adsorbed to. The
particulate matter and chemical residual will of be highest concentrations right after cleaning but will
decrease over time depending upon levels of contaminants, air exchange rate, and other sources of
chemical residual.[11] Of most concern are the family of chemicals called VOCs such
as formaldehyde, toluene, and limonene.[13]
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are released from many household cleaning products such as
disinfectants, polishes, floor waxes, air-freshening sprays, all purpose cleaning sprays, and glass
cleaner. These products have been shown to emit irritating vapors. [8][14][15] VOCs are of most concern
due to their tendency to evaporate and be inhaled into the lungs or adsorbed to existing dust, which
can also be inhaled.[8] It has been found that aerosolized (spray) cleaning products are important risk
factors and may aggravate symptoms of adult asthma,[15] respiratory irritation,[8] childhood asthma,
wheeze, bronchitis, and allergy.[14]

Other modes of exposure to potentially harmful household cleaning chemicals include absorption
through the skin (dermis), accidental ingestion, and accidental splashing into the eyes. Products for
the application and safe use of the chemicals are also available, such as nylon scrub sponge
and rubber gloves. [16] It is up to the consumer to keep themselves safe while using these chemicals.
Reading and comprehending the labels is important.
There is a growing consumer and governmental interest in natural cleaning products and green
cleaning methods. The use of nontoxic household chemicals is growing as consumers become more
informed of the health effects of many household chemicals, and municipalities are having to deal
with the expensive disposal of household hazardous waste (HHW).[17][18]

Tools[edit]
Brooms remove debris from floors and dustpans carry dust and debris swept into them, buckets hold
cleaning and rinsing solutions, vacuum cleaners and carpet sweepersremove surface dust and
debris, chamois leather and squeegees are used for window-cleaning, and mops are used for
washing floors.[19] Protective gear including rubbergloves, face covers, and protective eyewear is also
used when dealing with cleaning products.[20]

Yard[edit]
A home's yard and exterior are sometimes subject to cleaning. Exterior cleaning also occurs for
safety, upkeep and usefulness. It includes removal of paper litter and grass growing in sidewalk
cracks.

House chores[edit]
House chores, or chores are components of housekeeping, and are usually in reference to specific
tasks to be completed. Examples of house chores are: washing dishes; taking out trash after dinner.

Social significance[edit]
While housekeeping can be seen as an objective activity that can be done by either men or women,
some people have argued that housekeeping is a site of historical oppression and gender division
between traditionally gendered men and women. [21] Housekeeping also has a role in maintaining
certain parts of the capitalist economy, including the division of home and work life, as well as
industries that sell chemicals and household goods.[citation needed]

See also[edit]

Cleanliness

Dishwashing

Floor cleaning

Gardening

Great house

Home appliance

Homemaker

Home maintenance

Maid

Plumbing

Homejoy

Wikimedia Commons has

media related
toHousekeeping.

References[edit]

Wikibooks has The Housework Manual as well

as books on these subjects:

Personal Finance/Housekeeping

Housecleaning

Cleaning Guide

Housekeeping (Adventist Youth

Honors Answer Book)
Look up housekeeping in
Wiktionary, the free
dictionary.

1.

Jump up^ "housekeeping" Oxford Dictionaries Online. Retrieved 2

June 2013.

2.

Jump up^ "housekeeping" The Collins English Dictionary. Retrieved 2

June 2013.

3.

Jump up^ "housekeeper" Oxford Dictionaries Online. Retrieved 2

June 2013.

4.

Jump up^ Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management Web

version of the book at the University of Adelaide Library. Retrieved 2
June 2013.

5.

Jump up^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English

Language Retrieved 2011-01-23

6.

Jump up^ Dellutri, Laura. 2005. Speed Cleaning 101. Meredith

Books, Des Moines, Iowa.

7.

Jump up^ Kennedy, Rose. 2006. 10-Minute Housekeeping. Beverly,

MA: Fair Winds Press.

8.

^ Jump up to:a b c d Wolkoff P, Schneider T, Kildeso J, Degerth R,

Jaroszewski, and Schunk H. Science of the Total Environment, 215,
(1998) pg. 135156

9.

Jump up^ Kwon KD, Jo WK, Lim JH, and Jcong WS. Environ Sci
Pollut Res 15, (2008) pg. 521526

10. Jump up^ "Household Products Database". U.S. Department of

Health and Human Services. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
11. ^ Jump up to:a b Nazaroff, WW., Weschler, CJ., Atmospheric
Environment. 38 (2004) pg. 28412865
12. Jump up^ Reisz, GR., Gammon, RS. Toxic Pneumonitis from mixing
household chemicals. CHEST 89 (1986) pg. 4952
13. Jump up^ Burton, A. Environmental Health Perspectives Indoor Air
Quality. Vol. 115 #7 (2007) pg. 350
14. ^ Jump up to:a b Raizenne M., Dales R., Burnett, R., Canadian Jour of
Public Health. Air Pollution Exposures and Children's Health. Vol. 89,
Suppl. 1 MayJune 1998. pg. S4348
15. ^ Jump up to:a b Zock, JP., Plana, E.,Jarvis D. et al. Am J Resipir Crit
Care Medicine. Vol. 176. (2007) pg. 735741
16. Jump up^ Bredenberg, Jeff et al. 1998. Clean it Fast, Clean it right.
Emmaus, PA, USA:Rodale. ISBN 0-87596-509-1.
17. Jump up^ Adams, D., Werner, CM., Analyses of Social Issues and
Public Policy. Changing Homeowners' Behaviors Involving Toxic
Household Chemicals: A psychological, multilevel approach. (2001)
pg. 132
18. Jump up^ Slack, RJ.,Gronow, JR.,Voulvoulis N. Science of the Total
Environment. 337 (2005) 119137
19. Jump up^ Bredenberg, Jeff et al. 1998. Clean It Fast, Clean It
Right. Emmaus, PA: Rodale
20. Jump up^ "Safe & Healthy House Keeping Methods". Benchmark
Cleaning Service. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
21. Jump up^ Mainardi, Pat (1970). "The Politics of Housework".
Redstockings. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
[hide]

Laundry
List of laundry topics
Biological detergent
Chemicals

Bleach
Fabric softener
Laundry detergent
Combo washer dryer
Dry cleaning

Washing

Tunnel washer
Washboard
Washing machine
Clothes dryer
Clothes horse

Drying

Clothes line
Drying cabinet
Hills Hoist
Mangle (machine)
Box mangle

Finishing

Clothes hanger
Ironing
Colour fastness
Fulling

Concepts

Ironing
Posting (laundering process)
Shrinkage (fabric)
Stain

Organizations

Chinese Hand Laundry Alliance

French laundries of California

Laundry and Dry Cleaning International Union

Laundry Workers Industrial Union
Project Laundry List
Worshipful Company of Launderers
Dhobi
Culture

Housekeeping
Industrial laundry
Laundry symbol
Clothespin
Dispensing ball

Accessories

Hamper
Laundry ball
Washing paddle
Barbier v. Connolly
Kimball Laundry Co. v. United States

Law

Muller v. Oregon
Pearson v. Chung
Yick Wo v. Hopkins
Baths and wash houses in Britain
Dhobi Ghat

Places

Laundry room
Lavoir
Self-service laundry
Tvttstuga

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