HOW TO SPOT CLEAN

Guest Expectation: I expect that carpets are clean and not worn. I don’t like observing spots after breakfast which are still there the next day.  I expect people who work in upscale hotels to be detail oriented.

Why is this task important for you and our guests?

Answers: 

1. I understand the importance of spot cleaning.

2. I understand that it is not always necessary to clean the whole carpet.

3. It is important for us to take good care of our material, as this shows our professionalism.

STEPS	HOW/ STANDARDS	TRAINING QUESTIONS
Preparation	Prepare all cleaning tools and cleaning material required. Prepare all cleaning tools and chemicals that are required.	Why do I need to prepare all this items for spot cleaning?
Daily maintenance	Remove spots from carpets immediately when finding a stain.	Why does this need to be done immediately?
Type of stain	Food and beverage stains, e.g. coffee, juices, etc. can be removed with carpet shampoo.  Red wine stain cannot be removed once it has been spilled on the carpet. Put SOLD on the spot when fresh (or other Hotel standard cleaning agent)SOLD Oil stain can be removed with TARGO or solvent (or other Hotel standard cleaning agent) Chewing gum can be removed with Anti-gum or hardened with ice and then scraped off. Press a dry cleaning cloth over the stain if it is still wet, to absorb as much of the stain as possible.	What is difficult about red wine?  What should I do when red wine has stained upholstery? How can I get read of oil spots? What can I do with chewing gum? Why do I need to press the cloth on the stain when still wet??
Removing stains	Spray carpet shampoo or TARGO on the stain. Agitate the stain with a hand brush. Brushing lightly is careful not to spread the soil to a larger area. With a clean damp cloth, absorb the soil from the carpet by pressing the damp cloth onto the stain, from the outer edge of the stain inwards. When that part of the cleaning cloth is dirty, turn to another clean part and repeat the process until the stain disappears.
Store	Clean and dry equipment and tools and store them neatly in the appropriate places. Clean the scrubbing brush and hang it up to dry. Clean and put the signage away properly.	1. Why do I need to store items and equipment neatly?
Report defects	Report maintenance problems found while cleaning immediately.	1. Why do I have to report immediately?

Now ask the trainee to practice the task from start to end to test competency.

Summary questions:

1. What is important to know about stains?

2. What different types of stains exist?

3. Where might I find “spot” stains?

4. Is it important to use the right chemical?

5. How do I spot clean red wine stains?