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
nd guests. Read and listen to the lessons..
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 clogged with 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 verydusty. |
| filthy | very dirty | The bathroom is filthy because 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 are messy,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 dust the 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 couldfreshen 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 you vacuum 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. |
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