Private housekeeping is a dynamic and essential role, centered around maintaining the cleanliness and orderliness of private residences. The private housekeeper’s job encompasses a wide range of responsibilities, tailoring to the unique needs of each household.
- Main Missions:
- General cleaning
- inventory management
- pet care
- executing specific household tasks.
- Employment Conditions: Opportunities for both live-in and live-out arrangements
- Salary: $30,000 – $45,000 a year
- Type of job: Domestic staff
A private housekeeper is the responsible of a well-maintained home, consistently integrating efficiency, care, and attention to detail in every aspect of their work.
Missions and responsibilities
A private housekeeper is responsible for a diverse array of tasks :
- General Cleaning: Maintaining cleanliness in areas like bathrooms, bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens, and stairways.
- Organizing Supplies: Managing and maintaining an inventory of cleaning and household supplies.
- Communication: Liaising with clients regarding scheduling changes or issues with arrangements.
- Pet Care: Tending to pets, including feeding, grooming, and walking.
- Polishing: Polishing silverware, dishes, and other items that require special care.
- Furniture and Upholstery Care: Cleaning and sanitizing furniture and other items, including those that cannot be moved.
- Dusting: Dusting shelves, blinds, baseboards, ceilings, windowsills, and other surfaces.
- Floor and Carpet Care: Cleaning floors and carpets using appropriate methods like steam or shampoo machines.
- Inventory Management: Keeping track of household supplies and equipment, such as toilet paper, soap, light bulbs, etc.
- Exterior Maintenance: Ensuring fences, gates, doors, and windows are well-maintained.
- Tenant Assistance: Addressing tenants’ needs, such as food deliveries, providing toiletries, and ensuring a pleasant stay.
- Greenhouse Maintenance: Keeping the greenhouse clean and free from pests.
- Landscape Maintenance: Ensuring the landscape and lawns are trimmed and well-maintained.
- Meal Cleanup: Cleaning up after meals within a specific time limit.
- Eco-friendly Cleaning: Using eco-friendly cleaning products when available.
- Appliance Maintenance: Keeping appliances like dishwashers and washing machines in good condition.
- Cooking: Some housekeepers are required to cook and prepare meals for their employers.
How to become a private Housekeeper ?
Education and skills
While a high school diploma is not always required, it can be beneficial. Some housekeepers choose to pursue relevant courses or associate degrees :
- Housekeeping and Cleaning Certifications: Various organizations and vocational schools offer certifications in housekeeping and cleaning. These programs typically cover essential skills like proper cleaning techniques, laundry operations, and safe chemical usage. These include the International Executive Housekeepers Association (IEHA), which provide the Professional House Cleaning (PHC) Certification.
- Hospitality Management Courses: Some housekeepers may choose to pursue courses in hospitality management, available at many community colleges and vocational schools. These courses often include modules on housekeeping management, customer service, and hospitality ethics. Universities such as Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration offer comprehensive courses that include housekeeping management.
- Associate’s Degrees: An associate’s degree in hospitality or housekeeping management can provide a more in-depth understanding of the industry. Such programs usually cover topics like hospitality law, business management, and housekeeping operation techniques. For example, the Culinary Institute of America provides hospitality management courses that can be beneficial.
- Specialized Training for Luxury Homes: For those aiming to work in high-end residences, specialized training programs are available that focus on the specific needs of luxury homes, such as caring for fine linens, antiques, and high-end appliances.
Essential skills include organization, effective communication, and attention to detail. Flexibility and proficiency in cleaning are also crucial.
Experience
On-the-job training is common, where housekeepers learn specific cleaning methods and organization skills. Some employers might require previous experience in housekeeping or related fields.
Work conditions
Private housekeepers typically work in their employers’ homes, performing tasks like cooking, cleaning, laundry, and sometimes even grocery shopping and running errands. The job often requires long hours and flexibility, including working on weekends and holidays. Discretion, trustworthiness, self-motivation and a very strong sense of service are key traits for success in this role. But it is also a job that can offer great personal satisfaction.
“One day, while I was meticulously organizing the living room, I discovered a rare, antique coin under one of the couch cushions. Knowing the family’s son had a keen interest in coin collecting, I decided to save it and present it to him after my duties were finished. The joy and excitement on the young boy’s face when he received the coin were priceless. This moment underscored for me the unique personal connections and unexpected discoveries that enrich my daily responsibilities. This was a reminder of the impact my work can have beyond just cleaning and organizing.”
Marina, a private housekeeper hired by Morgan & Mallet International for a family in a large, suburban home.
Salary
Salaries can range significantly based on experience, location, and the specific requirements of the job. The median annual salary is around $30,000, going up to about $45,000 for top earners.
Common titles for a Housekeeper
The role encompasses various titles, each reflecting specific duties and settings.
Live-In housekeeper
They reside in the employer’s household, providing a range of services from cleaning and laundry to sometimes even child care and cooking. Their presence in the house allows for more flexible availability, including early mornings, late evenings, and emergency situations.
Live-out Housekeeper
They work on a daily basis but do not reside on the property. Their duties often mirror those of live-in housekeepers, including cleaning, laundry, and sometimes cooking, but they work set hours and return to their own homes at the end of the day. This arrangement is often preferred by households that need regular cleaning and maintenance services but do not require or desire someone living on-site.
All-round housekeeper
Skilled in a wide array of domestic tasks, they are often expected to have a broader skill set, including deep cleaning, laundry expertise, fine garment care, and sometimes basic cooking or child care.
Housekeeper cook
They have a dual role, combining traditional housekeeping duties with meal preparation and cooking. They are responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the home and also for planning, shopping for, and preparing meals. This role requires a good knowledge of cooking techniques, nutrition, and often the ability to cater to specific dietary requirements. In some households, they might also be involved in hosting and serving during parties or events.
Similar jobs
Similar professions include head housekeepers, nannies, house managers and housemen, each varying in responsibilities and focus.
Head Housekeeper
The primary difference between a private housekeeper and a head housekeeper lies in their level of responsibility and management duties. A private housekeeper typically focuses on hands-on cleaning and maintenance tasks within a household.
A head housekeeper holds a more senior position, often overseeing a team of housekeeping staff. Their role includes not just hands-on work but also managerial tasks such as scheduling, training new staff, maintaining quality standards, and ensuring efficient operation of all housekeeping activities. They act as a liaison between staff and the employer, handling communication and sometimes budgeting aspects.
Nanny
A nanny is primarily focused on childcare. Their responsibilities revolve around taking care of children, which includes feeding, bathing, educating, and entertaining them, along with managing children’s activities and schedules. While a nanny might perform some light housekeeping tasks related to the children, such as cleaning up after meals or tidying play areas, their main role is the care and well-being of the children in the household.
House Manager
A house manager has a range of responsibilities that extend beyond just housekeeping. They are responsible for the overall management of the household, which can include supervising other staff, managing budgets, planning events, overseeing home maintenance projects, and sometimes even handling personal tasks for the employers. The house manager operates at a strategic level, ensuring the smooth running of all operations and often making executive decisions related to the household.
Houseman
A houseman‘s responsibilities are varied and often extend to the exterior maintenance of the property, as well as heavier household tasks. This may include outdoor chores like gardening, basic landscaping, pool maintenance, and handling minor repairs or maintenance issues. Inside the house, a houseman might assist with moving heavy items, cleaning hard-to-reach areas, and sometimes performing tasks akin to a handyman. While there is some overlap in duties with a housekeeper, such as cleaning, a houseman’s role is generally more physically demanding and broad in scope.
Top Cities to find job positions as a Private Housekeeper
Major cities and affluent areas are typically hotspots for private housekeeping jobs due to higher demand for these services : New York, Miami, Paris, London, Dubai…
Job growth trend
The demand for private housekeepers is expected to grow at an average rate, driven by the aging baby-boom population and a general increase in demand for home care services.
Private Housekeeper job perspectives
Career advancement can include moving into managerial roles or specializing in areas like event planning. Starting a private housekeeping business is also a viable path for those seeking greater control and flexibility in their career.
Example of a Private Housekeeper job description
Here’s an example of a job description for a private housekeeper.
We are looking for a polyvalent private housekeeper responsible for maintaining a 300 m2 apartment in London.
Job duties and responsibilities
- Maintain the impeccable condition of the residence : vacuuming and dusting, maintenance of floors and glass surfaces
- Organization and tidying
- Make beds
- Manage all laundry activities : washing, ironing, folding
- Occasionally cook meals
- Various errands as requested
- Respect the privacy and confidentiality of the homeowners and their belongings
Profile requirement
- Proven experience in a similar role, with excellent references
- Discretion and confidentiality
- Highly professional person with a strong work ethic
- Fluency in English
Job conditions
- Full-time position
- 5 days per week from 10 am to 4 pm
- Opportunities for professional development
- Salary based on experience
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