AKΛ Beta Psi
House Manager Guide
Cleaning procedures for 1043 E. Cherry
Created 1/2014
Updated 7/2016
House Manager
Maintain this document!
You are NOT the janitor; your job is to encourage chapter members to keep the house and grounds looking respectable.
If you follow the cleaning guide the house will look great and will be an impressive thing to show parents, friends and ladies. It is not your job to clean, but to MANAGE the cleaning. The house manager should schedule reoccurring group cleanings so those who live out of the house know when to participate. A recommendation is to schedule two weekly cleanings, Sunday and Wednesday, to maintain the appearance of the property.
Hold members accountable for their actions in the house. If you notice a member not picking up after himself, call him out on it. If a member invites a guest into the house, hold that member accountable for that person’s actions. Nobody should leave a room without cleaning up after themselves.
We are trying to teach live lessons and responsibility. This is self-sufficiency at its finest.
Instructions
Provide cleaning instruction to new members and new house residents each semester. Set expectations how you would like the house cleaned. Failing to set these expectations is the quickest way to lose control of a clean house. The condition of the house is a reflection of you and how you are performing your job. If you feel the house is beginning to look dirty, schedule a cleaning. Assign duties to chapter members and hold them responsible.
Expect that people do not know how to clean. Show them. Use the pages in this manual to teach them. This is likely each member’s first time living on their own and they are just learning to take care of him.
Keys
Whether you or the President have the house keys, they are to be treated with respect. If you cannot control the keys, then don’t keep them. Give them to the President. You are responsible for the contents of locked rooms. Do not loan the keys to anyone, unlock doors if the owner of the room is not present and do not take advantage of your position.
If you lose the keys, you alone will be required to pay for HALF of the rekeying charges. This is one of the most important roles in being house manager.
Doors
Doors that should close and lock, like the doors to outside, should do so with no additional effort. Basement doors should be barred closed if there is no activity. General house security is a primary responsibility. Fire doors at the end of hallways should close on their own. If they are dragging or not closing, contact Shauna.
Supplies
Currently, supplies are ordered through Lowe’s on a reoccurring basis. Corporation Board manages the ordering. If you need additional supplies or need to make adjustments to the monthly ordering list, contact Corporation Board. It is easy to make these adjustments. Corporation Board is not available to determine the supply or make adjustment unless communicated to.
Make a note of what is in the supply closet and only order what is needed. There is no need for 21 bottles of Windex… You get the point.
If cleaning supplies are stacking up, it is because they are not being used. If that is the case, determine why and address the issue. The cleaning supplies were bought for a reason. For many chapter members, this is their first time living on their own. They may not see the need or properly know how to clean. Educate them.
Make sure Vacuum is emptied weekly. You don’t empty it, but make sure it is emptied. Assign someone the task and provide them with the instructions. Do not assume they know how to empty the vacuum. This is the quickest way to ruin a vacuum.
NOTE: You will also be in charge of buying special items when needed. If the chapter house needs a new vacuum, request Corporation Board to add it to the monthly supply list or just go buy one that is about $100. We try to limit these purchases to once a year. Remember, these items come from the chapter account. Corporate board does not buy cleaning supplies. We need everyone to resect and take care of the chapter property, as they technically helped purchased every product.
Special Projects/Repairs
If a special project needs or would like to be completed, discuss with Corporation Board. AKL does not own the property and must ask for permission to make upgrades or repairs. If repairs need to be completed, the chapter may complete them, but must do so at a professional level. Each project must be completed. There have been issues in the past where holes were patched at a poor level and the chapter had to pay for the repairs twice. Also, some projects have been started by the chapter but not completed. When this happens, the property manager hires an outside contractor to complete the job. Remember, the contractor is there to make a profit.
Note about cleaning schedules:
When the word “Weekly” appears, it is up to you the house manager to figure out what day that is for the entire semester. If it is a Tueday then make all weekly tasks required to be completed on Tuesday. Pick a day and make that the day “Weekly” tasks are completed. Stick to that day for the entire semester.
If you do not choose a specific day for weekly tasks to be completed, they will fall through the cracks and never get done. Trust us on this. We have seen it before.
Work with the new member educator to get their input on what day maybe good for the new members to assist. IT is a great way for them to interact with the Actives and house residents.
Chapter Room
DUST, CLEAN, Then VACCUUM
2 People
Clean in the order of the items listed.
1. Dust horizontal surfaces Weekly* 5 Minutes
2. Clean windows Weekly* 15 Minutes
3. Wipe tables with Windex Daily 10 Minutes
4. Empty trash cans Daily 5 Minutes
5. Rinse Trash cans Weekly* 15 Minutes
6. Pick up small bits of trash Daily 5 Minutes
7. Vacuum Daily 10 Minutes
8. Straighten furniture Daily 5 Minutes
TV Room
DUST, CLEAN, Then VACCUUM
2 People
1. Dust horizontal surfaces Weekly* 5 Minutes
2. Clean windows Weekly* 15 Minutes
3. Pick up all trash Daily 5 Minutes
4. Wipe tables with Windex Daily 10 Minutes
5. Sweep hardwood floors Daily 15 Minutes
6. Empty trash cans (add liner) Daily 10 Minutes
7. Rinse Trash cans Weekly* 15 Minutes
8. LIGHTLY mop floors Twice Weekly* 20 minutes
9. Straighten furniture Daily 10 Minutes
Hallways
(all)
VACCUUM
1 Person
1. Vacuum Daily 30 Minutes
2. Empty trash cans Daily 10 Minutes
- Rinse Trash cans Weekly* 10 Minutes
Door areas &
Stairs
DUST, VACCUUM and MOP
2 People
1. Vacuum / Sweep Daily 15 Minutes
2. Scrub spills & paint As needed 25 Minutes
3. Wipe down door with Pine Sol Weekly* 5 Minutes
Bathrooms
(Down)
CLEAN Then MOP
3 People
1. Wipe horizontal surfaces (with cleaner) Daily 5 Minutes
2. Remove items that do not belong Daily 5 Minutes
3. Clean windows & Mirror with Windex Twice Weekly* 5 Minutes
4. Empty trash cans Daily 10 Minutes
5. Rinse Trash cans Weekly* 15 Minutes
6. Mop Shower walls and floors Twice Weekly* 15 Minutes
(Use 1 cup outdoor bleach to 3-4 Bleach stains be careful!
gallons water. Leave surfaces
soaking wet with solution.)
7. Clean toilets with Bleach solution Twice Weekly* 5 Minutes
8. Check & replace toilet paper Daily 5 Minutes
9. Check and fill soaps Daily 10 Minutes
Bathrooms
(Up)
CLEAN Then MOP
3 People
1. Wipe horizontal surfaces (with cleaner) Daily 5 Minutes
2. Remove items that do not belong Daily 5 Minutes
3. Clean windows & Mirror with Windex Twice Weekly* 5 Minutes
4. Empty trash cans Daily 10 Minutes
5. Rinse Trash cans Weekly* 15 Minutes
6. Mop Shower walls and floors Twice Weekly* 15 Minutes
(Use 1 cup outdoor bleach to 3-4 Bleach stains be careful!
gallons water. Leave surfaces
soaking wet with solution.)
7. Clean toilets with Bleach solution Twice Weekly* 5 Minutes
8. Check & replace toilet paper Daily 5 Minutes
9. Check and fill soaps Daily 10 Minutes
Basement
CLEAN Then sweep
3 People
1. Pick up all trash Daily 10 Minutes
2. Clean windows with Windex Weekly* 5 Minutes
3. Empty trash cans Daily 10 Minutes
4. Rinse Trash cans Weekly* 15 Minutes
5. Straighten furniture Daily 15 Minutes
6. Sweep floors Twice Weekly* 30 Minutes
Outside
1.5 Person
1. Sweep front porch, stairs and sidewalks. Twice Weekly*10 Minutes
2. Empty trash cans & cigarette bin Daily 10 Minutes
3. Rinse trash cans Wednesday 15 Minutes
4. Walk parking lot and pick up trash Daily 10 Minutes
5. Walk yard and pick up trash Daily 10 Minutes
6. Weed flower beds First Wednesday
of Month 30 Minutes
7. Remove all items from front porch Daily 10 Minutes
8. Straighten any banners or decorations Daily 10 Minutes
· - Pick a day for these tasks to be completed and stick with that day. “All weekly tasks are to be completed on Wednesday” Or what ever day works best. Without this, these tasks will fall through the cracks and not get done.