5S in Good Housekeeping: A Complete Guide With Examples (2024)

Maintaining efficiency and high standards of cleanliness is essential for operational success and customer satisfaction. The 5S method is a powerful tool in housekeeping management, offering a structured approach to organization, cleanliness, and productivity.

By applying the 5S principles—Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain—businesses, especially in the hospitality sector, can streamline their housekeeping operations, reduce waste, and ensure consistent, high-quality services.

Read on to learn the 5S’s of good housekeeping, how businesses can benefit from them, and how a digital software can simplify the implementation process.

Table of Contents

  1. Meaning of 5S in Housekeeping: What is 5S in Good Housekeeping?
  2. What are the 5S’s of Housekeeping?
  3. Applying 5S Principles in Housekeeping
  4. 5S of Good Housekeeping Example: Hotel Industry
  5. Implement 5S for Good Housekeeping With GoAudits
  6. FAQs

Meaning of 5S in Housekeeping: What is 5S in Good Housekeeping?

5S in good housekeeping refers to implementing the famous Japanese 5S principles to maintain a clean and efficient workspace. Although the concept of 5S has origins in the manufacturing sector, it has expanded across several other industries.

The 5S method of housekeeping can be applied in cleaning processes to reduce waste, boost efficiency, and establish protocols for the housekeeping staff.

Benefits of 5S of Good Housekeeping in the Workplace

With 5S in good housekeeping practices, you can create workflows that deliver consistent and efficient outcomes. You can establish housekeeping SOPs for routine tasks like refilling trolleys and changing linens, ensuring a high standard of work.

Besides enhancing productivity, 5S principles also help businesses offer a safe workplace. It requires teams to undertake steps to declutter and organize work areas, preventing trips, falls, and other housekeeping hazards.

A disorganized environment in hospitality and restaurant businesses can turn away customers. Practicing 5S is a long-term commitment to establishing standards, following standards, and consistently delivering high-quality work. Therefore, the 5S method of housekeeping can not only help these businesses meet the required cleaning standards but also continuously improve their ongoing practices.

What are the 5S’s of Housekeeping?

Before understanding how to apply 5S good housekeeping principles, let’s learn what these 5S’s are. Here’s what each “S” stands for:

  1. Sort: Also known as Seri, it is related to removing unnecessary items from the workplace. It ensures you are equipped only with the essential tools required to complete the task. Moreover, it helps declutter and improve focus.
  2. Set in Order (Seiton): As the name suggests, it implies organizing the items in such a way that they are easy to find. This involves placing everything in a predetermined spot to minimize the time spent searching for tools.
  3. Shine (Seiso): This step focuses on maintaining cleanliness and includes routine cleaning tasks to keep the facility in optimal working condition.
  4. Standardize (Seiketsu): It establishes standardized methods to implement the first three S’s. It includes creating routine checklists and setting expectations for organization, cleanliness, and orderliness.
  5. Sustain (Shitsuke): Lastly, make efforts to maintain the 5S process. Review and assess the workplace to make sure all the processes are followed as per the standards, confirming long-term success in keeping the environment clean and organized.

👉 Useful Resource: Free 5S Audit Checklist Templates

Here are free 5S audit and inspection checklists to help you get started:

5S Audit Template
5S Warehouse Checklist

» Use These Checklists: Sign up with our 14-day free trial to have these checklists customized.

Applying 5S Principles in Housekeeping

Applying the 5S in cleaning helps maintain an organized, clean, and efficient environment. Here’s how you can implement each step of 5S for housekeeping:

Sort

Start by evaluating all cleaning supplies and tools to determine what’s necessary and what’s redundant. Discard items that are no longer functional while retaining only the essential and frequently used cleaning products and equipment.

Set in Order

It involves organizing the housekeeping tools and products so that everything is placed logically and efficiently.

Frequently used items, such as vacuum cleaners and cleaning agents, should be stored in easily accessible locations, while less-used equipment can be placed in designated storage areas. Labeling shelves, carts, and storage rooms allows staff to quickly find what they need.

Shine

This step involves regularly checking tools and equipment for any damage to verify they are functioning properly. It also emphasizes the importance of maintaining spotless, well-kept areas.

By instilling a sense of responsibility in staff, this 5S housekeeping rule helps guarantee that every space they clean meets the highest standards of hygiene and appearance.

Standardize

The management needs to establish housekeeping SOPs for cleaning routines, equipment storage, and supply management. This ensures that all the tasks are performed consistently across all shifts.

Furthermore, creating checklists for daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning tasks helps maintain high service standards and prevents steps from being overlooked.

👉 Useful Resource: Free Housekeeping SOP Checklists

Here are the free housekeeping and cleaning SOPs for various facilities:

Bathroom Cleaning SOP
Office Cleaning Checklist
Housekeeping SOP for Office
Housekeeping SOP for Hospital
Workplace Housekeeping Checks

» Use These Checklists: Sign up with our 14-day free trial to get these checklists customized.

Sustain

Incorporate regular team training and performance reviews to sustain the 5s housekeeping system. Monitor adherence to SOPs and make adjustments when necessary, keeping the team disciplined and proactive.

Moreover, regular 5S audits and feedback help sustain these processes, maintaining high standards of cleanliness, safety, and efficiency across all commercial spaces.

5S of Good Housekeeping Example: Hotel Industry

Applying the 5s principles of good housekeeping in hotels is crucial for maintaining cleanliness, efficiency, and guest satisfaction. Here’s how each of the 5S housekeeping rules can be implemented specifically in a hotel setting:

In hotel housekeeping, sorting is all about regularly checking and removing any outdated or broken items from carts and storage, so that only the essentials are kept on hand. When it comes to setting things in order, it’s about organizing cleaning tools for easy access and using clear labels to help staff quickly find what they need.

Shining is essential for keeping guest rooms and common areas spotless, while also maintaining all cleaning equipment in good condition. To maintain standards, managers can implement specific cleaning protocols and use hotel housekeeping checklists for staff.

Lastly, ongoing training and cleaning inspections are crucial for sustaining these standards, helping maintain and adapt 5S good housekeeping practices to meet guest expectations.

Case Study: Discover how LaTour Hotels uses SOPs to achieve high quality assurance scores across 30+ locations.

Implement 5S for Good Housekeeping With GoAudits

GoAudits housekeeping software is a digital tool designed to boost efficiency, productivity, and safety for organizations in various industries. The platform has features that directly support the 5S principles and can help housekeeping teams deliver top-notch cleaning services.

Some of the ways to use GoAudits for applying 5S in housekeeping include:

  • Create custom checklists to standardize housekeeping procedures
  • Build workflows for consistent and efficient cleaning operations
  • Train your staff on the 5S concept of housekeeping and their applications
  • Perform efficient 5S audits using GoAudits mobile app
  • Highlight inefficiencies and initiate their resolution within the app
  • Analyze data on safety and efficiency to identify areas of improvement

With a rating of 4.8 stars on Capterra, GoAudits is trusted by some of the biggest names in the facility and property management industries.

» Customer Success Story: How businesses leverage GoAudits to save time and improve operations.


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FAQs

What is 5S in the hotel industry?

5S in the hotel industry is a method used to improve efficiency, cleanliness, and organization in housekeeping operations. This principle of Kaizen housekeeping helps ensure that cleaning tools and supplies are organized, guest rooms are spotless, and cleanliness standards are consistently maintained through ongoing staff training and audits.

What is the 5S housekeeping checklist?

A 5S housekeeping checklist includes steps to implement each S of the 5S housekeeping program. It typically involves sorting out unnecessary items, organizing cleaning supplies, maintaining cleanliness, following cleaning SOPs, and conducting regular checks to ensure the process is sustained over time.

5S in Good Housekeeping: A Complete Guide With Examples (2024)
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