I have created this blog to help my students learn and improve their English.
In this blog, they can find some interesting articles, grammar suggestions, exercises and assignments, pictures and videos.
This blog will help students practice their speaking and listening, and do some grammar exercises.
Dear students, Some of you got cleaning jobs, so I have decided to write this post for those who need some housekeeping vocabulary. You can read and memorize everything, watch the videos. Good luck with it. Irena
First of all I'd like to start with a simple vocabulary everyone should know.
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
recreation room
often in basement; extra room for watching TV and playing games such as billiards or ping pong
sun room
enclosed room with large windows; often used for relaxation, visiting, or reading
Furniture and Decorations
Now you are going to learn some furniture and decorations. In different rooms we use different furniture - table and chairs in the living room, bed in the bedroom, sofa in the living room...
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 center
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
Household appliances
You also need to know household appliances. We have most of them in the kitchen and laundry room.
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 odors
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
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 very dusty.
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 environmentally friendly.
Action 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 very dusty.
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 environmentally friendly.
Now, please make sure you understand and memorized all the words because you are going to take a quiz.
