housekeeping
housekeeping — noun
1. the work of keeping a home clean, tidy, and properly organised — including tasks
the work of keeping a home clean, tidy, and properly organised — including tasks like cleaning, shopping for supplies, and managing daily household routines.
After moving into her own flat, Dylan quickly discovered that housekeeping took up most of his weekend mornings.
common collocation: do/handle the housekeeping
Sofie and her flatmates created a shared housekeeping schedule so that no one person ended up doing all the cleaning.
collocation: housekeeping schedule / housekeeping duties
Femi's strict housekeeping routine meant the kitchen was always wiped down and the bins emptied before bedtime.
Élise hired a cleaner twice a month to help with the heavy housekeeping tasks like scrubbing the floors.
- housework
focuses on physical chores like cleaning and washing, less on the management aspect
- homemaking
broader term that also includes creating a comfortable atmosphere, not just chores
- domestic work
formal term that can include childcare and cooking alongside cleaning
常見錯誤
2. the team within a hotel, hospital, or other large institution responsible for cl
the team within a hotel, hospital, or other large institution responsible for cleaning rooms, changing bed linen, and maintaining general tidiness.
When Samir found no fresh towels in his room, he called the front desk and asked for housekeeping.
typical pattern: call/ring housekeeping to request something
Caleb works on housekeeping at the City Grand; his shift runs from seven in the morning until three.
The hospital's housekeeping staff wear blue uniforms and clean every ward twice a day to prevent infections.
Eitan left a 'Do Not Disturb' sign on the door so housekeeping would not enter during his video call.
- cleaning staff
more general term for the people who clean, not the department as a whole
- room service
refers to food delivery in hotels, not cleaning — a common confusion for learners
用法筆記
In hotel contexts, 'housekeeping' often refers to the department rather than the action itself — you call housekeeping, not call a cleaner.
3. the money that a family keeps aside each week or month for buying food, cleaning
the money that a family keeps aside each week or month for buying food, cleaning supplies, and other everyday essentials at home.
Yuna sets aside two hundred pounds from her salary each month for housekeeping expenses such as groceries and toiletries.
collocation: housekeeping money / housekeeping expenses
After Apinya's father lost his job, the family had to cut their weekly housekeeping budget by a third.
Asher's grandmother used to keep the housekeeping cash in a small wooden box on the kitchen shelf.
Ishaan's mother gave him the weekly housekeeping cash and asked him to buy milk, bread, and soap.
- household expenses
broader term that includes bills and rent, not just food and supplies
- grocery money
more specific — limited to food shopping only
用法筆記
This sense is chiefly British English. In American English, 'household expenses' or 'grocery money' is more common for the same idea.
常見錯誤
4. the regular, often unexciting tasks that are necessary to keep a business, proje
the regular, often unexciting tasks that are necessary to keep a business, project, or computer system working properly, even though they fall outside the central purpose.
Before starting the new project, Caio finished some IT housekeeping like clearing old files and updating passwords.
metaphorical use: IT housekeeping / administrative housekeeping
The new manager spent her first week doing organizational housekeeping — sorting out staff records and clearing out old paperwork.
Regular software housekeeping, such as deleting unused programs and installing security updates, helps keep a computer running smoothly.
Mert and Mizuki spent Friday afternoon on database housekeeping, removing duplicate records and fixing broken links.
- maintenance
more formal and broader, includes repairs and checks, not just cleaning up
- routine tasks
neutral term without the metaphor of cleaning
- spring cleaning
metaphor for a thorough one-time clean-up, not regular upkeep
用法筆記
This sense is metaphorical, extending the idea of cleaning a home to cleaning up a system. It often appears in compounds: 'IT housekeeping', 'administrative housekeeping', 'financial housekeeping'.