The results are in!

It has been eight weeks since the launch of the Professional Housekeeping Short Quiz, and 456 participants have provided valuable insights into their professional housekeeping knowledge. One of the most interesting findings was who took the quiz. A surprising 41% of participants were:

  • Estate Managers
  • House Managers
  • Personal Assistants

This was significantly higher than we anticipated, with only 27% of participants being:

  • Housekeepers
  • Executive Housekeepers

Overall, we had a variety of participants, including employers, butlers, chauffeurs, nannies, chefs, laundresses and lifestyle managers.

Key statistics:

  • Average Group Score: 53% (passing score: 80%)
  • Highest Individual Score: 88%
  • Lowest Individual Score: 8%
  • Average test-taker time: 10 minutes, 15 seconds
  • Shortest Completion Time: 7 minutes, 16 seconds
  • Longest Completion Time: 19 minutes, 54 seconds
  • Test comprises 25 questions from 4 housekeeping categories & 1 laundry category
  • Question bank consists of 312 questions
  • The busiest day – the highest number of tests taken — was Monday, January 27, 2025

The most correctly answered question:

Question: When cleaning marble, it is a best practice to use vinegar.

  • True
  • False

Answer: False

Vinegar is an acid that when used over time will damage marble’s finish.

As an acid, vinegar will react with calcium carbonate to form a water-soluble salt, which, as the name suggests, can be dissolved in water and washed away. Marble is virtually 100% calcium carbonate, so when we clean marble with vinegar, we are literally dissolving it and washing it away.

The most incorrectly answered question:

Question: Isopropyl alcohol and rubbing alcohol are exactly the same thing, they just have different names.

  • True
  • False

Answer: False

Isopropyl alcohol is the pure form, often at 100% concentration by volume, while rubbing alcohol contains some additional additives, including water, and is only 68% to 72% alcohol by volume.

Because isopropyl alcohol is stronger by volume, it has higher antibacterial properties. Though it might not often be useful for the home. isopropyl alcohol is useful for a more thorough cleaning in commercial and industrial environments.

Rubbing alcohol is useful for homes and first aid. It is a diluted solution. Therefore, it can be used on the skin or to sterilize surfaces.

Both rubbing alcohol and isopropyl alcohol have their uses. One is not better than the other, but they do each have their preferred applications.

Share this quiz:

Do you know someone or have someone in your household who should take this short quiz? If so, here’s a link to the quiz.

Next steps:

If you’re not happy with your quiz results, don’t worry. There are ways to improve and grow your professional housekeeping knowledge.

One option to consider is taking a course at the Institute Villa PierreFue in Switzerland. IVP is the world’s oldest and most prominent Swiss Finishing School, offering a one-week combined program of Household Management taught by Charles MacPherson and Professional Housekeeping taught by Rosemary McCallum at 5,000 CHF. Here is the link to the IVP school.

A second option to consider is reading Charles MacPherson’s book The Pocket Butlers Guide to Good Housekeeping. It is published by Penguin Random House. You can purchase it at many fine retailers, and even order a copy signed by Charles himself directly at the link below.