Cleaning

Cleaning is the process of removing unwanted substances, such as dirt, infectious agents, and
other impurities, from an object or environment. It is the act of removing the dirt from things and
places, especially in a house. Cleaning occurs in many different contexts and uses many different
methods. Several occupations are devoted to cleaning.

Importance of Cleaning
Personal health and personal hygiene go hand in hand. As we age our immune system is not as
robust as it once was. This means that keeping up good personal hygiene practices can prevent
you from catching or spreading forms of disease or illness. Daily washing, cleaning hands before
and after handling food, wearing clean clothing, looking after your skin, hair and nails and good
oral hygiene are all factors that contribute to keeping healthy.

Personal hygiene is not only important for good health, it is also essential for a person’s self-
esteem. Hygiene and personal appearance were highlighted in the UK’s Department of Health
online survey conducted in 2006 as factors in maintaining dignity for older people. Keeping in a
routine is important as we age. Don’t feel like you have to give up going to the hairdresser or
barber just because you reach a certain age. Looking good on the outside helps you feel good on
the inside.

Office cleaning is one of the most important things that you need to think about if you are the
person who is in charge at your office. With this being the case, it is vital that you stay on top of
all of the things that need to be done. Because of this, you might find that it would help to think
of the reasons that office cleaning is so important.

The first reason is the fact that if you ensure that the place is clean and tidy, the people who work
in the office are much less likely to catch anything through the germs that are left around. With
this being the case, it, therefore, stands to reason that you would lose many fewer hours due to
absences, and this means that you would neither have to put up with a loss in profits, nor would
you have to cope with finding a replacement for the staff who are off for a longer period of time.

Cleaning Procedures
Before starting to clean, read product and equipment labels and usage instructions. Wear
recommended Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which may include rubber or surgical-type
gloves, goggles, dust mask or respirator, earplugs, or other equipment.

Improving and standardizing the Way to clean

Improving cleaning procedures involves changing the way—or the focus with which—cleaning
is performed to better prevent or remove soils, contaminants, or pollutants, and to select and use
less toxic products. These processes should be integrated into a system of Standard Operating
Procedures (SOPs) that are part of the overall operations and maintenance plan for the building.

Building managers ideally should develop and maintain SOPs as a set of written guidelines that
govern:

∞ Cleaning procedures

∞ Chemical handling and tracking requirements

∞ Equipment maintenance and operation procedures

∞ Communication protocols and requirements

∞ Training and inspection programs, and

∞ Reporting and record-keeping procedures.

These guidelines should be made available to all cleaning personnel and occupants. In addition,
if desired, a more in-depth housing complex-specific Green Cleaning Plan may be developed for
every building or building-set to be cleaned.

Chemical Management: Reducing Waste, efficient use

Minimizing the effects of toxic cleaning chemicals requires building managers to work and
communicate with cleaning staff, the PHA management or owners, and occupants.

Suggested Activities in a Green Cleaning Program

Give clear guidance to cleaning staff on handling cleaning chemicals:

∞ Provide easily understood directions to clean staff in appropriate written languages or graphic
representation for the dilution of chemical cleaning products.

∞ Track the quantities of cleaning chemicals used overtime on at least a quarterly basis.
∞ Use a chemical measuring and dilution control system that limits worker exposure to chemical
concentrates while facilitating the proper dilution of these concentrates (e.g., wall-mounted
dispensing systems where concentrates are sequestered and dispensed remotely and cleaning
chemical is automatically mixed with water for proper end-use dilution without the worker
needing to touch concentrates).

∞ Use the appropriate technology (coarse spray or squirt bottles, automatic chemical dispensers
on powered equipment, etc.) for applying the chemical product to avoid aerosolization, overuse,
or waste.

∞ Provide directions for the proper rinsing and disposal of expended or empty chemical solution
containers.

∞ Prevent other building areas from being adversely affected.

∞ Reduce, minimize, or eliminate the need for using cleaning chemicals if possible.

Train new and current employees:

∞ Provide employees with initial, on-site, site-specific, and annual in-service training. Training
should be done in a manner that respects unique needs of the employee, such as limited English
proficiency, physical challenges, or learning disabilities. All employees should receive training
and/or education on an annual basis to maintain knowledge of correct procedures for safety,
tools, techniques, and pertinent environmental standards.

∞ Train cleaning personnel in the proper handling of chemicals, proper use and maintenance of
equipment, and proper cleaning procedures.

∞ Train purchasing personnel in the selection of green cleaning materials.

∞ Train management/supervisors through in-service training and/or education on an annual basis

on policies and procedures.

∞ Train new cleaning personnel on standard operating procedures, the proper sequencing of
cleaning steps, and the proper use of personal protective equipment. This training may occur
before personnel are assigned to a facility or at the site before beginning independent work.
Follow up with in-service training, continuing education, and/or professional development
opportunities on an annual basis.
∞ Give all personnel standard safety training, including how to reduce and prevent ergonomic
injuries and exposure to hazardous materials.

∞ Provide site-specific training focusing on standards for the facility to which workers will be
assigned. This site-specific training should cover facility-specific cleaning instructions, tailored
procedural training (e.g., servicing areas for vulnerable populations) based on the needs of the
facility and occupants and hazardous communication standards.

∞ Maintain records of training on each employee. The documentation should include a general
outline of information covered, the name and qualifications of the trainer, and the date(s) and
duration of the training or courses. It is recommended that records be retained for two years from
the hiring date of current employees, and one year for former employees.

Encourage communication with building management/owners,

employees, and occupants:
∞ Develop a system for cleaning service employees to provide comments and suggestions about
workplace issues and suggestions for improvements in the provision of services.

∞ Communicate to the public housing management or owners of the building the presence of
pests and any maintenance issues discovered during cleaning operations.

∞ Provide materials to occupants that define opportunities to reduce the need for more intensive
cleaning processes or treatments (e.g., reporting spills and making attempts to reduce clutter in
common areas).

∞ Notify occupants about all cleaning products used in the facility. This should include a list of
all chemicals that may be used. It also should include the name, address, and phone number of
the PHA contact person; a statement that the contact person maintains the product labels and
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) of each product used in the building; and that the labels or
MSDSs are available for review upon request. The contact person should be available for
additional information and comment.

∞ Provide product MSDSs in a timely manner upon request.

∞ Identify building occupants with special needs or sensitivities (to dust, chemicals, noise levels,
etc.) and have a process in place to work with PHA management, cleaning staff, and individuals
to mitigate the problem.
Highly Concentrated Products
Special care is needed for highly concentrated cleaning products. These products reduce
environmental impacts from packaging and transportation, and typically reduce actual use-cost
compared to less concentrated alternatives.

Products should always be diluted accurately according to manufacturer’s directions. This can be
achieved through a variety of methods including measuring cups, simple dispensing pumps, and
more complicated automated dilution equipment. Dilution equipment should be periodically
checked for accuracy (consult the manufacturer or supplier for assistance).

Cleaning personnel should understand that adding extra amounts of concentrated cleaning
products generally does not make the work go better or faster; on the contrary, it can result in
longer task times (e.g., removing residues), slippery floors and surfaces, and other complications.
Overuse wastes product and raises the cost of chemicals. Finally, never mix cleaning products
together.

Office Cleaning
Office Cleaning Methods
Methods and procedures are very important and must be reviewed often. Contract cleaning is
defined as performing a predetermined schedule of services at a predetermined fixed rate.
Therefore, speed and efficiency will decrease labour costs and increase profits.

Prior to starting a new account, organize a plan of action. The best approach is one that requires
the least amount of steps and backtracking. Make sure all needed equipment and supplies are
available when starting each clean. Repeated trips to the storage area or stock room waste time
and motion. Spray bottles of glass-cleaner and all-purpose cleaner, a clean lint-free cloth, and a
duster or dust cloth will take care of most office cleaning needs. Have these items handy while
leaving both hands free. Items may be carried on a belt, in pockets or in an apron.

Another helpful hint is that right-handed individuals should travel in a counter-clockwise

direction. This allows items to be picked up with the left hand and cleaned with the right, or
power hand. By following this procedure, less motion is required, reducing fatigue and reducing
the risk of accidental breakage.
 Procedures for building to building will vary depending on size, layout, density, etc. The key
point to remember is wasted motion and lost time equal higher labour costs and less profit.

Nightly cleaning Equipment

 Apron/bucket (method of carrying equipment and supplies)

 Pre-mixed glass cleaner
 Pre-mixed all-purpose cleaner
 Neutral floor cleaner concentrate for mop water Furniture polish
 Stainless steel cleaner
 Sanitizer cleaner
 Treated dust cloth and/or duster (feather or lamb’s wool)
 Clean lint free cloth
 Vacuum cleaner
 Dust mop assembly
 Mop/bucket/wringer
 Gloves

Cleaning procedures
Cleaning steps should occur in the following sequence. This logical approach will reduce
cleaning time and ensure that no areas are overlooked. Complete all tasks, except floor care, in
individual rooms or areas before proceeding to the next area. Floor care will always remain the
last procedure.

Empty ashtrays: The palm is sensitive to heat. Therefore, when emptying ashtrays, place the
hand over the ashtray to ensure all smoking materials are extinguished. Empty the contents of the
ashtray into the rubbish removal container. Clients may prefer that a separate container is used
for fire hazard safety. Using glass cleaner, spray directly into the ashtray and wet wipe. Use a
lint-free cloth to thoroughly clean and polish. Only use this cloth for ashtrays. Return the ashtray
to the EXACT SPOT from which it was removed. Alternatively, ashtrays may be washed and
dried.

Empty rubbish bins: Using a heavy-duty large plastic liner, empty contents of rubbish bins. A
mobile barrel in which to place the individual rubbish liners is preferred. When rubbish liners are
used, inspect and replace the liners as needed. Ask for clarification as to liner replacement
policy. Inspect rubbish bins. Clean the interior with disinfectant cleaner to remove any spilt food
remains or other matter. After installation, replacement liners may be tied at the top to ensure a
snug fit. This prevents the liner from collapsing when heavier materials are discarded. Wet wipe
the exterior of the bin as needed using a damp cloth with a sanitizer/detergent spray cleaner.
Return rubbish bins to the exact spot from which they were removed.

NOTE: Placing several extra bin liners into the bottom of the bin, underneath the liner being
used, saves time when changing liners. Also, when compacting rubbish into the large rubbish
liner, do not use the hands as sharp objects can cause serious injury.

Dusting: Damp wipe all horizontal surfaces to remove coffee rings and spillage as needed.
Thoroughly dust all horizontal surfaces, including desktops, file cabinets, chairs, tables, pictures,
window sills and all other such furnishings. Use a duster or treated dust cloth. If desks are
cluttered, receive instructions from the client as to disturbance policy. Desktop items, such as
stack trays, calculators and telephones must be dusted, then moved to facilitate dusting the
desktops themselves. Remember to return all items to their proper positions. Check upholstered
chairs for dust build up, especially in the corners. Clean with a duster or damp clean cloth. Also,
dust chair rails and legs as needed. Vacuum if necessary.

Damp wipe: entrance metal and entrance glass to remove finger-marks; use a clean cloth and
stainless steel cleaner for metal. Use glass cleaner and cloth or paper towel for entrance glass.

Spot clean: partition (interior) glass: spot cleaning is performed to remove smudges, streaks or
finger-marks. Use glass cleaner and paper towels.

Dust mop and damp mop: hard surface floors to remove any spillage or soiled areas. Procedures
may be reviewed under the appropriate headings within this manual.

Vacuum traffic patterns: Vacuuming is the last procedure in nightly office cleaning. A
commercial vacuum cleaner is recommended. When vacuuming nightly, include all high traffic
areas such as entranceways, hallways, doorways and floor mats. Also, vacuum visible debris in
other areas. Set vacuum cleaner height adjustment so brushes just touch the carpet. This will
prevent excessive brush wear and allow the vacuum motor to perform at full efficiency.

Weekly cleaning
Additional Equipment
 Portable vacuum cleaner with attachments
 Floor machine
 Floor machine buffing pad Spray buff solution

NOTE: When accomplishing weekly or monthly scheduled maintenance, remember to also

complete nightly duties as well.

Dusting: Thoroughly dust all vertical surfaces, including desks, file cabinets, chairs, tables and
all other such furnishings. Use a duster or treated dust cloth.

Vacuum all carpeting thoroughly: Weekly vacuuming is much more detailed than nightly
vacuuming. Requirements include vacuuming in corners, along edges, and beneath and behind
furniture. After scrupulously vacuuming corners and edges, vacuum all remaining carpet.

Dust mop and damp mop: hard surface floors. Unlike nightly wet mopping, which includes
mopping to remove spillage of soiled areas only, weekly mopping is a more detailed process.
Requirements include mopping corners, along edges, and beneath and behind furniture. This
thorough mopping is vital in the total maintenance programme for hard surface floors.

Buff: hard surface floors, if needed, to enable them to present the best possible appearance at all
times. The primary purpose of buffing is to harden the floor finish, thereby protecting the
flooring material, and to remove surface scuff marks. From the client’s perspective, the purpose
of buffing is strict to enhance the shine. By following scheduled maintenance, all requirements
will be satisfied.

Monthly cleaning
High dusting: High dusting is generally considered to be areas above six feet. Areas include
ceiling vents, doorframes, etc. Use a duster or treated cloth.

Remove: fingerprints and marks from around light switches and door frames. Use an all-purpose
cleaner with a clean lint-free cloth. Exercise caution when spraying near switches and outlets. As
a safety precaution, spray all-purpose cleaner into the cloth prior to cleaning these areas. DO
NOT SPRAY DIRECTLY INTO A SWITCH OR OUTLET. THIS MAY CAUSE SERIOUS
INJURY AND/OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.

Vacuum upholstered furniture: Using the vacuum cleaner with an upholstery attachment, vacuum
upholstered furniture as needed. Clean, rinse and refinish composition floor covering in areas
 showing excessive wear. Due to constant foot traffic, floor polish will deteriorate with time. In
order to replace surface polish, which contains most of the embedded soil, scratches and scuff
marks, periodic scrubbing floors remove this surface polish. Using a new mop head, apply new
polish.

Damp wipe telephones: Use telephone wipes or a similar cleaner with a clean lint-free cloth.
When cleaning telephones, never spray directly onto the base unit or handset; it may cause
corrosion or damage to internal wiring. Spray disinfectant cleaner into the cloth. Clean the base
unit including the headset cradle. In the same manner, thoroughly clean all areas of the handset.

Nightly Checklist

1. Upon entering the building to begin cleaning, check the memo pad in the predetermined location
for notes concerning special instructions or requests, which may be left by the customer.
2. Use the customer’s electricity wisely. Turn lights on and off in various areas are cleaned.
3. Review the cleaning schedule with employees often until its contents become firmly routine.
4. Inspect the work objectively. Will the tenant be satisfied upon returning in the morning?
5. Maintain equipment and supply cupboards in a neat and orderly fashion.
6. When exiting the facility, check lights, lock appropriate doors and windows, set alarm if
applicable, and LOCK THE EXIT DOOR

Entryways and lobbies

Entryways are the first line of defence against many contaminants. Thus, special effort should be
focused in these areas. Begin by cleaning outside walkways leading into the facility, especially
during inclement weather.

Sweep outside entry walkways daily (weather permitting) with a mechanized sweeper for larger
areas or with a wide push broom for smaller ones. Alternately, walkways may be cleaned using a
backpack vacuum or blower. Outdoor areas should also be periodically cleaned with a
pressurized water hose or a high-pressure power washer.

During snow and ice events, establish procedures to protect occupants and visitors from slips and
falls (including placing of warning signs or caution cones). Select appropriate ice melting
compounds (e.g., non-corrosive, non-phosphate) and use extra matting to help dry shoes and
avoid excess tracking into the building.
Use walk-off mats outside entryways, immediately inside exterior doors, and in lobbies. Mats
should be long enough so adults can take several steps on them. Walk-off mats should not just be
used during inclement weather, but all year round. Matting inside and outside the entryways
should, at a minimum, meet the following requirements: 6–10 feet of scraper/wiper matting,
followed by 6–10 feet of wiper matting, for an overall total of 12–20 feet of matting for every
entry point to the building.

Vacuum the matting daily or more frequently if required (e.g., in very high traffic areas or
soiling conditions) to prevent migration of contaminants into the building. Use a vacuum with a
beater bar, and vacuum in both directions. Walk-off mats should be wet-cleaned frequently as
needed (e.g., indoors with a carpet extractor or outdoors with a hose or pressure washer and
wetvac, and allowed to dry before being put back into service), including periodic cleaning of the
underside.

Regularly sanitize or disinfect touch points (door handles, push plates, telephone receivers, etc.)
to prevent cross-contamination and spread of germs.

Microfiber cloths enable cleaning entrance glass effectively using just water. A window-washing
sleeve that fits over an applicator handle enables cleaning glass with just water mixed with a
small amount of mild detergent, followed by use of a squeegee for drying the glass.

Dusting, dust Mopping, and dry Floor cleaning

Traditional dusting and dust mopping techniques frequently move dust and other contaminants
from one area to another, such as from a countertop to the floor. It is important to recognize that
moving the dust around is more than just an efficiency issue. Dusting and dust mopping activities
that do not capture soils frequently stir them into the air where people can inhale the particles,
creating a potential health hazard.

Dusting
It is preferable to dust with water-dampened lint-free or untreated microfiber cloths that are
neatly folded like a handkerchief to expose multiple sides for absorbing dust, or to use a vacuum
cleaner with high-efficiency filters and proper dusting attachments. For tight spots, lamb’s wool
or flexible microfiber dusters are helpful substitutes for feather dusters.

Minimize dust-capturing treatments that contain petroleum products, high VOCs, or solvents,
and select a water-based treatment instead. Consider a vacuum cleaner fitted with a brush or hard
 floor attachment rather than a treated cloth or dust mop. If a dust mop is used, choose the widest
mop possible (based on the size of the area and the physical abilities of the custodial worker) to
optimize productivity.

Dust Mopping
Each pass with a properly treated dust mop helps to remove dirt, dust, and abrasive particles,
without leaving the floor dull or slippery. Cleaning staff should dust-mop as follows:

1. Fill a properly labelled trigger-spray bottle with a water-based dust mop treatment
prepared according to label directions, and spray (using a course stream rather than a mist to
avoid aerosolizing chemical) the treatment onto a clean dust mop. Follow the manufacturer’s
directions for application rate, and apply next to the backing at the base of the yarn, without
overtreating it.
2. Roll the dust mop, treated side in. Place it in a plastic bag to help the mop head fibres
absorb the treatment for at least 24 hours. After 24 hours, place the treated dust mop on the
frame.
3. Dust mop the area, using a continuous motion, without lifting the mop from the floor.
Begin at the perimeter (next to the wall) and walk to the other end of the work area. At the
opposite end, rotate the dust mop so that the leading edge remains the same. Return to the
opposite end and repeat. Overlap the previously mopped path by 2–4 inches to ensure complete
coverage.
4. Sweep accumulated soil to a collection area, lightly shake the loose soil from the dust
mop, and continue. Remove gum, tape, or another sticky residue with a scraper, using care not to
mar or scratch the floor finish. Continue the dust-mopping process until the entire area has been
dust mopped. When finished, pick up the collected debris using a counter brush and dustpan, or
vacuum.
5. Clean excess dust from the mop head. Place the mop over a trash container. Brush with a
stiff bristle brush in a firm, downward motion and/or vacuum.
6. Store the mop in a hanging position. Do not store the dust mop on the floor. The mop
treatment may discolour the floor, and the mop fibres may become matted.
7. When the dust mop no longer attracts adequate soil, it may be re-treated. Spray the mop
at the end of a work shift, and allow the treatment to be thoroughly absorbed.
8. Launder soiled dust mop heads monthly, weekly, or as needed. Soak mop heads
overnight in a neutral pH cleaning solution. Rinse thoroughly, wring out, and hang them to dry.
Machine washing and drying following manufacturer’s recommendations is another option.
9. Re-treat as directed above for initial treatment.

Non-microfiber dust cloths may also be treated with some dust mop treatments. (See their label
instructions.) Spray lightly and allow fibres to absorb the treatment for 24 hours before use.

Dry Floor Cleaning

Depending on the type of equipment (canister, backpack, wide-area sweeper, etc.), follow the
manufacturer’s recommendations for hard floor vacuuming. Typically, a canister or backpack
vacuum cleaner equipped with a suction-only hard floor brush-tool may be used to remove dry
dust and dirt from floors. In some cases, this method cleans more thoroughly than dust mopping,
while removing more fine dust from the surface and debris from cracks and crevices.

Floor care
The procedures for floor care in a green maintenance program are similar in most instances to
those of a traditional program. Floor care in a green maintenance program addresses the selection
of environmentally preferable products and equipment (see Products Section and Appendices),
along with minor modifications of the procedures themselves.

In a green maintenance program, the primary effort should be a pollution prevention strategy, or
one that minimizes the need to use strong chemicals, scrub, strip and recoat a floor, or extract
(e.g., deep clean) a carpet. Thus, the focus is on preventative measures. As described above to
keep outside entry-ways and mats clean and vacuumed, a dust mop or vacuum will clean resilient
tile floors, especially those close to entryways and other sources of particulates (i.e., near copier
rooms). Periodically cleaning underneath floor mats reduces the potential for moisture leading to
bacterial and fungal growth. (Floor mats should be replaced with dry mats when saturated with
moisture.) In summary, the goal is intensive cleaning of entryways to capture soils at the entries
rather than to remove them after they have spread throughout the facility.

Hard Floor Maintenance

Hard floors include stone, tiles, resilient flooring, and other non-carpeted surfaces.
 For routine hard floor maintenance, the cleaning staff should:

∞ Vacuum to remove and contain particulate matter from flooring surfaces, or alternatively, use
mops equipped with reusable/cleanable collection heads.

∞ Clean both on a predetermined schedule and as needed to restore floors to a clean condition.
At a minimum, the schedule for cleaning should be:

 Daily: heavy traffic areas, including entrances, corridors, community centres, break areas,
congested areas, main passageways, and primary work or office areas.
 Scheduled, as appropriate, to maintain cleanliness: gymnasiums, light traffic areas
including conference rooms, administrative offices, limited access areas, and other areas or
spaces with limited or periodic use.

For periodic hard floor maintenance, the cleaning staff should:

∞ Provide reasonable notice to building occupants prior to the commencement of non-routine
floor cleaning operations. The timing and method of the notice should be established by building
management in consultation with the cleaning crew.

∞ Perform periodic maintenance only if sufficient floor finish exists on the floor surface to
protect the underlying flooring from being degraded during the restoration process.

∞ Apply floor restoration chemicals, when used, by mop, an automatic scrubbing machine, or
auto scrubber, rather than by manual spray application (to avoid exposure to aerosol or vapours).

∞ Use burnishing or buffing equipment with controls or other devices sufficient for capturing
and collecting particulates generated during the use of the equipment.

For restorative hard floor maintenance, the cleaning staff should:

∞ Perform restoration on an as-needed basis to maintain the cleanliness, appearance, and

integrity of the floor finish, rather than on a rigid schedule.

∞ Ventilate the area, to the outside if possible, both during and after stripping or floor scrubbing
and recoating operations to ensure adequate fresh air.

∞ Schedule floor stripping and refinishing to coincide with a period of minimum use or
occupancy.
 ∞ Provide reasonable notice to occupants prior to the commencement of non-routine floor
maintenance operations. The timing and method of the notice should be established by building
management in consultation with the cleaning crew.

When floors need to be spray-buffed (or carpets, spot-cleaned), solutions should be applied from
a sprayer in a coarse spray or stream rather than as a fine mist. This will minimize the amount of
material that is atomized and potentially inhaled, as well as minimize over-spray. When floors
need to be stripped and recoated or carpets extracted, it is important that occupants be notified.
Use the least toxic products possible. Use the least amount of water and ventilate the area with
fans if necessary for rapid drying to minimize both the possibility of mould growth and slip-fall
incidents.

It is preferable to conduct major cleaning activities in a time period when traffic is minimal or
the area can be closed off. This allows maximum time for the building to be ventilated (flushed
with fresh air) prior to the return of the majority of occupants.

Floor Stripping
Removing floor finishes is perhaps one of the most labour-intensive and hazard-ous of
maintenance operations, placing both cleaning personnel and occupants at risk. Furthermore,
frequent stripping can cause health, safety, and environmental impacts through the use and
disposal of products.

The objective of a green floor maintenance program is to minimize the frequency of

stripping/removing and maximize the longevity of coatings. In some cases, newer equipment that
relies on special floor pads, high-speed oscillations, or wet orbital sander technology enables
stripping floors without harsh chemicals, or in some cases, without the use of chemicals at all.

For chemical-based stripping, the cleaning staff should:

1. Prepare the area. Place “Floor Hazard” signs at entrances to the area being stripped.
Move or work around heavy furniture or equipment that cannot be moved. Sweep the floor with
a treated dust mop or vacuum.

Remove gum, tape, and other foreign matter with a scraper, taking care not to mar or scratch the
surface of the floor.
2. Prepare the equipment. Assemble two mop heads and handles. Label one “Strip Mop.”
Label the other “Rinse Mop.” Assemble two mop buckets and wringers, labelling one “Strip
Bucket” and the other “Rinse Bucket.” Place a black or high-productivity stripping pad on the
rotary floor machine. Fill the Strip Bucket with a solution of floor stripper following the
manufacturer’s recommendations for dilution rates and water temperature. Fill the Rinse Bucket
with clean, cold water. Add a small amount of a neutral pH cleaner following the manufacturer’s
recommendations for dilution rates. Equip a wet vacuum with a floor squeegee tool. Place the
equipment in the area where the work will begin.
3. Apply stripping solution to the floor, using the Strip Mop and Strip Bucket. Dip the mop
in stripping solution. Lift the mop and allow excess stripper to drain back into the bucket. Fan
out the mop head on the floor and initially apply stripping solution along the edges. Continue
applying the solution in other areas using an arc motion from right to left, covering the area
between the edges. Apply sufficient solution to thoroughly wet the floor, but do not flood it. Do
not allow a solution to dry on the floor. Immediately wipe off splashes from walls, baseboards,
glass partitions, etc. with a damp cloth. Allow the solution to remain on the floor 5–10 minutes.
Re-apply as necessary to keep the floor wet.
4. Scrub the Floor with the rotary floor machine and stripping pad. Over-lap the strokes
made by the machine. Again, keep the floor wet, re-applying the solution as necessary.
5. Remove the stripping solution from the floor with the wet vacuum and floor squeegee
tool. Examine the floor for complete finish removal. Re-strip any areas that have finish
remaining on them.
6. Rinse the Floor. Apply rinse solution using the Rinse Mop and Rinse Bucket. Apply
sufficient water to thoroughly wet the floor, but do not flood it. Remove the rinse solution from
the floor using the wet vacuum and floor squeegee tool.
7. Damp Mop the Floor With clean Water. Empty the Rinse Bucket and refill it with clean
water. Rinse the Rinse Mop with clean water, and use it to damp mop the floor. Remove floor
hazard signs only when the floor is completely dry.

Note: An automatic scrubbing machine or auto scrubber, which applies cleaning and rinse
solutions, scrubs, and vacuums/squeegees away soiled solutions, can be used in place of manual
or rotary scrubber methods.

Floor Restoration, Buffing, and Burnishing

 Select products for restoration that are water-based or low in VOCs. Consult the finish
manufacturer or janitorial supplier for product and procedural assistance. When applying the
restorer from a spray bottle, use a stream or coarse spray. Do not use a fine mist as this increases
the potential for fine particles to enter the breathing zone and to over-spray walls, furniture,
carpets, and other objects.

Some floors do not require a separate finish applied by the owner or cleaning service. Check
with your supplier to determine the maintenance requirements of the type of floor you have. Do
not apply finish to a surface not intended for it.

Many options in finishes are available. Some newer coatings require very little maintenance.
However, the cleaning and restoration process is a huge factor in the longevity of most coatings.

To maximize the life of finishes and floors, make sure there is a solid foundation of water-based
finish (as applicable) on the floor. Dry buffing and burnishing is slightly abrasive and increases
the appearance level by removing thin layers of finish to smooth out the surface—the smoother
the surface, the shinier its appearance. However, if too much floor finish is removed, dry buffing
and burnishing can damage floor tile and send flooring particles into the air, which may be
harmful if inhaled. Important: Dry buffing on an asbestos tile should only be performed when
there is an adequate coat of intact floor finish to prevent abrading the floor itself. Non-buff able
coatings (those that shine to a certain degree without buffing) may be a better choice for
asbestos-containing tile.

Match the appropriate pad to the equipment and floor finish. Especially when using high-speed
burnishes, it is important to use vacuum attachments to minimize particles in the air. If machine
floor or pad pressure is adjustable, set the level to achieve appearance goals while minimizing
the amount of finish removed from the floor.

Carpet Maintenance
In a green maintenance program for carpets, the primary effort should be a pollution prevention
strategy or one that minimizes the need to extract a carpet. Thus, a specific focus should be on
preventative measures, as described earlier, such as:

1. Frequently vacuuming entryway mats and entry grating systems.

2. Frequently dust mopping or vacuuming hard floors, especially close to entryways and
other sources of particles (e.g., near copier rooms) to reduce tracked soiling on surrounding
carpeted areas.
3. Establishing a specific daily routine for vacuuming and spotting carpets.
4. Establishing an interim cleaning process to address the needs of high traffic areas.
5. Minimizing the need for large-scale extraction or deep cleaning of carpet.

For routine carpet maintenance, the cleaning staff should:

∞ Vacuum carpets on a predetermined schedule of frequency, and as needed, to keep them clean
and restore appearance. At a minimum, the schedule for vacuuming should be:

 Daily: heavy traffic areas, including entrances, corridors, community rooms, break areas,
congested areas, main passageways, and primary work or office areas.
 Scheduled, as appropriate, to maintain cleanliness: light traffic areas including conference
rooms, administrative offices, limited access areas, and other areas or spaces with limited or
periodic use.

Periodic light carpet cleaning is necessary to clean the tops of carpet fibres and maintain the
appearance of carpeted floors. Restorative deep carpet cleaning is needed to extract embedded
and sticky soils.

For periodic and restorative cleaning, the building manager

should:
∞ Provide reasonable notice to building occupants prior to the commencement of non-routine
carpet cleaning operations. The timing and method of the notice should be established by
building management in consultation with the cleaning crew.

∞ Perform carpet extraction (see below) on an as-needed basis, rather than according to a rigid
schedule.

∞ Remove sufficient water from the carpet and provide sufficient airflow (e.g., use of blowers,
increased outdoor air exchange) so that the carpet will dry in less than 12 hours when interim
cleaning carpets or performing carpet extraction.

∞ Schedule carpet extraction to coincide with a period of minimum building occupancy.

When carpets require spot cleaning, apply solutions from a sprayer in a stream or coarse spray,
not a fine mist. This minimizes the amount of material that is atomized and potentially inhaled,
as well as over-spray.

It is preferable to conduct major cleaning activities when common area occupancy is low. This
allows maximum time for the building to be ventilated (flushed with fresh air) prior to the return
of the majority of occupants.

Carpet Extraction Cleaning

Carpets act as a “sink” that allows particles and other unwanted material to filter down to the
base of the fibres and sometimes into the carpet backing. Once deep in the carpet and walked on,
gritty soil can damage carpet fibres and backing, causing excess wear, degraded appearance, and
ultimately the need to replace carpets prematurely.

Moisture provides an opportunity for unwanted biological contaminants in the carpet—such as

mould spores and bacteria—to become active, multiply, and contaminate the indoor
environment.

Extraction is a carpet-cleaning process in which a water-based cleaning solution is applied to the

carpet and vacuumed (extracted) from the carpet nap, taking soil with it. Extraction helps remove
unwanted contaminants deep in the carpet before they cause problems. But extraction cleaning
can also add large amounts of water to the carpet, especially if the equipment is not functioning
properly. Care must be taken to service equipment regularly by an authorized maintenance and
repair centre and to ensure adequate passes during use to remove the most water from the carpet.

For carpet extraction, the cleaning staff should:

∞ Mix cleaning solution properly. Using too much-concentrated cleaner not only wastes product
but also can lead to more rapid re-soiling of the carpet. Do not apply too much solution.

∞ Make sure that the vacuum pickup is working properly and no holes or leaks in wands, hoses,
or other attachments are decreasing suction. When vacuuming spent solution, repeat the process
multiple times in both directions.

∞ Use increased ventilation and airflow to help dry carpets. this can be accomplished by opening
windows when weather permits, increasing building ventilation, turning on air conditioning or
heating systems, and using floor-level drying fans. Carpets should dry within 12 hours to
minimize the potential for mould and other microbes to grow.

∞ notify occupants before a large-scale extraction procedure as this activity can affect sensitive
individuals. proper scheduling is recommended to ensure minimum traffic. The building should
also be ventilated or flushed with fresh air prior to being reopened.

Restrooms
While procedures for cleaning restrooms in a green maintenance program are similar to those in
a traditional cleaning program, restrooms should be cleaned frequently using appropriate
products because of their heavy use and moisture.

The cleaning must be done thoroughly, including hard-to-reach areas such as behind toilets and
around urinals. Periodically deep- or machine-scrub restroom floors with a disinfectant,
following the label directions for appropriate dilution and recommended dwell time to enable
thorough germ-kill. Dwell time for many disinfectants is from several to 10 minutes.

Many restroom cleaning products are hazardous, such as drain cleaners and toilet bowl cleaners,
although less toxic alternatives are available (see products section and appendices). Make sure
that appropriate personal protective equipment recommended by product manufacturers is used.
Never mix chemical products.

Paper dispensers and trash cans used in restrooms to dispense or dispose of paper hand towels
should be “touch-free,” which reduces the potential for cross-contamination of bacteria and other
potentially harmful pathogens. Large trash cans can minimize overflow and reduce the frequency
for policing the area.

For a restroom cleaning process, staff should clean from high to low, towards the doorway, and
do dry work before wet work, through a process such as the following:

∞ Check the supply cart for proper equipment and supplies.

∞ Prepare the area. Place a “Restroom Closed” sign at the door, if applicable.

∞ Re-stock supplies and clean the exterior of all dispensers including paper towel, feminine
hygiene, toilet tissue, and hand soap dispensers.
∞ Remove trash from waste receptacles. Clean receptacles with a disinfectant cleaner, and
replace the liners.

∞ Dust mop, sweep, or vacuum the floor, and pick up collected debris with a dustpan.

∞ Clean sinks using a disinfectant cleaner and abrasive sponge, first making sure they safe for
surfaces including chrome. Leave disinfectant on surfaces according to the manufacturer’s dwell-
time directions.

∞ Clean mirrors with glass cleaner and soft, clean cloths, or use an applicator and squeegee.
Microfiber cloths enable cleaning glass and mirrors with water only and without chemicals.

∞ Clean and disinfect toilets and/or urinals. Remove urinal screens. Using a bowl swab, force the
water level down in urinals and toilet bowls by repeatedly pushing the swab down the throat or
flush path. Apply bowl cleaner to the exposed interior surfaces of the bowls and urinals,
especially under the rim. Allow time for the chemical to work, while cleaning partitions and
showers (several to 10 minutes, based on the manufacturer’s directions).

∞ Remove graffiti from walls and stall partitions. Clean stall partitions and walls as needed with
disinfectant cleaner.

∞ Clean both sides of entrance/exit doors with a disinfectant cleaner, paying special attention to
hand contact areas.

∞ Return to scrub the inside of the bowls and urinals with a bowl swab or brush. Use a brush or
abrasive sponge for difficult soils. Clean the exterior of the bowls and urinals with disinfectant
cleaner. Clean both sides of the toilet seat. Clean the walls around the bowls or urinals with
disinfectant cleaner. Flush bowls and urinals. Polish all chrome surfaces with a dry cloth after
cleaning with a disinfectant cleaner.

∞ Scrub the floor with a disinfectant cleaner using a wet mop, bucket, and wringer. If needed,
scrub the floor grout with a tile and grout brush. Rinse with clear water. Squeegee or vacuum up
water, if necessary. Note: Floors, since they are not considered to be hand touch points, may not
need to be disinfected if properly maintained.

∞ Treat sink, shower, or floor drain with drain maintainer, if necessary.

∞ Inspect the work. If satisfactory, allow the floor to dry and re-open the restroom. Return the
cart to the supply area and restock.
The following additional requirements apply:
∞ On surfaces touched by hands (e.g., door knobs, light switches, handles, etc.), clean and
disinfect more frequently as traffic requires.

∞ Control and remove standing moisture from floor and restroom surfaces in a timely manner.

∞ Use equipment specifically for restroom cleaning. Restroom cleaning equipment, except for
powered equipment, should not be used to clean any other areas of the building.

∞ Pull restroom trash liners daily at a minimum and disinfect the trash receptacle. Fill all drain
traps on a regular basis.

Non-chemical interventions are also available to assist with sanitizing or disinfecting restrooms
(see Products Section and Appendices).

Disinfection

Disinfection is particularly important on touch points in restrooms, community rooms,

gymnasium and workout areas, daycare/preschool surfaces (e.g., desktops and toys), and other
high-touch locations.

Cleaning staff should:

∞ Perform disinfection in areas or on surfaces where pathogens collect and breed, such as in
restrooms, on door handles, exercise and playground equipment, and other fomites (inanimate
surfaces that can harbour and transmit germs). However, use disinfectants only where required to
minimize their use.

∞ Disinfect using only disinfectants or devices that can document disinfecting properties.

∞ Follow product label directions for preparation of chemical disinfecting solutions (e.g.,
dilution rate), and the appropriate disinfecting and cleaning method for the area to be cleaned
(e.g., dwell time and pre-cleaning as required).

Bloodborne Pathogens

They are infectious materials in blood that can cause disease when transmitted from an infected
individual to another person through blood and certain body fluids.
 Bloodborne pathogens can cause serious illnesses and even death.  The most common illnesses
caused by bloodborne pathogens are:

 Hepatitis B (HPV)
 Hepatitis C (HCV)
 Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) from HIV, or human immunodeficiency
virus

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Examples of PPE include:

 disposable gloves
 gowns
 laboratory coats
 protective face shields
 resuscitation masks or shields
 mouth pieces

Spills
It is generally preferable to address spills as soon as possible to minimize impacts on both health
and the environment. Work with building occupants so they communicate quickly about spills.

Food areas: cafeterias, break rooms, and other areas

Particular attention should be paid to sanitizing touch points in food areas. It is also important to
manage and remove food waste and to sanitize trash receptacles containing food debris,
recyclables such as soda cans, and other objects that contain food residues, which can attract
pests. Making every effort to eliminate wastes and residues that attract pests is critical to
protecting occupant health by reducing or eliminating the need for pesticides inside the building.
Ask occupants to rinse out food and drink containers before placing them in recyclable collection
areas. Occupants should empty and clean refrigerators to avoid food going bad. Integrated Pest
Management (IPM) should be followed.

Cleaning food areas, such as dining areas and break rooms, should include the following:
∞ Clean and sanitize surfaces in food preparation and consumption areas on a daily basis or as
required to protect human health.

∞ Clean and sanitize daily surfaces that hands touch (e.g., faucet handles, drinking fountains, and
cafeteria lines).

∞ Equip waste containers likely to collect food waste with a cover, and empty once per day or
when full; clean and sanitize daily.

Reducing solid Waste from cleaning operations

Another aspect of a green maintenance program is to reduce solid waste throughout the building,
including in cleaning operations.

To reduce solid waste while cleaning, staff should:

∞ Purchase chemical products and supplies in quantities that minimize the amount of packaging
and container waste generated.

∞ Use reusable cleaning cloths or microfiber technology, whenever practicable, in lieu of paper
products. Within 2 hours of use, rinse and/or place cleaning towels, cloths, and other reusable
cleaning materials in a sealable container (e.g., metal flammable rag canister, locking plastic bag,
etc.) to minimize evaporation of the cleaning product. Reusable cleaning cloths or microfibers
should be cleaned or laundered prior to reuse.

.∞ Segregate and recycle all waste items from cleaning operations, including paper, glass,
plastics, cardboard, other packaging materials, empty chemical containers, and worn equipment,
that are acceptable for recycling in the community.

Pest Management
Traditional pest management practices are being replaced by an “integrated pest management,”
or an IPM, approach. As defined by the EPA, IPM is an effective and environmentally sensitive
approach to pest management that relies on a combination of common-sense practices.

Two keys to IPM are removing the food supply of pests via effective cleaning and housekeeping
and sealing up places where pests can enter the public housing complex or migrate between
buildings.
Bed bugs are a particular concern in many complexes. Although they can cause itchy bites on
people and pets, according to the EPA, they are not known to transmit or spread diseases, unlike
most public-health pests. Pesticides are only one tool to get rid of bed bugs. A comprehensive
approach that includes prevention and non-chemical treatment of infestations is the best way to
avoid or eliminate a problem. (See also chapter on Unit Turnaround.) A few examples of non-
chemical methods of control (which may serve as advice to residents) include:

∞ Removing clutter where bed bugs can hide

∞ Using mattress covers designed to contain bed bugs

∞ Sealing cracks and crevices

∞ Vacuuming rugs and upholstered furniture thoroughly and frequently, as well as vacuuming
under beds (taking the vacuum bag outside immediately and dispose in a sealed trash bag)

∞ Washing and drying clothing and bed sheets at high temperatures (heat can kill bed bugs)

∞ Placing clean clothes in sealable plastic bags when possible

∞ Being alert and monitoring for bed bugs so they can be treated before a major infestation
occurs.

If pesticides are used to control pests, follow these tips to ensure safety and product
effectiveness:

∞ Read the product label first, and then follow the directions for use.

∞ Any pesticide product label without an EPA registration number has not been reviewed by
EPA to determine how well the product works.

∞ Make sure that the pesticide has been approved for indoor use.

∞ For control of bed bugs in particular, check the product label. If bed bugs are not listed on the
label, the pesticide has not been tested for bed bugs and it may not be effective.

Indoor plants
Indoor plants are a wonderful addition to any facility. Building staff charged with watering and
caring for plants may also be called upon to address spills from watering, mold growth in carpets
from dampness, pest control, and other problems. Use of indoor pesticides and fertilizers should
be managed with care because these products can impact health. Thus, the staff should be
educated on the proper and appropriate care for plants. Plants on carpets should be placed on
stands to keep moisture from building up in carpeting. Unit ventilators should not be used as
plant stands.

Maintenance of indoor plants includes the following:

∞ Collect and dispose of plant debris, such as fallen leaves and flower petals.

∞ Ensure that plants are not in direct contact with carpet.

∞ Move plants away from HVAC vents.

If indoor plant care is not the responsibility of the onsite manager, the manager should notify the
responsible party when indoor plants are interfering with or compromising cleaning, or when
other issues such as those noted above require attention.

People with special needs

One of the primary goals of a green cleaning and maintenance program is to protect the health of
building occupants. This is done in many ways, including the identification and removal of
harmful contaminants, such as particulates, mold spores, bacteria, and viruses.

While the cleaning process is intended to reduce exposure to these and other harmful
contaminants, improper methods and cleaning products themselves can cause adverse health
impacts. This is especially true for people sensitive to fragrances, those with asthma and
allergies, and those with impaired immune systems because of cancer and other health
conditions.

For these individuals, accommodations should be made relative to byproducts of cleaning

activities, such as VOCs, dust, noise levels, and other factors. Pet dander is often carried on
clothing and by other means throughout facilities, affecting people with sensitivities to pet
allergens

Understanding these sensitivities is essential for accommodating occupants. In some cases,

different product selection may be necessary, the time of day that cleaning takes place may need
to be altered, occupants who are reacting to substances may need to be relocated or diverted to
other areas within the building, or other interventions may be required, such as vacuuming with
HEPA-filtered vacuums to remove or reduce pet dander and other particulates.

In most cases, effective accommodations cannot be achieved by the cleaning staff alone, but
require everyone, including the affected individuals, to work together to achieve the best
outcome.

In situations where cleaning operations have the potential to adversely affect members of a
vulnerable population, the building manager should:

∞ Schedule daily cleaning activities to avoid their exposure to the cleaning process.

∞ Adopt alternative cleaning practices that minimize or make unnecessary the use of cleaning
chemicals.

∞ Use cleaning chemicals in areas only where sufficient ventilation is present to allow airborne
substances to dissipate before the area becomes repopulated.

∞ Provide additional ventilation through the use of blowers to enhance the rate of chemical
dissipation.

∞ Conduct cleaning operations in a manner that prevents the transfer of impacts to other areas of
the building that may contain vulnerable populations.

Cleaning products
In addition to cleaning procedures, the selection and use of cleaning products are important in a
green maintenance program. General guidelines for purchasing decisions include:

∞ pH: Prefer cleaners that have a neutral pH (closer to 7) compared to those with extreme pH
(closer to 1 or 14).

∞ biodegradability: Prefer cleaners that are readily biodegradable (check for green certification
or recognition) compared to those that are slower to degrade. Unfortunately, many older
formulations use excellent performing ingredients that have been found to have serious
environmental and health concerns.

∞ dyes and Fragrances: Prefer those with no or low levels of dyes and fragrances compared to
those products that are heavily dyed or fragranced (check for green certification or recognition).
If dyes are necessary, use those that are approved for foods and cosmetics (F&C).
 ∞ vocs: Prefer those that have no or low VOCs. These requirements will vary depending on the
product type, usage, actual outgassing rates, and other factors (consult recognized green
guidelines in Appendix B) compared to those with higher levels.

∞ bio-based/renewable resources: Prefer products that use materials derived from renewable
resources compared to those from non-renewable resources (check for green certification or
recognition).

∞ Flashpoint: Prefer products that have a high flashpoint compared to those with a low
flashpoint (see the product’s MSDS).

∞ hmis (Hazardous Materials Identification system) rating: Look for a product with a zero
hazard rating

The final component in selecting products is consideration of the supplier. The supplier plays an
important role as part of the green cleaning and maintenance team and may be intimately
involved in training. Therefore, consideration should be given to suppliers’ ability to train
cleaning personnel and their expertise with green janitorial products and cleaning, in addition to
price, reputation, and other traditional considerations.

Below are additional considerations related to 21 product

categories:

1. All-purpose cleaners
2. Restroom cleaners
3. Restroom disinfectants
4. Carpet cleaners
5. Chrome cleaners/polish
6. Dusting treatments
7. Floor finishes
8. Floor strippers
9. Furniture polish
10. General degreasers
11. General disinfectants
12. Glass cleaners
13. Graffiti Remover
14. Gum Remover
15. Lime and scale remover
16. Sanitizers
17. Solvent spot removers/absorbents (for spill cleanup)
18. Urinal deodorizers
19. Wood floor finishes
20. Choosing disposable paper and plastic bags
21. Selecting and using janitorial equipment

1. All-purpose cleaners

All-purpose cleaners consist of a broad array of possible formulations. Select products that have
been recognized by green certification or recognition programs, such as DfE, EcoLogo, Green
Seal, and others (see Appendix B). The following are some of the specific issues to compare in
this product category:

∞ Consider detergent-based products versus those containing solvents.

∞ Preferable ingredients include surfactants containing terms such as lauryl, amides, and
glycosides.

∞ If possible, do not purchase cleaners containing Nonyl Phenol Ethoxylates, NTA, EDTA,
glycol ethers, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium metasilicate, or phosphates.

2. Restroom cleaners

Restroom cleaners often contain strong acids because of the need to remove mineral deposits
from sinks, bowls, and urinals. Frequently, they are heavily dyed and strongly fragranced. Select
products recognized by green certification or recognition programs (see Appendix B). The
following are some specific issues to look for:

∞ Preferable ingredients include surfactants containing terms such as lauryl, amides, glycosides;
citric acid; acetic acid as found in vinegar; and lactic acid.

∞ If possible, avoid purchasing products containing nonylphenol ethoxylates, NTA, EDTA,

hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid.
3. Restroom disinfectants

Restroom disinfectants are similar to general disinfectants but typically may have an acidic pH
(closer to 1) to remove hard water deposits in sinks, bowls, and urinals. The selection issues
include both those under General Disinfectants and Restroom Cleaners. Care in the selection and
use is important. The following are some of the specific issues to compare in this product
category:

∞ See Restroom Cleaners for similar attributes.

∞ Antimicrobial ingredients: Prefer antimicrobial ingredients that have a lower potential for
persistence in the environment and accumulation in living tissue compared to those with a
greater potential (check for DfE recognition* 1if available).

∞ Preferable active ingredient: hydrogen peroxide.

∞ If possible, avoid purchasing products containing sodium hypochlorite (chlorine bleach),

quaternary ammonium compounds, alcohols, or phenolic compounds.

∞ Look for disinfectants in Toxicity Category IV (see Appendix E).

Non-chemical interventions, such as steam vapour devices, can also help sanitize or disinfect
restrooms. In larger restrooms, using water-only spray and vac type equipment that applies water
under pressure and then vacuums off the solution has been demonstrated to effectively clean and
sanitize both floor and above-floor surfaces by removal of soil and germs rather than by
chemical intervention. Ionized or activated water devices have also shown effectiveness in
sanitizing surfaces without added chemicals. Check with your janitorial supplier for these and
other options.

4. Carpet cleaners

See also All-Purpose Cleaners. Select products that have been recognized by green certification
or recognition programs (see Appendix B) and have received a Green Label or Seal of Approval
(SOA) for soil removal effectiveness and other attributes by the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI).

5. Chrome cleaner/polish
 Chrome cleaners and polishes frequently use petroleum distillates, which are poisonous and
derived from a non-renewable resource. Select products recognized by green certification or
recognition programs (see Appendix B). The following are some of the specific issues to
compare for in this product category:

 Preferable ingredients: essential plant oils and non-toxic abrasives such as baking soda.
 If possible, avoid purchasing products containing petroleum distillates or ammonia.

6. Dusting treatments

Dusting treatments often contain petroleum distillates and solvents. Select products recognized
by green certification or recognition programs (see Appendix B).

∞ Preferable ingredients or attributes: water-based, non-flammable.

∞ If possible, avoid purchasing products containing petroleum distillates, high-VOCs, or that

leave the slippery residue.

7. Floor Finishes

Floor finishes should be durable and appropriate for the prescribed maintenance method, but they
typically contain heavy metals such as zinc. Importantly, floor finishes should be compatible
with the stripping solution. Select products recognized by green certification or recognition
programs (see Appendix B). The following are some of the specific issues to compare in this
product category:

∞ Durability: Prefer finishes that are more durable (require less maintenance such as buffing,
restoring, and recoating) than less durable finishes that require more frequent maintenance.

∞ Heavy metals: Prefer non-metal cross-linked polymers (e.g., zinc-free) as compared to those
containing heavy metals. Another significant benefit of non-metal polymer formulas is that
frequently they can be removed with less hazardous floor strippers.

∞ Preferable ingredients: metal-free polymers.

∞ If possible, avoid purchasing products containing metal cross-linked (containing heavy metal)
polymers.
8. Floor strippers

Floor strippers typically have extreme (alkaline) pH, solvents, and ammoniated compounds to
remove metal cross-linked floor finishes. Floor strippers should be compatible with the floor
finish. Select products recognized by green certification or recognition programs (see Appendix
B). The following are some of the specific issues to compare in this product category:

∞ pH: Prefer those with a pH closer to neutral (in the range of 10 to 12) as compared to those
with extreme pH (closer to 14).

∞ Preferable ingredients: d-Limonene (citrus solvent) and methyl esters. If possible, avoid
purchasing products containing ethylene glycol mono butyl ether (butyl cellosolve), 2-
butoxyethanol, ammonia, and sodium hydroxide.

9. Furniture polishes

Furniture polishes frequently use petroleum distillates, which are poisonous and derived from a
non-renewable resource. Select products recognized by green certification or recognition
programs (see Appendix B). The following are some of the specific issues to compare for in this
product category:

∞ Preferable ingredients: citrus (lemon and orange) oils.

∞ If possible, avoid purchasing products containing petroleum distillates.

10. General degreasers

General degreasers are typically heavy-duty cleaners that include solvents for removing oil-
based soils. Traditional solvents are typically derived from non-renewable sources (e.g.,
petroleum), can be flammable, and have high VOC levels that can cause respiratory irritation and
contribute to environmental pollution; some cause severe health impacts. Select products
recognized by green certification or recognition programs. The following are some of the
specific issues to compare in this product category:

∞ See All-Purpose Cleaners for additional considerations.

∞ Preferable ingredients: d-Limonene (derived from citrus fruits) and methyl esters from soy and
corn.
 ∞ If possible avoid purchasing products containing glycol ethers in general, ethylene glycol
mono butyl ether (butyl cellosolve), and sodium hydroxide.

11. General disinfectants

General disinfectants are similar to cleaners (see All-Purpose Cleaners) with additional
ingredients to kill bacteria and other unwanted organisms (see Restroom Disinfectants). Because
disinfectants kill organisms, they are toxic by definition. Some are persistent in the environment
and accumulate in living tissue. Care in the selection and use is important. The following are
some of the specific issues to compare in this product category:

∞ See Restroom Disinfectants for similar attributes.

∞ Antimicrobial ingredients: Prefer antimicrobial ingredients that have a lower potential for
persistence in the environment and accumulation in living tissue compared to those with a
greater potential (check for DfE recognition2).

∞ Preferable active ingredient: hydrogen peroxide.

∞ If possible, avoid purchasing products containing sodium hypochlorite (chlorine bleach),

quaternary ammonium compounds, and phenolic compounds.

∞ Look for disinfectants in Toxicity Category IV.

Non-chemical interventions, such as steam vapour devices, are also available to assist with
sanitizing or disinfecting. Floors, since they are seldom touched by hands, may not need to be
disinfected if properly maintained. Cleaning in shower areas using water-only spray-and-vac
type equipment that applies water under pressure, then vacuums off the solution have been
demonstrated to effectively clean and sanitize both floor and above-floor surfaces by removal of
soil and germs rather than by chemical intervention. Ionized or activated water devices have also
shown effectiveness in sanitizing surfaces without added chemicals. Check with your janitorial
supplier for these and other options.

12. Glass cleaners

Glass cleaners have ingredients added to reduce streaking and to evaporate quickly. Traditional
glass cleaners can contain alcohol and other solvents (typically glycol ethers) or ammonia. The
following are some of the specific issues to compare in this product category:
 ∞ Preferable ingredients: surfactants containing terms such as lauryl, amides, and glycosides.

∞ If possible, avoid purchasing products containing ammonia, alcohols, propylene glycol,

ethylene glycol, and other glycol ethers.

Microfiber cloths enable cleaning glass effectively using just water. A window-washing sleeve
that fits over an applicator handle cleans glass with water mixed with a small amount of mild
detergent, followed by use of a squeegee for drying the glass.

13. Graffiti removers Graffiti Removers used to be formulated with chlorinated solvents
(e.g., methylene chloride) before those solvents were banned due to their environmental impact.
Many graffiti removers are packaged in aerosols that often contain hydrocarbon propellants (e.g.,
propane, butane), are highly flammable, and can contribute to indoor air quality problems. The
following are some of the specific issues to compare in this product category:

∞ Preferable ingredients: n-Methyl-2-Pyrolidone, d-Limonene.

∞ If possible, avoid purchasing products containing methylene chloride, petroleum distillates,

propane, butane, isobutene, and sodium hydroxide.

14. Gum removers

Gum removers used to be formulated with chlorinated solvents (e.g., Freon) before those
solvents were banned due to their environmental impact. Dry ice and carbon dioxide are
preferable replacements. Degreasers can be used in some situations (see section on General
Degreasers). The following are some of the specific issues to compare in this product category:

∞ Preferable ingredients: dry ice, carbon dioxide.

∞ If possible, avoid purchasing products containing Freon, dichloro-difluoro-methane, trichloro-

fluoromethane.

15. Lime and scale removers

Lime and scale removers are acids because of the need to remove mineral deposits from sinks,
bowls, and urinals. The following are some of the specific issues to compare in this product
category:
 ∞ Environmentally preferable lime and scale removers fall more in the range of pH 4 as
compared to traditional products that have a pH below 1.

∞ Preferable ingredients: citric, acetic, or lactic acid.

∞ If possible, avoid purchasing products containing hydrochloric or phosphoric acid.

16. Sanitizers

Sanitizers are used to reduce, but not necessarily eliminate, microorganisms from the inanimate
environment to levels considered safe as determined by public health codes or regulations.
Sanitizers include:

∞ Food contact products: These products are important because they are used on sites where
consumable food products are placed and stored. Sanitizing rinses are used for dishes and
cooking utensils, including those in eating and drinking establishments.

∞ Non-food contact products: Non-food contact surface sanitizers include carpet sanitizers, air
sanitizers, laundry additives, and in-tank toilet bowl sanitizers.

The following are ingredients to compare:

∞ Antimicrobial ingredients: Prefer antimicrobial ingredients that have a lower potential for
persistence in the environment and accumulation in living tissue compared to those with a
greater potential.

∞ Preferable active ingredient: hydrogen peroxide.

17. Solvent spot removers/absorbents (for spill cleanup)

Solvent spot removers may be necessary for oily spot removal, particularly on carpets. Use
detergent-based spotters if possible, followed by extraction or other methods to remove/absorb
the detergent).

Select products that have been recognized by green certification or recognition programs and/or
have received a Green Label or Seal of Approval (SOA) for soil removal effectiveness and other
attributes by the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI). The following are some of the specific issues to
compare in this product category:
 ∞ Preferable ingredients for spot removers: d-Limonene (derived from citrus fruits) and methyl
esters from soy and corn.

∞ Preferable ingredients for absorbents: recycled corncobs, kitty litter.

∞ If possible, avoid purchasing products containing mineral spirits or 2-butoxyethanol.

18. Urinal deodorizers

Urinal deodorizers are blocks placed in urinals to reduce odours. Preferably, these deodorizers
should be eliminated altogether through more frequent cleaning and other methods of
deodorizing (eliminating the source of the odour is best).

However, if urinal deodorizers are still required, preference should be given to those with the
safest ingredients:

∞ Preferable ingredients: surfactants containing terms such as lauryl, amides, glycosides.

∞ If possible, avoid purchasing products containing nonylphenol ethoxylates,

paradichlorobenzene.

19. Wood and stone Floor coatings

Wood and stone floor coatings have traditionally been solvent-based. While extremely durable to
protect flooring materials that are expensive to replace, these coatings can be hazardous during
the drying and curing period. It is preferable to use zero or low-VOC-containing materials to
address indoor air quality concerns (check for green certification or recognition). Unfortunately,
lower VOC formulas often have lower product durability and flooring protection and raise
product and application costs. Also, many janitorial firms lack specific expertise in the
application of these types of finishes. Thus, supplier support (e.g., instruction and training) is
very important. The following are some of the specific issues to compare in this product
category:

∞ Durability: Prefer durable finishes that require less maintenance (e.g., recoating) than less
durable finishes that require more frequent recoating.

∞ Preferable ingredients: water- or epoxy-based finishes.

∞ If possible, avoid purchasing products containing xylene, Stoddard solvent.

20. Choosing disposable paper and plastic bags

The issues associated with selecting paper products, compared to cleaning products, are simpler.
Whereas cleaners may have more than a dozen individual ingredients that can vary significantly
between and within categories, concerns related to paper are primarily focused at the
manufacturing stage of the product. Paper has less emphasis on health issues during the product-
usage stage or environmental impacts as a result of disposal.

The three basic issues of concern for paper are total recovered material (recycled content), post-
consumer recycled content, and the bleaching process. Environmentally preferable (check for
green certification or recognition) paper products should meet the following standards for each
of the following product categories:

∞ Restroom tissue—100% recovered materials and 20% post-consumer content.

∞ Toilet seat covers—100% recovered materials and 40% post-consumer content.

∞ Paper towels and general-purpose industrial wipes—100% recovered materials and 40% post-
consumer content.

Two further recommendations for the paper:

∞ No use of deinking solvents containing chlorine or any other chemicals listed in the Toxics
Release Inventory in the manufacture of paper products.

∞ No use of chlorine or chlorine derivatives in bleaching processes for paper products.

When selecting plastic trash bags, look for a minimum of 10% post-consumer content.

21. selecting and using Janitorial equipment

Powered janitorial equipment includes powered floor scrubbers, burnishers, carpet extractors,
vacuum cleaners, power washers, and other powered cleaning equipment.

Building managers should select equipment that, at a minimum, meets the following
specifications:

∞ Vacuum cleaners should meet, at a minimum, the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) Green
 ∞ Label or Seal of Approval (SOA) Program requirements and should operate at a sound level of
less than 70 dBA.

∞ Carpet extraction equipment should meet at a minimum the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI)
Bronze Seal of Approval.

∞ Powered floor maintenance equipment should be equipped with controls or other devices for
capturing and collecting particulates and should operate at a sound level less than 70 dBA.

∞ Propane-powered floor equipment should have low-emission engines certified by the

California Air Resources Board under the Small Off-Road Engines or Equipment (SORE)
program, and should be equipped with catalytic and exhaust monitoring systems in addition to
other requirements for floor equipment set out in the section.

∞ Current in-use propane-powered equipment should only be used when the building is
unoccupied and under conditions allowing for as much air circulation and exchange as possible.

∞ Powered scrubbing machines should be equipped with a control method for variable rate
dispensing to optimize the use of cleaning fluids.

Other considerations for equipment selection include the following:

∞ To accommodate people with sensitivities, consider vacuums with High-Efficiency Particulate

Air (HEPA) filtration capable of trapping 99.97% of all airborne particles 0.3 microns and larger
entering the vacuum. In some cases, it is preferable to use vacuums with a beater bar to increase
the amount of soil removal on certain carpet types.

∞ Floor machines should have guards and filters.

In the selection of all equipment, it is preferable to select those that are durable, energy efficient
and quiet, as compared to less durable, less efficient, and noisier alternatives. Appendix C also
discusses powered equipment.

 LEVEL 2 CERTIFICATE IN CLEANING

 1 HOUR, 30 MINUTES

Medical Cleaning
1. Cleaning of Ward Bays

Assemble equipment: Blue damp dusting bucket, Blue mop bucket and handle, clean mop head,
Paper roll, disposable gloves, blue disposable apron, kez handle, kez roll, Into Top (Pink)
Detergent

Fill Blue damp dusting bucket with cold water and Actichlor Plus®.

Fill Blue mop bucket with warm water and detergent.

Put clean mop onto Blue handle.

Put out hazard signs at all entrances.

Put on disposable gloves and apron.

Staring at highest point clean walls with damp paper roll turning paper until all clean sides are
used, clean all ledges behind bed lamps and patient line equipment.

Wipe around curtain rails with dampened paper, re-hanging any curtains that are looped or soiled
using method detailed in curtain changing procedure.

Pull out patient bed, put up rails and pump up.

Clean all parts of the bed base and frame including the rails and control box.

Kez and mop under bed and push back to wall ensuring brake has been put back on.

Clean base of bed table with paper roll and Actichlor Plus®, clean table top ensuring that it is left
dry and ready to be used.

Turn the bed table over once a week to ensure that the table is thoroughly clean underneath.

Clean patients chair with dampened paper cleaning out edges and sides thoroughly cleaning arms
and backs of chairs, leave chairs dry.

Clean outside of patient locker including top with dampened paper roll.

Remove bags from bin frame clean and reline.

Check hand towels wiping out the inside of the dispenser before refilling.

Clean sink with paper roll and green scouring pad if needed.
 Kez and mop floor.

Clean out buckets and leave clean and dry.

Remove mop head and place into clear bag put into yellow bin or laundry collection area.

Remove dirty kez from handle and place in black bag.

Remove gloves and aprons and wash hands thoroughly.

Put hazard signs into cleaning cupboard.

1. Curtain Changing

Assemble equipment: Red bags (disposable plastic and crunchy {alginate}), or white bag if not
contaminated, disposable gloves, soaking bowl, colour coded apron, Actichlor Plus® tablet,
clean curtains.

Put on the appropriate colour coded apron.

Put on disposable gloves if curtains are contaminated.

Remove curtains including hooks from curtain track.

Remove hooks from curtains and place in soaking bowl (with Actichlor Plus® tablet if
contaminated).

Place curtain into appropriate coloured bag until 2/3rd full and tie bag off.

If alginate bag used place tied bag into red plastic bag and tie that bag off as well.

Remove apron and disposable gloves and wash hands thoroughly.

For an infected room the room should now be deep cleaned.

Put clean paper roll onto a trolley or table and place cleaned hooks onto paper and pat dry.

Fetch clean curtains and put blue apron on.

Put clean hooks into curtains and re-hang.

Remove apron and wash hands thoroughly.

2. Cleaning of Bathrooms and Toilets

Assemble equipment: Red mop bucket, red damp dusting bucket, red mop handle, clean mop
head, Kez handle, Kez roll, white paper roll, Green pad, Into Top detergent, Brial Top detergent,
Actichlor Plus® Black bags, Hazard signs, disposable gloves, red disposable apron.

Before starting to clean, run all taps for at least 5 minutes and sign the record sheet.

Fill buckets with cold water and Actichlor Plus®.

Put mop head onto mop handle and put kez roll onto kez handle.

Put out hazard signs at entrances.

Put on disposable gloves and apron.

Pull flush of toilet to ensure clean water in base.

Using the toilet brush push water backwards down the U-bend to reduce the amount of water in
pan.

Spray around the rim and bowl of the toilet with Into top (Pink) leave to activate for a few
minutes.

Damp dust walls/tiles starting from the highest point to the lowest point using Red damp dusting
bucket and paper roll.

Damp dust all surfaces, fixtures and fittings, including doors and door handles.

Spray inside of sink and bath with Into Top leave to activate for a few minutes. Using a green
scouring pad clean sink and bath, removing all body fats.

Scouring pad to be disposed of at the end of the shift.

Clean under sink with white paper roll.

Clean sides of bath with white paper roll.

Spray mirror with Brial top (Blue).

Pull off clean piece of paper roll and rub chemical into glass.

Buff with a dry piece of white paper roll to remove any smears.

Clean inside toilet bowl with toilet brush.

Dampen a clean piece of paper roll and wipe flush handle, toilet seat base and rim.

Pull flush cleaning toilet brush and holder in the running water, dry holder.

Pull flush again.

Empty bin and clean frame.

Kez floor.

Mop floor with Red bucket and mop handle.

Remove disposable gloves and apron and wash hands thoroughly.

Clean out all buckets and dry thoroughly.

Put on clean gloves remove mop head and place in clear bag and put out for laundry.

Remove dirty Kez roll and place in black bag.

Remove disposable gloves and apron and wash hands thoroughly.

When the floor is dry return the hazard sign to the cleaning cupboard.

4. Cleaning of Shower Rooms

Assemble equipment: Red mop bucket, red damp dusting bucket, red mop handle, clean mop
head, Kez handle, Kez roll, white paper roll, Green pad, Into Top detergent, Brial Top detergent,
Actichlor Plus® Black bags Hazard signs disposable gloves, disposable apron.

Before starting to clean, run all taps and showers for at least 5 minutes and sign the record sheet.

Fill buckets with cold water and Actichlor Plus®

Put mop head onto mop handle and put kez roll onto kez handle.

Put out hazard signs at entrances.

Put on disposable gloves and apron.

Damp dust walls/tiles starting from the highest point to the lowest point using Red damp dusting
bucket and paper roll.

Damp dust all surfaces, fixtures and fittings, including doors and door handles.

Spray inside of sink and shower with Into Top leave to activate.
Using a green scouring pad clean sink and shower, removing all body fats.

Clean under sink with white paper roll.

Clean sides of shower with white paper roll.

Replace shower curtain if soiled.

Spray mirror with Brial top (Blue).

Pull off clean piece of paper roll and rub chemical into glass.

Buff with a dry piece of white paper roll to remove any smears.

Empty bin and clean frame.

Kez floor

Mop floor with Red bucket and mop handle.

Remove disposable gloves and apron and wash hands thoroughly.

Clean out all buckets and dry thoroughly.

Put on clean gloves remove mop head and place in clear bag.

Remove dirty Kez roll and place in black bag.

Remove disposable gloves and apron and wash hands thoroughly.

When the floor is dry return the hazard sign to the cleaning cupboard.

5. Cleaning of Dirty Utilities and Sluice Rooms

Assemble equipment: Red mop bucket, red damp dusting bucket, red mop handle, clean mop
head, Kez handle, Kez roll, white paper roll, Green pad, Into Top detergent, Brial Top detergent,
Actichlor Plus ®, Appropriate coloured bags, Hazard signs, disposable gloves, disposable apron.

Fill buckets with cold water and Actichlor Plus®

Put mop head onto mop handle and put kez roll onto kez handle.

Put out hazard signs at entrances.

Put on disposable gloves and apron.

Pull flush of sluice pan to ensure clean water in base.

Spray around the rim and bowl of the sluice pan with Into top (Pink) leave to activate.

Damp dust walls/tiles starting from the highest point to the lowest point using Red damp dusting
bucket and paper roll.

Damp dust all surfaces, fixtures and fittings, including doors and door handles.

Spray inside of sink with Into Top leave to activate.

Using a green scouring pad clean sink removing all body fats.

Clean under sink with white paper roll.

Clean sides of macerator with white paper roll.

Clean inside sluice pan with toilet brush.

Dampen a clean piece of paper roll and wipe flush handle, base and rim.

Pull flush again.

Empty bin and clean frame.

Kez floor.

Mop floor with Red bucket and mop handle.

Remove mop head and place in clear bag.

Remove dirty Kez roll and place in black bag.

Remove disposable gloves and apron and wash hands thoroughly.

Clean out all buckets and dry thoroughly.

When the floor is dry return the hazard sign to the cleaning cupboard.

6. Cleaning of Clean Utilities

Assemble equipment: Blue damp dusting bucket, Paper roll, disposable gloves and blue apron,
Kez handle, Kez roll, white paper roll, green scouring pad, Into Top detergent.

Fill Blue damp dusting bucket with cold water and Actichlor Plus®.
Put on disposable gloves and apron.

Damp dust walls starting from the highest point to the lowest point using blue damp dusting
bucket and paper roll.

Damp dust all surfaces, fixtures, fittings and ledges including doors and door handles.

Spray inside of sink with Into Top leave to activate.

Using a green scouring pad clean sink, removing all body fats.

Clean under sink with white paper roll.

Empty bin and clean frame.

Kez floor.

Mop floor with Red bucket and mop handle.

Remove mop head and place in clear bag.

Remove dirty Kez roll and place in black bag.

Remove disposable gloves and apron and wash hands thoroughly.

Clean out all buckets and dry thoroughly.

When the floor is dry return the hazard sign to the cleaning cupboard.

7. Cleaning of Treatment Rooms

Assemble equipment: Blue damp dusting bucket, Blue mop bucket and handle, clean mop head,
Actichlor Plus ® , Paper roll, disposable gloves and blue apron, Kez handle, Kez roll, white
paper roll, green scouring pad, Into Top detergent.

Fill Blue damp dusting bucket with cold water and Actichlor Plus®.

Put on disposable gloves and apron.

Damp dust walls starting from the highest point to the lowest point using blue damp dusting
bucket and paper roll.

Damp dust all surfaces, fixtures, fittings and ledges including doors and door handles.
Wipe around curtain rails with dampened paper, re-hanging any curtains that are looped or soiled
using method detailed above.

Pull outpatient bed put up rails and pump up.

Clean all parts of the bed frame including the rails and control box.

Kez and mop under bed and push back to wall ensuring brake has been put back on.

Spray inside of sink with Into Top leave to activate for a few minutes.

Using a green scouring pad clean sink, removing all body fats.

Clean under sink with white paper roll.

Empty bin and clean frame.

Kez floor.

Mop floor with blue bucket and mop handle.

Remove mop head and place in clear bag and put out for laundry.

Remove dirty Kez roll and place in black bag.

Remove disposable gloves and apron and wash hands thoroughly.

Clean out all buckets and dry thoroughly.

When the floor is dry return the hazard sign to the cleaning cupboard.

8. Cleaning of Day Rooms/Quiet Rooms

Assemble equipment: Blue damp dusting bucket, Paper roll, disposable gloves, suction cleaner,
disposable gloves and blue apron.

Fill Blue damp dusting bucket with cold water and Actichlor Plus®.

Put on disposable gloves and apron.

Damp dust walls starting from the highest point to the lowest point using blue damp dusting
bucket and paper roll.

Damp dust all surfaces, fixtures, fittings and ledges including doors and door handles.

Damp dust chairs.

Empty bin and clean frame.

Remove disposable gloves and apron and wash hands thoroughly.

Suction clean the floor.

9. Ward Corridor Cleaning

Assemble equipment: Blue damp dusting bucket, Blue mop bucket and handle, clean mop head,
Actichlor Plus®, Paper roll, disposable gloves, kez handle, kez roll.

Fill Blue damp dusting bucket with cold water and Actichlor Plus®.

Fill Blue mop bucket with warm water and detergent.

Put clean mop onto Blue handle.

Put out hazard signs at entrances.

Put on disposable gloves.

Damp dust all walls fixtures, fitting and ledges starting from the highest point.

Damp dust tops of desk on nurses station.

Damp dust outside of any cupboards. Empty bin if necessary.

Kez floors giving extra attention to the corners and edges.

Wet mop half the corridor at a time ensuring that there is a dry walkway for pedestrians to use.

Clean out buckets and leave clean and dry.

Remove mop head and place into clear bag put into yellow bin or laundry collection area.

Remove dirty kez from handle and place in black bag. Remove gloves and wash hands
thoroughly.

Put hazard signs into cleaning cupboard.

10. Corridor Cleaning

Assemble equipment: Blue damp dusting bucket, Blue mop bucket and handle, clean mop head,
Actichlor Plus® tablet, Paper roll, disposable gloves, kez handle, kez roll.

Fill Blue damp dusting bucket with cold water and Actichlor Plus®.
Fill Blue mop bucket with warm water and detergent

Put clean mop onto Blue handle

Put out hazard signs at entrances

Put on disposable gloves.

Damp dust all walls fixtures, fitting and ledges starting from the highest point.

Kez floors giving extra attention to the corners and edges.

Wet mop half the corridor at a time ensuring that there is a dry walkway for pedestrians to use.

Clean out buckets and leave clean and dry.

Remove mop head and place into clear bag put into yellow bin or laundry collection area.

Remove dirty kez from handle and place in black bag. Remove gloves and wash hands
thoroughly.

Put hazard signs into cleaning cupboard.

11. Cleaning of Kitchen Areas

Assemble equipment: Green Damp dusting bucket, Green mop bucket and handle, clean mop
head, Paper roll, disposable gloves, kez handle, kez roll, Into Top (Pink) Detergent, green
disposable apron.

Fill green damp dusting bucket with warm water and detergent.

Fill green mop bucket with warm water and detergent.

Put clean mop onto green handle.

Put out hazard signs at each entrance.

Put on disposable gloves and apron.

Pull off a clean piece of paper roll.

Using damp dusting as detailed above, wash walls starting at the highest point, turning paper
until all clean sides are used.

Damp dust all ledges, fixtures and fittings and surfaces, including door handles.
Spray sink with Into Top(pink) leave to activate.

Clean inside of microwave ensuring that the roof is thoroughly cleaned.

Wipe outside of microwave with damp paper roll.

Remove tray from toaster and empty into bin.

Wipe outside of toaster.

The fridge should be wiped out daily removing any spillages from inside.

Clean all the rubber seals around the door and wipe over the outside surface.

Dishwashers/sterilizers should be emptied and the bottom base removed and cleaned daily.

Daily trolley must be cleaned with detergent and water and then dried.

Once a week trolleys must be turned upside down and cleaned with a scouring pad, cleaning all
wheels and underneath bars.

Once a week remove items from cupboards and clean inside and outside of cupboard.

Clean sink with paper roll and green scouring pad if needed,

Remove bag from bin frame clean bin inside and out replace bag.

On a daily basis wipe out as much of the inside of the hand towel dispenser as possible and refill
as necessary, on a weekly basis remove all hand towels and wipe entire dispenser, refill with
towels.

Kez floor and wet mop.

Clean out buckets and leave clean and dry.

Remove mop head and place into clear bag put into yellow bin or laundry collection area.

Remove dirty kez from handle and place in black bag.

Remove gloves and aprons and wash hands thoroughly.

Put hazard signs into cleaning cupboard.

12. Washing of Plates and Utensils

At the end of meals and hot drink service the cleaning staff have the responsibility for collecting
all the plates and utensils and making sure they are cleaned hygienically.

Assemble equipment: Trolley, double black bags, food waste bucket, soaking bowl, small black
bag, green scouring pad, disposable gloves, rubber gloves, detergent

Put water and detergent into soaking bowl.

Tie black bag onto trolley.

Wearing disposable gloves collect cutlery and crockery from ward.

Leave infectious areas ‘til last. Change into yellow apron when collecting from infectious area.
Remove apron when leaving infectious area. Wash hands after leaving area.

Scrape food into double black bag in food waste bucket.

Put knives and forks into water and detergent soaking container and pile cups neatly onto trolley.

Any paper waste from an infectious patient must go into an orange bag in the patient’s room.

Put any paper waste into black bag.

Bring trolley back toward kitchen.

Fill sink with warm water and detergent then immerse plates, wear rubber gloves if required.

Remove any food on plates with the green scouring pad.

The scouring pad must be disposed of at the end of the shift.

Stack plates into blue dishwasher tray.

When tray is full close door on dishwasher and press the main button.

Continue washing plates cups and saucers, in the same way, renewing water and detergent when
it becomes dirty.

When dishwasher cycle, is complete pullout tray and allow crockery to steam dry.

When all the plates and cups are clean remove cutlery from the soaking bowl and place into sink
in hot soapy water.

Clean all cutlery and place into cutlery tray and put into dishwasher and start cycle.
When cycle complete open machine and pull out tray leave to steam dry.

Remove gloves and wash hands thoroughly.

Put plates and utensils into cupboard

Clean off trolley with dampened paper roll (using hot soapy water) and layup cups and saucers
ready for hot drinks.

13. Cleaning of Food Trolleys

At the end of meal service the cleaning staff must ensure that the food trolley is cleaned and
returned to the Catering Department in a clean and hygienic state.

Assemble equipment: Paper towel, warm water and detergent

Clean aluminium foil trays if not too badly contaminated with food using the green scouring pad
if necessary with hot soapy water.

Dampen paper in clean water and detergent

Ensure trolley is unplugged

Wipe hot surface of the trolley with the dampened paper

Change paper and wipe the surface of the glass shield

Wipe down all other external areas of the trolley

Put any clean aluminium foil trays into the trolley and also put oven gloves onto trolley surface.

Return trolley to the patient kitchen

14. Emptying of Waste Bags

It is the responsibility of the cleaning staff to make sure that waste bags are changed before they
are overfilled and placed in the waste areas for collection by the waste porters.

Assemble equipment: appropriate colour/size bag, disposable gloves and colour coded apron.

All bags must be changed when they get to 2/3 full

Wearing disposable gloves and apron, unclip used bag from bin frame

Black bags should be tied securely by knotting the twisted neck of bag.
 Clinical waste bags must swan-necked using a numbered zip tie.

Twist neck of bag, loop neck over and holding securely, use a zip tie to fasten the neck tightly.

Replace the appropriate coloured bag into bin frame, this should be the same colour as the bag
removed and close lid.

If bin is soiled clean with a dampened paper roll.

Dispose of bags in waste disposal room in appropriate bins.

Remove gloves and apron and wash hands thoroughly.

Cleaning Business
Why start a Cleaning Business?
Decided that this is finally the year for you start your own cleaning business? You’ve come to
the right place! We’ve put together this comprehensive guide to starting a cleaning business to
help you learn the basics about beginning a company, from identifying a target market and
writing a business plan through to choosing your cleaning products and marketing your
services. Is It Worth Starting a Cleaning Business? It’s suggested by the British Cleaning
Council that the UK’s cleaning industry is currently worth around £12bn, with almost 3 million
households spending their well-earned money on well-deserved domestic help each year. It’s
evident that there’s money to be made in starting up a cleaning company. Despite many families
within the UK falling on hard times in recent years, spending a bit of cash each week to have
someone do your ironing or clean your kitchen is one of those little luxuries that brighten up the
darkest of days. As such, there is and perhaps always will be a demand for cleaning services, so
from that perspective, there is a reduced risk of starting your own cleaning business. The Pros of
Starting a Cleaning Business Whilst it may be quite overwhelming to think of all the tasks that
need to be completed before you start looking for business, there are also many positives to
starting a cleaning company that will have you reaching for the mop and bucket in seconds. Take
a look at the following:

 Low start-up costs – you can start a cleaning business with very little money. All you
need to get started are a few basic cleaning products and the passion to succeed!
 Very few overhead expenses – it’s unlikely that you’ll need to rent or buy premises, buy
a company car or pay utility bills, especially in your early days, meaning you can start your
business with minimal monetary concerns.
 Work from home – with no office, shop floor or warehouse required you can run your
business from the comfort of your own home.
 Be your own boss – setting up your own business means that you’ll be working for
yourself. You can set your own hours, have total control of expenses and pick and choose the
jobs you want to do.
 Flexible working – being self-employed means you can work when’s best for you,
whether it’s 7 days a week or mornings only.
 No experience required – starting a cleaning business requires no specific qualifications
or certificates. All you need is hard work, determination and the desire to do well.

The Negatives of Starting a Cleaning Business Having your own cleaning company and being
your own boss won’t always involve calling clients in your slippers from the comfort of your
living room, however. Here are a few things you should be aware of before you begin:

 It’s tough, physical work – cleaning is a highly physical job that involves repetitive
movements, carrying heavy supplies, reaching high shelves and crawling on your knees to reach
the corners. It’s not for the faint of heart!
 Income might be slow – especially, to begin with, you might not earn much money in the
first months (or even years) of starting up your business.
 It’s a competitive business – cleaning is such a lucrative market that start-ups are popping
up left, right and centre. You’ll need to keep your head down, keep on top of your competition
and keep your focus on succeeding.
 Jobs might take longer than you think – it’s so important that you get your timings right
and leave enough time to get jobs finished. If people have a very messy house then what you
expect to take you 1 hour might take you 3!
 It’s stressful – managing work schedules, employee wages, legal compliance and
advertising (as well as doing the actual cleaning) can take their toll when you’re doing it all
yourself. Make sure you factor in some downtime.

Cleaning Success Stories            Many people have made their fortune as a result of beginning
their own cleaning business – perhaps because it’s so simple and cost-effective to do compared
 with other business genres. Here are a couple of our favourite tales of soap-fuelled
success: Molly Maid – Molly Maid is one of the most iconic cleaning company brands,
recognisable by their iconic pink and blue branding. Their story began in Ontario, Canada, in
1979 with Chris and Adrienne Stringer. The Stringers believed that busy homeowners would
much rather be spending their free time doing activities which are much more enjoyable than
cleaning – and the Molly Maid brand was born. Since 1979 the company has become an
international franchise and performs more than 2 million cleans each year around the
world. Mopp – Mopp is a UK based company that brings cleaning into the digital age. Its
founders, Pete Dowds and Tom Brooks, started the business after failing to find a last-minute
cleaner for a house party. Their website and app help customers to book a cleaning service
within a matter of seconds, with next-day appointments available. Mopp put their success down
to their intense, creative marketing techniques. The pair uses a combination of offline marketing,
social media and video content to great effect. On their YouTube channel – Mopp TV – the
company offer free weekly cleaning tips and work hard to get people involved with the brand for
the benefit of the customer. Since their start-up, the Mopp team now employ 35 people in their
London HQ and have more than 1,000 cleaners available for hire. What Type of Cleaning
Business Should I Start? 10 Essential Traits of Cleaning Business Owners, First of all, you need
to truly assess whether or not you have the right personal characteristics to start a cleaning
business. Whilst anyone with enough drive can start their own cleaning business, there are
certain attributes and skills which, if you possess, will give you an advantage over competitors.
You don’t need to have qualifications in cleaning but it does help if you can demonstrate the
following:

1. Perfectionism – cleaning is well-suited to those with an eye for detail and who won’t rest
until a job is done ‘just so.’
2. A love for an organisation – if you love tidying, organising and re-arranging then
cleaning will be a satisfying outlet.
3. Stamina – cleaning involves tough, physical work so it’s important that you’re fit and
able to keep up the pace.
4. Lone working – to start with you may be the only person in your company and you’re
likely to be cleaning whilst clients are out. A love of solitude can be beneficial.
5. Not easily bored – some tasks may be repetitive or un-stimulating for the mind so mental
stamina is just as important as physical.
6. Trustworthiness – if you’re spending periods of time in someone’s home or office then
they must be able to trust you with their possessions and house keys.
7. Likability and friendliness – if you’re unpleasant or brash with your clients then they’re
unlikely to recommend you or come back for repeat business.
8. Administration skills – being self-employed means that a large part of your role will
involve sorting out tax, wages and invoices etc. so being good with papers and figures is
essential.
9. Time-keeping – nobody likes to be left waiting – and it also looks unprofessional – so
being able to keep track of appointments is vital.
10. Creativity – this will help you to advertise your business. Unique marketing ideas are
much more memorable and will help you to get your brand out there.

What Type of Cleaning Business Should I Start? Before you can begin to stock up on soap
and pick up the polish, your first important decision is to decide what kind of cleaning company
you actually want to start. There are 3 main areas that you may want to consider: Domestic
cleaning – this involves cleaning people’s homes and is usually done whilst the client is out of
the house. You can work solo or hire a few employees to help you but the jobs are likely to be
small and manageable. You might want to specialise in kitchens and bathrooms, focus on
vacuuming and dusting or offer other services, such as washing and ironing. The start-up costs
for a domestic cleaning business are low and you can often choose whether you use your own
products or ask the client to supply them. Commercial cleaning – this involves cleaning business
premises, such as offices and shops, usually outside of working hours when the premises are
closed. You’re more likely to need a team to tackle commercial cleaning tasks as the premises
can be a lot larger than your average home. Your role in this sort of business could be more
managerial and the start-up costs higher if you need to buy specialist cleaning equipment or
transport. Specialised cleaning – this can involve a range of different cleaning tasks depending
on what you choose to be your speciality. For example, you may choose to focus on window
cleaning, carpeting cleaning, graffiti removal or cleaning cars. The start-up costs for a
specialized cleaning company can vary but it’s likely that you’ll need to buy specific cleaning
equipment and products. You’ll also need to consider whether you can do the cleaning by hand
or if you’ll require machinery.
Tidying or Cleaning?
Whilst pretty straightforward, this is a question you need to think about very carefully before
starting your cleaning company, particularly for domestic and commercial businesses.

Consider this: when you offer to clean a client’s kitchen or office, have you offered to wipe the
surfaces and mop the floor? Or have you offered to wash the dishes and tidy away the papers
before you wipe the surfaces and mop the floor?

It may not seem like a big deal to have to tidy up someone’s coffee table before you can clean it,
but tasks like these can quickly add up and contribute towards lost production time. When you
determine your services it’s therefore important to clarify exactly what you do, and don’t, want
to include in the price.

For example, imagine turning up for a 2-hour cleaning slot to find that you need to spend half of
it tidying away children’s toys. You’ll have to stay an extra hour, or come back another day, to
make sure you get your actual cleaning tasks completed. Either that or you can only complete
half the job and will have to let your client know why!

Remember what tasks the client specifically requested, and make sure to ascertain this
information from the onset; the last thing you want to do is play a guessing game and end up
tidying away some important papers when the client only wants their children’s bedrooms
cleaned!

Tips for Doing Market Research of Your Local Area

Market research is an essential first step of starting a business as, without it, you may find
yourself diving straight in at the deep end struggling to stay afloat due to lack of demand for your
business.

You can never assume that you already know everything about your target market – how do you
know what they’re looking for or how much they’re willing to pay you? Market research will
help you to answer these important questions and prevent you from making costly mistakes.

But where do you start? First of all get yourself amongst your customers. Knock on doors and
call around your local area and actually speak to the people who you hope will become your
 clients. A warm smile and a friendly approach can work wonders and you’ll be surprised at how
many people are willing to talk to you. Remember to ask key questions such as:

 Would you be interested in paying someone to do your cleaning?

 Which tasks would you like help with?
 How much would you be willing to pay for the service?
 Would you prefer a flat hourly rate or a variety of prices depending on the task?
 At what time of day would the service be most beneficial to you?
 Would you prefer to supply your own cleaning products or have us bring them?
 Is there anything you wouldn’t want a cleaning company to do?
 Is there a cleaning service you wish a company offered but currently doesn’t?

By asking everyone the same set of questions you’ll be able to collate the results and find out
which choices are the most popular in your area. You’ll also be able to identify any potential
gaps in the market where you may be able to thrive.

For example, have several people identified that they’d love someone to vacuum their hallway
and stairs? Perhaps people have suggested a need for a more environmentally friendly cleaning
service, or maybe several people have stated that they’re looking for a company offering better
value for money.

Another market research method is to take a look at your competition. Have a look online, in the
phone directory and local business guides, or simply ask around and find out if there are other
cleaning companies operating in your area. You’ll need to consider:

 Which cleaning services are already on offer?

 Are there any services which aren’t offered locally
 What prices do other companies charge?
 Which companies are the most popular and why?
 What methods of advertising do they use?
 Do they have any unique selling points (USPs)?

Who’s Your Target Market?

 This is another important question to answer as it’ll help you to determine what type of cleaning
business you want to start and what kind of questions you should ask customers during your
market research phase. Think about whether you want to focus on:

 Cleaning for individual clients in their houses.

 Cleaning empty rental properties on behalf of a landlord or letting agency.
 Cleaning offices.
 Cleaning schools etc.

The type of individuals and/or establishments that you target can drastically affect your business.
For example, will you be cleaning everyday family homes or will you be cleaning luxury
apartments? Are your clients hiring you as a service within their own business, like office
managers and landlords? Does your target market value ‘green’ cleaning, high-end cleaning
products or value for money the most?

What Do Equipment & Resources I Need To Start My Cleaning Business?

A List of Basic Cleaning Supplies

Now that you’ve done your market research and determined the type of cleaning business you
want to start, it’s time to get shopping for the basics! Not every cleaning company will require
the same products as it depends on what exactly you’ll be cleaning but a few ideas to get you
started to include:

 Sponges and scourers.

 Yellow dusters/microfibre cloths.
 Glass polishing cloths.
 Cleaning brushes.
 A mop and bucket.
 A dustpan and brush.
 Protective gloves.
 A plastic caddy to carry the essentials.
 The type of individuals and/or establishments that you target can drastically affect your business.
For example, will you be cleaning everyday family homes or will you be cleaning luxury
apartments? Are your clients hiring you as a service within their own business, like office
managers and landlords? Does your target market value ‘green’ cleaning, high-end cleaning
products or value for money the most?

Of course this is just a basic list and is best suited towards a domestic cleaning business. If you
have chosen to operate a commercial or specialised cleaning business then you may also need
specialist equipment such as vacuums, pressure washers or hoses.

Bigger companies, or those that are required to travel between locations, will also need to
consider their transport arrangements. You could think about using your own car or you could
hire or purchase a company van to get from place to place. Don’t forget that this will be an extra
outgoing cost for your business.

And where would a cleaning company be without their cleaning products? If you’re a
domestic or commercial cleaner first you need to determine:

 Are you bringing your own cleaning products to a job?

 Will the client be providing you with their own products to use?

Some clients will prefer to provide their own cleaning chemicals if they have particular
preferences or if they’re allergic to certain ingredients. Always find out in advance of the job
whether this is the case. It’s a good idea to have a supply of basics to hand regardless though just
in case what you’re using runs out or if there’s been an oversight and the client isn’t actually
supplying their own.

Here is a list of 15 essential cleaning products:

1. Furniture polish.
2. Glass cleaner.
3. Multipurpose cleaner.
4. Disinfectant
5. Mildew cleaner.
6. De –scaler.
7. Degreaser.
8. Floor Cleaner.
9. Bleach.
10. Sanitizer.
11. Toilet cleaner.
12. Washing up liquid.
13. Oven cleaner.
14. Laundry detergent.
15. Dishwasher chemicals.

Warning: All of these chemicals are classified as hazardous substances and must be handled,
used and stored with care. If you’re using these then you should also wear protective equipment,
like a pair of Marigold gloves. Head to the COSHH section of this article to learn more about
hazardous substance safety.

What Are a Cleaning Company’s Start-Up Costs?

A domestic cleaning business can be started for very little money, especially if you’re the only
person working and you don’t have any other employees. This means that your only start-up
costs will be those demonstrated in the basic cleaning supplies section – unless your clients are
providing their own products and equipment in which case your costs will be even fewer!

You can save more money on buying the essentials by buying in bulk online, from wholesalers
or at the supermarket. It’s often cheaper to buy direct from the manufacturers too so be sure to
check their websites and mail-order catalogues.

To obtain a basic range of cleaning equipment and chemicals, expect your start-up cost to be
around £150.

Of course this will vary depending on what you do and don’t need and it doesn’t take into
account extras such as transport, a company uniform or an advertising budget.

A domestic cleaning business can be started for very little money, especially if you’re the only
person working and you don’t have any other employees. This means that your only start-up
costs will be those demonstrated in the basic cleaning supplies section – unless your clients are
providing their own products and equipment in which case your costs will be even fewer!
You can save more money on buying the essentials by buying in bulk online, from wholesalers
or at the supermarket. It’s often cheaper to buy direct from the manufacturers too so be sure to
check their websites and mail-order catalogues.

To obtain a basic range of cleaning equipment and chemicals, expect your start-up cost to be
around £150.

Of course this will vary depending on what you do and don’t need and it doesn’t take into
account extras such as transport, a company uniform or an advertising budget.

If you provide your own cleaning products you may find that you can actually charge slightly
more for your services so don’t feel too disheartened by your initial spend – it’s likely that you’ll
recuperate the costs fairly quickly once business gets going.

If you own a more specialist cleaning company then the start-up costs can be much more
substantial, especially if you have to invest in specialist cleaning equipment. In these cases
always shop around to find the best deal.

Hiring Staff
In your initial start-up days, you may choose to go it alone and run your cleaning business on
your own, either to keep costs down or because you’re waiting for your business to take off
before hiring your first employees. On the other hand, perhaps you’re starting up your company
with a friend, family member or colleague, or maybe you’ve already promised a job to your
daughter, nephew or neighbour.

No matter the circumstances, chances are there’ll be a time when you want to hire employees for
your business. So how do you do this?

Finding suitable workers is often a fairly easy task as cleaning is a job that all types of people
can do. You don’t need to check whether people have the right qualifications or experience – you
simply need to find people who possess the list of desirable traits from the start of this article. As
long as your employees are hardworking, full of energy and trustworthy then you’re good to go!

And don’t forget that staff = increased expenses. You’ll need to pay them at least the minimum
hourly wage and may need to supply them with a uniform as well as their own set of cleaning
supplies.
Always Follow Safer Recruitment Practices

Finding and recruiting workers for your cleaning business won’t be an arduous task, and you’re
bound to have numerous applications, but that doesn’t mean you can or should simply hire the
first person you see. If you own a domestic cleaning business then clients will be trusting you
with their homes, their possessions, their pets and their house keys so it’s vital that the people
you employee are as trustworthy as you are.

Before hiring anyone to be sure to ask for, and follow up references. Speak to the person’s
current or previous employer to find out how they behave at work and ask for a character
reference to assess how they are as a person.

It’s also a good idea to apply for a DBS check too. The Disclosure and Barring Service will help
to prevent you from hiring unsuitable people. A standard check will inform you of any spent and
unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings that the person has on their record.
You don’t want to employ somebody who is going to steal from clients’ homes!

If you need to learn more about safer recruitment best practices then take a look at our
recruitment course.

Writing Business Plan for Your Cleaning

Company
All businesses need a plan and, without one, you’re unlikely to attract clients, get your company
name known and make a profit. But it’s not all bad news, as chances are you’ve already started
creating your plan without realising it! If you’ve done some market research or started to look at
the equipment you need to buy then you’re already beginning to put together a plan – now you
just need to get it down on paper.

Your business plan is merely a short document that sets out your objectives and helps you (and
other potential investors) see exactly what your aims are and how you’re going to go about
achieving them. The plan will help you to keep a focus on what’s most important in order for
your business to thrive.

The idea of writing a business plan sounds quite daunting but it needn’t be a complicated job. In
fact, one side of the A4 paper should do it! Your goal is simply to get all the key information
written down in a logical order.
 Which Topics Need Including in a Business Plan?

The topics that you need to include in your cleaning company

business plan are:

 The name, address and contact details for your business.

 Information on the management of the business; who’s in charge?
 Your company’s Mission Statement: in one sentence, simply summarise the overall aim
of your cleaning business.
 Where you will operate from; where you will be based (including if it’s at home) plus
information on any overhead costs associated with the business premises.
 Your start-up costs; what cleaning equipment and supplies do you need to buy? Do you
need to pay anyone a wage? Have you got insurance?
 The everyday costs of the business; how much will you spend on a weekly or monthly
basis? Include all overheads and outgoing costs, like top-up cleaning supplies, petrol and wages.
 Funding and financial projections; where do you plan to get the money from to start the
business and what are your projected profits/losses for the next month, year, 2 years etc? How
will you maintain the cash-flow?
 Will you work on the business full-time? What will your working hours be?
 Does your business have any local competition and what is the USP of your own business
that will make it stand out from the crowd?
 What is your marketing strategy?
 Your pricing strategy; what are you going to charge for your service? Will you charge per
job or per hour?
 How you will be paid for your service; do you plan to issue invoices, have a monthly
subscription for clients or ask them to pay in cash on the day?
 Are there any other logistics you need to consider, such as transport?

Download our free, ready-made, one-page business plan template and begin writing all this
information down to get you started. You’ll notice that it groups some of the questions above
into six key headings but do feel free to add in your own sections to ensure that all the relevant
information has been recorded.

The Prince’s Trust website may also come in handy if you want to learn more about writing a
business or financial plan and download more complex templates and tables.
 Should I Operate as a Sole Trader or a Franchise?

If you take a closer look at some of the other cleaning companies out there you’ll notice that
they’re divided into two formats: sole traders (like Mopp) and franchises (like Molly Maid). But
which is best?

Sole traders are self-employed. If you’re a sole trader then you own the company, you work for
yourself and you hire your own employees. You’re also responsible for paying your own tax and
sorting out your own insurance. Sole trading means that you have complete control and
responsibility for how your business operates but you’ll have to work very hard in order to get
yourself noticed and make money.

Franchises are part of a company owned by someone else. The idea is that you ‘buy’ your
cleaning business from the larger company and then you operate using their brand name. The
company will also give you all the information and training that you need to deliver your service,
plus it means you can get started with a business name that’s already well-known which may
help you to attract clients. However, franchises can be expensive to start (it might set you back
£10,000 to ‘buy’ the company name) and it doesn’t necessarily guarantee that you’ll see more
success than if you began a company from scratch.

10 Things to Consider When Creating a Budget

Budgeting is a key part of your business plan as without it you’re likely to accidentally
overspend one month and find you can’t afford to pay your employees the next. It’ll help you to
keep track of how much money is coming in (your income) and how much is going out (your
expenses) so that you always know how much you have available to spend, to spare or to save.
Consider the following tips when creating your cleaning company budget:

1. Cut yourself some slack! Don’t plan to use every penny that you have and keep in mind that
whilst some outgoing costs are fixed, others can vary. Always overestimate your expenses so that
you don’t find yourself in the red when something was more costly than you planned.

2. Delete unnecessary expenses. If your expenses are higher than your income then take a
look at which of them could be removed or cut. Could you use a cheaper brand of cleaning
chemicals to reduce costs, for example? Or perhaps you don’t really need to dry-clean your
uniform every week?
3. Review your budget every 6-12 months. Take a look at your cash flow and see whether
you need to make any adjustments. This is also a good time to do a price comparison on cleaning
products or insurance to ensure you’re getting the best deal
4. Have a ‘rainy day fund’. Make sure you have a contingency plan in place in case your
expenses change – how will you cope if costs go up, if the minimum wage changes or something
breaks?
5. Plan on a month-by-month basis. Does each month in your business see the same
income? Perhaps you have busy periods in the summer where you see your income rise and
quieter months in the autumn where your income drops. Make sure that you plan your budget
according to your predicted schedule.
6. Time is money! Don’t forget that the time you spend doing the job equates to the amount
you’ll earn. Set time limits for tasks so you don’t spend long on them than necessary, thus losing
essential income.
7. What are you going to charge clients? This will have a huge impact on your budget as if
you don’t have enough money coming in then you won’t have enough cash to spend on what you
need. Think about whether you’ll charge clients per job, per hour or per month. Most domestic
cleaners average around £10-15/hour.
8. Don’t forget start-up costs. It’s likely that your first year may be more expensive than
others as you’ll need to incorporate your business start-up costs. You may want to set aside part
of the budget each month to buy something new or you may be paying off debt from a one-off
start-up purchase.
9. Don’t spend all your profits! When planning your budget you may find that your income
is higher than your expenses and this means profit – which is great!

However be careful not to plough all of this money straight back into the business. Instead, keep
some aside and pop it in your rainy day fund for emergencies.

10. Consult a financial adviser. If you need help with budgeting or want to create a more
thorough financial plan then consulting a financial adviser can be a good investment. Don’t be
afraid to ask for a helping hand if you need it!

The Legal Requirements of Starting a Cleaning Business

 Whilst you don’t need a specific licence to start or run a cleaning business, there are certain UK
government requirements that you need to comply with in order to trade legally. This includes
ensuring that your business is registered and that you’ve taken out the correct insurance to
protect yourself and your employees against costly claims.

Register your business – if you’re self-employed then you must register as a sole trader with
HMRC to show that you own the business. You’ll also need to register for self-assessment tax,
meaning that you calculate and pay your own tax each year. You can do this at the following
links:

Get the right kind of insurance – there are two types of insurance that are essential for all
cleaning businesses and a third if you hire staff. These are:

 Public liability insurance – this protects you against claims from third parties in cases of
personal injury or property damage, including accidents. It means you’ll be covered in case you
accidentally break someone’s heirloom vase!
 Professional indemnity insurance – this protects you against claims from unhappy
employees or clients. It means you’re covered if a customer refuses to pay an invoice or if you
need to rectify a mistake.
 Employers’ liability insurance – if you have any number of staff then this protects you
against claims from employees if they have sustained an injury or illness whilst working for you.

To purchase insurance you can simply do an online search and take a look at the options
available. Most insurance isn’t expensive and you can pay on a yearly or monthly basis. If you
don’t take out the correct insurance then you risk hefty expenses if someone makes a claim
against your company so it’s worth doing!

Pay the National Minimum Wage – if you employ workers in your cleaning company then it’s
essential that you pay them fairly, and at least the minimum amount set by the UK government.
The minimum wage rate depends on the employee’s age and is usually updated every October.
As an employer, you must keep on top of any changes and ensure that your workers are paid
correctly.

Cleaning Chemical Safety (The COSHH Regulations)

 The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (or COSHH) is the UK law that
requires all employers to control the risks from harmful substances. As the owner of a cleaning
business, it’s your responsibility to ensure that the chemicals you use are handled, stored and
used safely so that they don’t cause harm to you, your workers and your clients.

Ensuring Chemical Safety

All cleaning chemicals are hazardous substances and must be treated with care. The people who
use them must be correctly trained and understand the risks, plus how to minimise them. If used
incorrectly then cleaning chemicals can cause all sorts of ill-health problems, such as asthma,
skin irritation or even poisoning. They may even have flammable or explosive properties if
they’re not handled and stored in the correct manner.

And it’s not just a legal requirement to use your cleaning chemicals safely. Doing so will protect
the health of your workers and will reduce the likelihood of expensive medical costs and lost
productivity. If a staff member is off work ill then you’ll lose a vital pair of helping hands and
your income will begin to drop.

To comply with the Regulations you should first carry out a risk assessment. This means taking a
look at your cleaning chemicals and the places you’ll be working and identifying what may pose
a risk to health. Read the warning labels of your cleaning

14 Top Tips for Cleaning Chemical Safety

Follow these top tips to ensure that you’re using your cleaning supplies safely:

 Avoid the use of harmful chemicals where possible. Substitute the chemical for a less-
toxic one wherever there is a choice.
 Never mix chemicals together. It could make them incredibly toxic or cause a chemical
reaction or explosion.
 Don’t use more than is needed. Always follow the chemical’s instructions about how
much to dispense.
 Don’t use chemicals past their use-by dates. Safely dispose of any out-of-date chemicals
as they may become hazardous (as well as less effective).
 Prepare a fresh solution each time. Don’t re-use chemicals or carry the same bucket from
house to house.
 Use a measured dispenser. This ensures you get the right amount each time and helps to
avoid accidents.
 Dispose of hazardous chemicals safely. Most cleaning chemicals are water-soluble so can
be poured down the drain, but those that aren’t mixed with water must be disposed of via an
authorised waste carrier.
 Be careful not to spill anything. If you’re manually dispensing products then avoid
spilling them, especially in areas where they may come into contact with people’s food or skin.
 Store chemicals in labelled, sealed containers. Keep them in their original packaging so
you always know what they are and so you can access their labels’ safety information.
 Keep your chemical storage area tidy. Even if it’s just a box that you carry from job to
job, ensure that it’s clean and secure so the chemicals can’t spill.
 Don’t use the broken equipment. Keep everything that you use clean and in good repair
to avoid accidents or contamination.
 Open a window or turn on the extractor fan. Ventilation is particularly important in small
spaces, like bathrooms, where fresh air cannot flow as freely and you may become overwhelmed
with the smell of chemicals.
 Train your employees. Ensure that they also know the risks and how to handle, store and
use cleaning chemicals safely.
 Provide protective measures. It’s unlikely that you can avoid the use of chemicals
altogether so make sure you and your staff are protected from the risks. For example, wear
gloves, long sleeves and a protective face mask where required.