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DEFINITIONS OF COMMERCIAL CLEANING TERMINOLOGY

July 28, 2022 by WINNS Services
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INTRODUCTION FOR CLEANING TERMINOLOGY

The following are the definitions for popular cleaning terms as defined by WINNS Services;

 

ANTIBACTERIAL 

A substance that is able to kill or slow the growth of bacteria. Antibacterial formulas are not effective against viruses.

 

CLEANING

The process of locating, identifying, containing, removing, and properly disposing of unwanted substances from a surface or area. Cleaning usually involves soap or a cleaning formula and requires some form of agitation, such as hand rubbing or a sponge. Cleaning removes but does not kill microorganisms.

 

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COSHH IN A CLEANING ENVIRONMENT 

The COSHH definition means that employers have a strict health and safety obligation to store cleaning chemicals in a safe environment. The safety data sheet recommends storage instructions that include securing the chemicals against unauthorised use.

 

COSHH ASSESSMENT

A COSHH assessment helps to identify the hazards and risks from hazardous substances in your workplace. Simply put, it’s a thorough risk assessment that concentrates on your workplace’s exposure to hazardous substances. You only need to carry out a COSHH assessment if hazardous substances are likely to be present in your workplace.

 

DECONTAMINATION

The reduction or removal of microorganisms or dangerous substances, including biohazardous material and infectious viruses, by physical means, such as cleaning and disinfecting and/or sterilisation, or using chemical neutralisation methods. 

 

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PERIODIC CLEANING

As the name suggests, Periodic Cleaning is different to Daily Cleaning and Deep Cleaning. This service means that you have a cleaner arranged to come into your premises on a regular and agreed basis. This could be weekly, monthly or even less than that to bring areas back up to the desired standard.

 

DEEP CLEANING

The term has no standard definition. However, companies often use the term to mean specific services or actions, such as disinfecting using an electrostatic sprayer or chemical.  They may also use it to refer to more intense cleaning, such as “deep cleaning” a carpet or kitchen.

 

STRIPPING OR SEALING

Strip and seal is the process of taking off the old existing sealer and putting on new coats. A strip and seal is best for vinyl, tile and marble flooring. It's the method used for stripping away the coats of grime, cleaning film, or worn sealant off your flooring and resealing the surface.

 

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FLOOR POLISHING /BUFFING

Floor polish creates a smoother surface on a floor so that it looks cleaner and shinier. Polishing may change the quality of the material by, for instance, adding an extra substance to protect it. They both leave the floor shinier overall.

 

DISINFECT

Disinfectants kill viruses, but only those listed on the label. To kill 99.999% of the pathogens the disinfectant’s label says it is effective in killing. Cleaning should proceed all disinfecting, and all disinfectants must remain on the surface for the full recommended dwell time.

 

DWELL TIME

Disinfectants kill viruses, but only those listed on the label. To kill 99.999% of the pathogens the disinfectant’s label says it is effective in killing. Cleaning should proceed all disinfecting, and all disinfectants must remain on the surface for the full recommended dwell time.

 

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SANITISE

Sanitisation reduces (not kills) microorganisms by 99.9%, the level deemed safe for humans by the Environmental Protection Agency, in 30 seconds or less. Sanitisers cannot kill viruses or fungi and should be used against the specific pathogen(s) stated on the label.

 

SLA (SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT)

A service level agreement (SLA) is a pre-agreed contractual bond between a service provider and a customer for maintaining the level of quality, availability, and responsibilities of the services. The purpose of service level agreements is to monitor the fulfilment of obligations, if they are not met then it is called a breach of SLA.ons

 

KPIs (KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS) 

The cleaning industry KPIs help the service provider and facility management team to specificat the value of a specific service received.

 

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INPUT SPECIFICATIONS

An input specifications is the most common cleaning contract specification.  It is prescriptive, in that it describes in detail the products, materials and work (the inputs) required by a contractor in the delivery of the service, i.e.

The toilets on the first floor will be cleaned with organic cleaning solution at 09.00, 13.00 and 15.00 daily Monday to Friday. All surfaces will be wiped down and mirrors cleaned. Bins will be emptied at these times

 

OUTPUT SPECIFICATION

An output specification is a technical specification that predominantly adopts performance-based requirements to define the project scope.  It is less specific, i.e  

The toilets on the second floor will be kept clean and bins emptied as necessary

 

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN INPUT AND OUTPUT SPECIFICATION

The difference between an output and an input specification is that the contractor can use his/her discretion if operating to an output specification. If the bins do not need emptying at 13.00 or the mirrors do not need cleaning the contractor can make that decision whereas with the input specification, even if there was just one paper towel in the bin at 13.00, it would still have to be emptied.

 

CONSUMABLE ITEMS

Consumables items are goods used by individuals and businesses that must be replaced regularly because they wear out or are used up. Consumable stores consist of items such as toilet rolls, air fresheners, hand towels, soap, black bin liners, etc.

 

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LONDON LIVING WAGE

The London Living Wage is an hourly rate of pay, currently set at £11.05. It is calculated independently to reflect the high cost of living in the capital, giving a worker in London and their family enough to afford the essentials and to save.

 

COLOUR CODING FOR CLEANING EQUIPMENT 

Cross-contamination is one of the highest risks in the spread of infection. To effectively reduce this risk, we strongly recommend cleaning operatives follows the same procedures that BICSc has outlined. There are four colours in the BICSc colour scheme: red, blue, yellow and green.

 

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SAFE SYSTEMS OF WORK (SSOW)

A Safe System of Work (SSOW) is a set of procedures for removing or reducing the risks involved in an operation.  A good SSOW should:

  • Be designed for a specific task or activity.
  • Identify all hazards related to the task or activity.
  • Detail each individual step for safely completing the task or activity.
  • Be easily accessible for everyone who needs it.

WORK INSTRUCTIONS

Work Instructions are documents that clearly and precisely describe when and what should be cleaned and when they should be cleaned.

 

 

 

 

 

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