Cleaning & turnover

Assemble a Cleaning Kit

This Best Practice will guide you through what tools and products to include in a cleaning kit.

Durk is currently a back of the house consultant that specializes in helping companies with efficiency and productivity. He is passionate about teaching others how to have successful operations.

This is a 5 minute read.

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Learning Objectives

Ensure you have the right products and tools to tackle any cleaning or light maintenance issue
Learn ways to use specialty tools for tough cleaning and light maintenance issues
Learn how to organize, store and maintain your tools and products
Learn how to safety and effectively use products
1 - 19 STEPS

Cleaning Kit Overview

Assembling a comprehensive cleaning kit ensures you have the right tools to effectively complete any cleaning task.
2 - 19 STEPS

Bucket and Bucket Liner

Bucket: Buckets can be used to easily carry products and tools.
Bucket liner: A bucket liner can be fitted outside a bucket. Bucket lines have pockets that can be used to organize cleaning tools.
3 - 19 STEPS

Cleaning Bucket

If you are using buckets in your disinfection process, you should create a 3-bucket system to prevent cross-contamination.
Bucket 1: detergent or cleaning solution; Bucket 2: rinse water; Bucket 3: disinfectant. It's wise to color-code or label the buckets to ensure you use the same bucket for each solution every time.
4 - 19 STEPS

Cleaning Cloths

Surface cleaning cloths and mop heads should be cotton or microfiber.
Microfiber cloths are more absorbent than cotton, but need to be laundered separately from other cleaning cloths.
5 - 19 STEPS

Cleaning Cloths: Color Coded

Color Coding System: Use a color coding system for your cleaning cloths to prevent cross-contamination.
ISSA (International Sanitary Supply Association) recommends a 4-color system.
6 - 19 STEPS

Cleaning Cloths: Color Coded

Use Red for high risk areas such as toilets and showers.
Use Yellow for low-risk areas such as bathroom sinks and mirrors.
Use Blue for all-purpose cleaning (desks, side tables, etc.).
Use Green for food preparation areas.
7 - 19 STEPS

Folding Method for All-White Cloths

If you use white cloths, you can prevent cross contamination by using a folding method to ensure each section of the cloth is used only once.
Use new cloths whenever you switch surfaces or cleanser type.
8 - 19 STEPS

Wipes and Paper Towels

Disposable wipes or paper towels can be used for cleaning. These have the advantage of not needing to be laundered, but are more costly.
9 - 19 STEPS

Lint Roller

Lint rollers remove lint and pet hair off soft surfaces such as furniture and accent pillows.
10 - 19 STEPS

Scraper

Scraper: Lil Chizler is a well known brand. This tool is shaped with different angles to help you clean corners of various sizes, and it is a safe way to scrape any surface to remove sticky residue such as dried egg or soap scum.
11 - 19 STEPS

Broom and Dustpan

Broom and dustpan clean debris from floors.
Handheld brooms and dustpans are useful for smaller spaces.
12 - 19 STEPS

Mattress Lifter

This wedge device lifts the mattress and keeps it in place as you tuck in sheets, saving the back from strain. If you have back problems or frequently handle heavier mattresses, this may be a wise tool to add to your cleaning kit.
13 - 19 STEPS

"Doodle Bug" Mop

This mop head with a velcro side allows you to use a microfiber rag as a mop head. This means you can mop a floor or wipe down a wall with the same tool.
14 - 19 STEPS

Razor Blade

These tools are used to remove stubborn substances like paint or encrusted food from windows, mirrors, and other flat surfaces.
Metal razor blades work well on glass, while plastic razor blades are better for stovetops and other surfaces that may get scratched.
15 - 19 STEPS

Small Brush

Every property has tough to reach areas such as sliding shower door tracks, sliding glass door tracks, sliding window tracks, nooks crevices around faucets, and tiny cracks that need to be cleaned. The small brush is ideal for these jobs.
16 - 19 STEPS

Magic Eraser

The Magic Eraser is great to remove scuffs off the wall (be careful to not scrub too hard, as it will take the paint off the wall) and stubborn stains in the bathtub.
Wear gloves when using a Magic Eraser as it can be abrasive to skin
17 - 19 STEPS

Zip-it Tool

This tool allows you to unplug a clogged drain that has been caused by a build up of hair. The plastic tool slides easily into the drain and then the barbs snag the hair as the tool is pulled out. This clears the hair that is stuck in the drain.
18 - 19 STEPS

Window Squeegee

A window squeegee makes window washing faster and more effective.
19 - 19 STEPS
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