Cleaning Floors and Carpets

1 Prepare to clean floors

• Prepare work area: follow workplace procedures, comply with relevant regulations and legislation, adequate ventilation, use of appropriate signage, protect surrounding surfaces, remove loose dust, debris and waste
• Equipment: brushes or brooms, mops, buckets, scraper, scourers, vacuum cleaner and accessories, sanding machine, standard speed rotary floor machine with floor pads and drive disc, high-speed rotary machine with or without suction unit, wet-pick up machine, edging tool, polish applicator, buffing machine
• Cleaning agents: carpet shampoo, foam inhibitor, spray polish, floor maintainer, floor stripper, degreasers, greasy stain removers, non-greasy stain removers, preparatory neutralizer, floor polish or sealant
• Soiling: dust, dirt, ground in dirt, dust, food and liquid stains chewing gum, bodily fluids, pet soiling, oil or grease, water damage, excess residue or film e.g., floor cleaners, polish, limescale (question and answer can be used to demonstrate knowledge of the use of those not observed)
• Procedures for reporting damage: follow organisational procedures, comply with regulations and legislation, complete appropriate documentation
• Reporting: line manager, supervisor, problems, issues, queries
• Standards: manufacturers’ instructions, schedule of work

2 Deal with spillages and clean hard and semi-hard floors

• Floor coverings: hard floor types e.g., concrete, hard wood, marble, tiled, semi-hard floor types e.g., vinyl, semi-hard wood, linoleum, rubber
• Soiling or spillages or stains: dust, dirt, ground in dirt, dust, food and liquid stains chewing gum, bodily fluids, pet soiling, oil or grease, water damage, excess residue or film e.g., floor cleaners, polish, limescale (question and answer to evidence those not observed and bodily and pet fluids)
• Test clean: follow manufacturers’ instructions, test treatment on an inconspicuous area
• Application: manufacturers’ instructions, schedule of work
• Reporting: line manager, supervisor, problems, issues, queries
• Records: work schedules, cleaning schedules, audit or check sheet, supply or resource requests, damage reports, time sheets
• Disposal: follow manufacturers’ instructions

3 Protect hard floors

• Protective coatings: polishes, varnishes, lacquers, waxes, oils, sealants
• Application: manufacturers’ instructions, schedule of work
• Disposal: follow manufacturers’ instructions

4 Clean soft floors and carpets

• Areas: reception, bars, lounges, restaurants, function rooms, bedrooms, offices
• Cleaning equipment and materials: buckets, cloths, brushes, spray bottles, ladders, vacuum cleaner and accessories, shampooing machine, carpet rotary machine and pads or bonnet mop, hot water extraction machine, steam cleaner, pile lofting rake
• Chemicals: carpet cleaning solutions, dry powder or granules, solvent, specialist stain removers, deodoriser
• Cleaning methods: suction cleaning, pile agitation, bonnet mopping, carpet skimming, water extraction, dry solvent application, shampooing, dry powder or granule treatment, pile realignment
• Soiling or spillages or stains: dust, dirt, ground in dirt, dust, food and liquid stains chewing gum, bodily fluids, pet soiling, oil or grease (question and answer to evidence those not observed and bodily and pet fluids)
• Test clean: follow manufacturers’ instructions, test treatment on an inconspicuous area
• Application: manufacturers’ instructions, schedule of work
• Reporting: line manager, supervisor, problems, issues, queries
• Disposal: follow manufacturers’ instructions

5 Work as an effective member of the team

• Communication:
• ~spoken e.g., tone of voice, terminology
• ~written e.g., documents, forms, reports, presentations
• ~body language e.g., posture
• Situations: formal, informal, queries or requests, complaints
• Codes of conduct: workplace policies, rules and procedures
• Reporting: supervisor, line manager, challenges, issues, queries

6 Follow health, safety and hygiene procedures

• Personal hygiene:
• ~clean clothing, footwear and headgear
• ~hair neat and tidy
• ~wear a head covering e.g., hairnet, hat
• ~washing hands
• ~no jewellery
• ~cover cuts and grazes
• ~report illness and infections to the proper person
• Common workplace hazards: slips, trips, falls, breakages, hot surfaces, chemicals
• Health and safety procedures: following fire regulations, fire drills, evacuation, manual handling, safe use of chemicals, report accidents, first aid
• Workplace emergencies: accidents, fire, breaches of security, illness
• Emergency procedures: raising alarm, calling emergency services, firefighting equipment, evacuation procedures
• Security procedures: control of keys, electronic systems, surveillance, control of entrances and exits, staff and visitor identity badge, reporting of suspicious persons and packages to line manager