Cleaning Guidelines for Co-Ops and Student Cleaned Houses

Please follow these safety precautions with any chemicals you use in cleaning:

• Keep all cleaning chemicals out of children's reach
• Always read instructions on cleaning products completely before beginning any work
• Do not mix cleaning chemicals, as this can create deadly gases
• Make sure you work in a well-ventilated area when using ammonia or other strong cleaners (e.g., mildew stain remover, bleach solutions)
• Always wear rubber gloves to prevent skin contact with cleaning products

We have provided a short list of possible cleaning products and supplies. The list is not an exhaustive one and as with any product before using it, read the directions and suggested uses on the label to make sure it is the appropriate product for the job.

Sanitizing a Bathroom -- Four times a week

1. Sweep floor
2. Check paper (toilet paper, paper towels, toilet seat covers, sanitary box liners) and replenish as needed. Wipe down exterior of dispensers etc. as needed
3. Check soap dispenser and replenish soap as needed. At least quarterly, empty the soap dispenser and thoroughly rinse out
4. Clean sink and counter using a general purpose bathroom cleaner for and a rag*. Dry off with paper towel
5. Clean mirror, shelf below mirror and faucets using a glass cleaner and paper towel. Clean bathroom cubbies needed using rag* and a general purpose bathroom cleaner. Wipe down with a paper towel
6. Sanitize toilets and urinals
7. Put toilet bowl cleaner in the urinals. Let chemical set in urinals while sanitizing the toilets. Clean urinals as needed with brush, rag* or pumice stone. Rinse out urinal with a bucket of water or hose
8. Put toilet bowl cleaner in toilet bowl and brush toilet bowl (be careful not to splash the chemical on yourself). Clean seat and under seat with a general purpose bathroom cleaner, wipe down with paper towel
9. Rinse showers with a bucket of water to get hair down to drain. Remove hair from shower using a paper towel. Mop shower floor with general purpose bathroom cleaner
10. Wipe down walls, ceilings, window sills as needed with rag* and a general purpose cleaner.
11. Empty trash
12. Mop floor.

    *Use different rags for each task and store separately, so as not to transfer germs.

"Crashing" a Bathroom-- at least once a week

1. Sweep floor
2. Check paper (toilet paper, paper towels, toilet seat covers, sanitary box liners) and replenish as needed. Wipe down exterior of dispensers, etc. as needed
3. Check soap dispenser and replenish soap as needed. At least quarterly, empty the soap dispenser and thoroughly rinse out
4. Rinse showers with a bucket of water or hose to get hair down to drain. Remove hair from shower using a paper towel. Put a general purpose bathroom cleaner and let it set in showers while cleaning the sinks
5. Clean sink using a general purpose bathroom cleaner and rag*. To remove build up around faucet or drain use cream cleanser and toothbrush. Rinse thoroughly using small bucket of water or hose. Dry off with paper towel
6. Clean mirror and shelf below using a glass cleaner and paper towel. Clean bathroom cubbies as needed using rag* and a general purpose bathroom cleaner. Wipe down with a paper towel
7. Scrub shower walls and floors using a doodle bug tool with a brown or blue pad and a general purpose cleaner. Scrub showers with hand brush to remove build-up and/or mildew between tiles. Rinse walls and floor thoroughly, especially if using cream cleanser to remove residue
8. Scrub shower curtain with hand brush or doodle bug tool and spray cleaner. If the shower curtain cannot be cleaned, replace
9. Clean toilets and urinals
   • Put toilet bowl cleaner in the urinals. Let chemical set in urinals while cleaning the toilets. Clean urinals with brush, rag* or pumice stone. Rinse out with a bucket of water or hose. Clean the exterior of the urinal with an all purpose bathroom cleaner and wipe down with paper towel
   • Put toilet bowl cleaner in toilet bowl and brush toilet bowl (be careful not to splash the chemical on yourself). Clean seat, under seat, and exterior of toilet bowl and tank with a general purpose cleaner. Rinse off and wipe down with paper towel
   • Clean the chrome on urinals and toilets as necessary using a rag and a spray cleanser or liquid non-abrasive cleanser
10. Wipe clean bathroom walls and partitions with a rag* and a general purpose cleaner
11. Apply a mildew remover to areas in shower where mildew builds up (do not rinse off solution).
12. Apply mildew remover on ceilings for mildew control. Spray rag* with solution but take care not to saturate the rag to avoid dripping. Place rag on head of doodle bug tool with extension pole and wipe ceiling
13. Mop bathroom floor

    *Use different rags for each task and store separately, so as not to transfer germs.

Common Area Cleaning>-- Lounges, TV Rooms, Study Rooms, Recreation Rooms, Lobbies

Leave high traffic areas for last to avoid people walking over your work.

1. Pick up trash and dispose of in dumpster. Collect dishes and return to the kitchen
2. Remove cobwebs from lights, corners, pipes, etc. Use care when removing webs from sprinkler heads
3. Perform any spot cleaning of walls. Use an all purpose cleaner and a rag to clean walls
4. Wipe tables/surfaces with furniture polish and a rag
5. Clean windows using window cleaner and paper towel
6. Clean fireplace. When the ashes are cold remove them to the exterior dumpster. Using an all purpose cleaner wipe down the fireplace mantel and fireplace
7. Clean Flooring:
   • Carpet - Vacuum
   • Wood Floors - Sweep floor. Damp mop only when needed, the mop needs to be wrung out well. Water or any liquid left on wood floors for long periods of time will damage the flooring
   • Tile and linoleum -- sweep and mop

Hallway Cleaning

1. Once a week sweep baseboards and behind doors to remove buildup of dust/dirt at edges of carpet
2. Sweep down cobwebs as needed
3. Perform spot washing of walls using rag and an all purpose cleaner
4. Clean water fountains using an all purpose cleanser and a rag. Wipe down with paper towel
5. Clean windows using window cleaner and paper towel
6. Clean flooring as stated above in item 5

1. Sweep stairs and edges to remove any dust/dirt
2. At least once a month, clean stairwell banister using and all purpose cleaner and a rag. If the banister is made of wood, use a cleaner recommended for wood
3. Perform tasks 2, 3, 5 and 6 as above in Hallway Cleaning

1. Wipe down doors and hardware as needed with an all purpose cleaner and a rag

1. Clean windows using window cleaner and paper towel
2. Wipe down laundry machines using a damp rag
3. Sweep and mop floor. Mop floor using an all purpose cleaner

1. Pick up trash around building, including inside the bushes, at least once a week and throw away in dumpster
2. Wipe down exterior phones
3. Clean off cobwebs
4. Sweep walkways, exterior stairwells, patios and decks at least once a week
5. Clean Flooring:
   • Carpet - Vacuum
   • Wood Floors - Sweep floor. Damp mop only when needed, the mop needs to be wrung out well. Water or any liquid left on wood floors for long periods of time will damage the flooring
   • Tile and linoleum -- sweep and mop

Some custodial cleaning frequencies in an University-cleaned house

Sanitize Bathroom	4 times a week
Crash/Scrub Bathroom	1 time a week
Clean Common Areas (Lounge/Bar/Lobby, etc.)	3 times a week
Clean Hallways	3 times a week