Custodian Practices and Procedures - An Excerpt

New Haven Adult SchoolCareer & Technical Education

CUSTODIAN

PRACTICES &

PROCEDURES

Custodial & Building Services: – Lesson Overviews

# Unit Title Unit Objectives

1 Overview of Your job as a Janitor (2.5 hours)

� Name at least two places where janitors work � List many of the tasks a janitor must do on the job � Name other job titles for “janitor” � List the physical requirements for working as a janitor

2 Math on the Job (5 hours) � Use multiplication to determine the correct amount of cleaning product-to-water should be used in a solution mix

� Calculate how much square footage of floor one bottle of cleaning solution can clean.

� Calculate the amount of time available to complete a particular task to ensure that all required tasks can be completed within one workday.

3 Caring for Supplies and Equipment (5 hours)

� Explain what should be done when you are running low on supplies.

� Explain the best way to organize supplies in your supply cabinet � Recognize and identify janitorial supplies and equipment by

name.

4 The Housekeeping Cart (1.5 hours)

� Explain the purpose of a housekeeping cart � State other names to call a housekeeping cart. � Explain the advantages of using a housekeeping cart. � List items that you should normally keep on your housekeeping

cart.

5 Cleaning Products and the Chemistry of Cleaning (10 hours)

� Explain basic safety rules for cleaning chemicals � List four things you should never do with chemicals � Determine what kind of cleaning product should be used to

clean different clean-up jobs � Define “Cleaning” � Identify the range of a pH scale � Explain the difference between Acids, Bases, and Neutral � Identify which cleaning products are acids and which are bases � Determine when to use an acid or a base product for a

particular job 6 Cleaning and Disinfecting (2

hours) � Explain how to kill bacteria � List why it is important to kill harmful bacteria � Explain what helps bacteria grow � Discuss how to control bacteria growth in a hospital setting

7 Cleaning To Perfection – Office Cleaning Training (3 hours)

� Explain how to clean restrooms, entryways, elevators, stairwells, and breakrooms.

� Explain how to empty the trash, dust, mop, and vacuum � List the five common complaints about a restrooms cleanliness � List the five common complaints about emptying trash cans � List the four common complaints customers have about dusting

jobs � State the four common complaints customers have about the

cleanliness of floors

Custodial & Building Services: – Lesson Overviews

8 Restroom and Locker Room Cleaning (3 hours)

� Explain the purpose of a floor drain � Name six things in a restroom on which to use a germicide

cleaner � Examine a Restroom/Lock room cleaning schedule � Describe the steps to take when reloading the paper towel

dispenser � Define “dwell time” � List the surfaces in a shower that should be cleaned and

disinfected

9 Classroom Cleaning (2 hours) � Examine a Classroom cleaning schedule � Describe how to remove gum from the carpet � Explain best practices for cleaning chalkboards and

whiteboards 10 Cafeteria Cleaning (5 hours) � Examine a Cafeteria cleaning schedule

� List the general rules for cafeteria sanitation � List the four things a food service cleaning schedule will tell you. � Discuss guidelines for industrial dishwashing and sanitizing. � Discuss how the custodian/janitor assist food service facilities

with pest control � List the safety precautions when working in food services areas

11 Carpet Cleaning (5 hours) � Describe the Hot Water Extraction, Spin Bonneting, and Encapsulation Carpet Cleaning methods of carpet cleaning.

� List the six common complaints from customers about carpet cleaning

� Explain the three types of strokes used for the Hot Water Extraction method

� Differentiate between a pre-spray and a neutralizer � Explain the four fundamentals of soil suspension � Explain tips and techniques when carpet cleaning.

12 Cleaning for Health & Green Technology (3 hours)

� Name common “touch points” in an office or other cleaning area � Define “green cleaning” � Explain the basic idea of “green cleaning” � Explain what is meant by: eco-logo, environmentally safe

cleaning supplies, Green Seal, and LEED � Examine the impact green cleaning is making on the hotel

industry 13 Job Shadows (8 hours) � TBA

Lesson 5

Cleaning Products

and the Chemistry of Cleaning

New Haven Adult SchoolCareer & Technical Education

Custodian and Building Services Custodian and Building Services SelfSelf--paced Trainingpaced Training

Custodian & Building Services: Lesson 5 Cleaning Products and the Chemistry of Cleaning

Lesson 5, Page 1

Introduction The purpose of this lesson is to introduce you to some of the more complex facts that a janitor or custodian should know about cleaning products. Because cleaning products are in fact made up of chemicals, understanding the basic elements of a certain cleaning product is necessary when deciding which cleaning product will be most effective. At the end of this lesson you will be able to:

� Explain basic safety rules for cleaning chemicals � List four things you should never do with chemicals � Determine what kind of cleaning product should be used to clean different clean-up jobs

Review the following vocabulary. Read pages 20-25 in the “The Complete Custodial

Handbook”.

Categories of Chemicals for Cleaning - Vocabulary

�� Organic soap – A cleansing agent made from a mixture of animal fat or

plant oil and a chemical called caustic soda

�� Synthetic detergent : A liquid or solid material able to dissolve oily

materials and disperse them (or emulsify them) in water.

�� Disinfectant – A cleansing agent that also destroys bacteria and germs

�� Germicide – An agent that stops the growth of bacteria and germs

�� Caustic (alkaline) – an agent that is capable of burning, corroding,

dissolving, or eating away by chemical action

�� Corrosive (acid) – An agent that has the ability to destroy a metal or alloy

little by little, when it comes in contact with oxygen or certain chemicals

�� Abrasive powder - A cleaning products that contains an abrasive material,

often a mineral, that is used to shape, finish, or polish an object through

rubbing which leads to part of the object being worn away.


Lesson 5, Page 2

�� Solvent : A substance, usually a liquid, capable of dissolving another

substance.

�� pH Scale : A scale, running from 1 to 14, for expressing how acid or alkaline

a solution is. A strong acid with a high concentration of hydrogen ions has a

pH of 1-3, a neutral solution has a pH of 7, and a strongly alkaline solution

has a pH of 10-14.


Lesson 5, Page 3

Answer the questions below. Then, working with a partner, use the internet website

provided to complete the table of cleaning chemicals on page 4 and 5 of this handout.

Review your answers with your teacher. Safety Rules for Chemicals

1. What two should you know and do before you start mixing a cleaning chemical?

a. ______________________________________________________________

b. ______________________________________________________________

2. Give two reasons why you should not use a chemical from an unmarked bottle?

a. _______________________________________________________________

b. ________________________________________________________________

3. Using the Mixture Rations chart on page 21

a. How much water do you need if you are using 8.5 oz of chemical? ___________

b. How many ounces of chemical is needed if you are using 6 parts of water? ______

4. What may happen if a solution mixture is too weak? _____________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

5. What may happen if a solution mixture is too strong? It will _______________________

and may ______________________________ , and may cause ___________________

6. Read page 22, points 4 -10 and name FOUR things you should never do.

a. ________________________________

b. ________________________________

c. ____________________________

d. ____________________________

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Lesson 5, Page 7

Continuing On The purpose of this next part of lesson 5 is to introduce give you some understanding about pH balances as it pertains to cleaning products. This will add to your ability to select the appropriate cleaning product for the cleaning task. At the end of this lesson you will be able to:

� Define “Cleaning” � Identify the range of a pH scale � Explain the difference between Acids, Bases, and Neutral � Identify which cleaning products are acids and which are bases � Determine when to use an acid or a base product for a particular job

Go to the CSC Yahoo Group. Go to Links > Custodial & Building Services, and watch the video

clips for lesson 5. Follow along with the reading found in the next few pages of in this handout.

(When the video refers to “the slide” just continue reading in this handout and watching the

videos – there are no slides). Complete the practice exercise problems as instructed on the

video. Take notes. Replay the video clip as needed.

�� Watch the video: Lesson05_Cleaning Products and the Chemistry of Cleaning: Video 1 of 4


and read the section below.

What is pH and why is it important to the janitoria l worker?

When you “clean” something, what are you doing? By definition, you are removing soil from a

surface. Soil can be dirt, pizza sauce, or anything that does not belong on the surface of the item.

When we clean something, we use cleaning solutions Cleanings solution interacts with the soil,

breaks its connection to the surface, and safely washes it away, restoring the surface to its

original state.

The cleaning industry has created products that work effectively on most common soils and

surfaces encountered in any given cleaning application. These types of cleaning solutions are

said to be “pH Balanced”.

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Career_Skills_Center/links/


Lesson 5, Page 8

Image 5.1 – pH Scale



What is “pH Balance”? pH is a measure of how acidic or basic a solution is.

�� Water based solutions range from a pH of 0 to 14.

�� pH range from: 0 – 6 is acidic.

�� pH range from: 8 – 14 is basic or alkaline .

�� The mid point of the pH scale, 7.0, is called neutral. Pure water is neutral.


Lesson 5, Page 9



Low pH = Acidic

�� Solutions with a pH that is lower than 7, is an acidic solution

�� Acids are usually sour or bitter to the taste

�� Coffee, cola, and lemon juice all have an acidic pH.

�� When used in cleaning products, acids help to break down difficult stains like rust or mineral deposits.

Some common cleaning products that have an acidic pH are:

�� Hard water/mineral deposit removers

�� Toilet bowl cleaners

�� Rust stain removers

�� Tub and tile cleaners

�� Mold removers

High pH = Basic (alkaline)

�� A solution with a pH that is higher than 7 is basic (or alkaline).

�� Products with basic pH values are useful for removing fatty and oily soils from surfaces – including your hands!

�� Your average bottle of hand soap has a pH of 9 or 10.

�� Bleach, which is useful for cleaning and disinfecting surfaces in your home, has a pH of 12.5.


Lesson 5, Page 10

Most cleaning products these days are already pH Balanced. This simply means that the pH of

the solution has been raised or lowered to get the best balance to clean the surface without

destroying it.

For example, a product designed to remove rust stains would have a pH that’s low enough to

dissolve tough rust stains, but high enough to leave your bathtub’s enamel surfaces unharmed.

Because most products are pH balanced, you will be safe as long as you…

�� Follow the directions on the label

�� Do not mix one product with another product

There are many of cleaning products on the market but in reality the best products are still plain

Clorox, liquid soaps, and ammonia.

The Cleaning Process

We have taken the following information directly from CLEANINGPRODUCTS.COM. You can learn more about their services and products by going to www.aboutcleaningproducts.com

What’s in a Cleaning Solution? A cleaning solution has to be fairly versatile and suitable for dealing with a variety of types of

soils. For example, water normally does not work well to remove an oily soil, such as a greasy

mess on the stovetop. So, to enhance the power of water a number of ingredients can be added

to form a more effective water-based solution. Surfactants, solvents, and chelants mixed with

water will improve its ability to dissolve the oily soil. Builders, bleaches, and enzymes can be

added to water to chemically modify the oily soil to make it more soluble in water. The optimal

combination of these ingredients in water will deliver a truly powerful cleaning solution.


Lesson 5, Page 11

Feel like you just got hit with a bunch of vocabulary? Here’s a quick tutorial.

�� Builders : Compounds that adjust pH to optimize cleaning performance and contribute to suspending soils.

�� Bleaches : Compounds that oxidize and remove soils and lighten the color of stains.

�� Enzymes : Biological proteins that speed the breakdown of soils.

�� Surfactants : Compounds that allow cleaning solution to wet surfaces, emulsify greasy soils, and lift away dirt.

�� Solvents : Organics that dissolves soils.

�� Chelants – Compounds that bind with metal ions in solution (e.g., calcium and magnesium found in soap scum).

The cleaning solutions you use to clean your countertops, windows, and bathtubs all likely have

at least one or more of these “clean-boosters” in their ingredients. The more “clean-boosters”

there are in the solution, the more versatile it is.

The Math Behind Cleaning

Did you know cleaning is more than just chemistry? There’s actually an equation that determines

the total amount of energy it takes to properly clean something:

Total Energy(Cleaning) = Energy(Mechanical) + Energ y(Thermal) + Energy(Chemical)

There are three types of energy that combine to create a clean surface.

1. Mechanical energy comes from you, scrubbing away.

2. Thermal energy comes from the temperature of the cleaning solution, such as hot soapy

water.

3. Chemical energy is what the chemicals in cleaning products bring to the equation.


Lesson 5, Page 12

So, if you don’t want to scrub very hard, but still want the same Total Energy that gets the dirty

surface 100% clean, you need to raise either the Thermal energy or the Chemical energy. For

example, imagine washing a dirty dinner plate with a sponge and some soapy water. If the water

is cold, you’ll have to scrub harder, but if the water is hot, you won’t get a sore arm.

Chemical Energy Explained You can tell the difference between scrubbing hard and barely scrubbing, and the difference

between hot water and cold water. But how does chemical energy vary?

Cleaning formulas provide chemical energy through:

�� Wetting of the surface and soil

�� Emulsification of oils

�� Saponification, or creating water soluble soaps with basic or alkaline compounds

�� Softening of water to neutralize the negative effects of calcium and magnesium hard water

�� Adding enzymes and/or bleach to attack stains

�� Cleaning with solvents in combination with or in place of water

These factors are often used together to maximize effects. Before commercial products are

released to the public, the final cleaning products are tested extensively for performance, safety,

and their impact on the environment.


Lesson 5, Page 13

Answer the questions below. Turn in to your teacher for a grade. Chemicals for Cleaning – and pH levels

1) Cleaning solutions are said to be “pH balanced” because they have been created to work

effectively on _____________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

2) Think about the pH Scale, What range are solutions that are

a) Acidic? ____________

b) Neutral? ____________

c) Basic (Alkaline)? ____________

3) Using the pH Scale diagram, what pH level is:

a) Vinegar? ____________

b) Water? ____________

c) Liquid soap? ____________

4) Which of the solutions in question #3 might help breakdown a difficult stain like rust in a toilet

bowl? ____________

5) Which of the solutions in question #3 might help clean an oil spot in the carpet? ___________

6) Bleach has a pH level of .12.5, and is good for ____________and ____________ many

surfaces. However, you will find that some worksites will not allow you to use it as a cleaning

agent.


Lesson 5, Page 14

7) Water alone does not work well when cleaning ________________________. But you can

use a solution of water mixed with a ________________________ which will help emulsify

the greasy soil and lift the dirt away.

� To “emulsify” means: to change an oily substance into a milky liquid.

8) Generally, is it better to use warm or cold water when clean? ____________

9) How do surfactants work?

a) They make water ____________

b) They ____________, ____________ and ____________soil.

c) They ____________ the soil away from the surface

10) How do solvents work?

a) They ________________________ stains.

b) They ____________soil particles.

c) They prevent __________________________ from returning

Valtech Industries – Surfactants and Solvents

Locate the following products on the Valtech Industries website. Follow the steps below to answer

the corresponding questions and to complete the chart below. The Valtec web address is:


Product research : Surfactants

3. Go to the Valtech Industries web address shown above

4. Type the word “surfactant” in the search box located in the top-right corner of the screen.

5. Click on the link for the product called Enviro-Terra Concentrate



Lesson 5, Page 15

6. Read the first line of the product description where it says: “This liquid multipurpose cleaner

cleans with the heavy-duty power of an ____________.

7. What pH range do you think this product is with in? ____________

8. Do you think this product would be effective as a toilet bowl cleaner? ____________.

9. Read the list titled “Effective against”. Which of the items on this list might you find when

cleaning a toilet bowl?

a. ________________________

b. ________________________

10. Click the link that says “Click here for MSDS”. A Material Safety Data Sheet will open.

11. Examine the MSDS and find the:

a. pH range: __________ – ____________

b. Appearance and odor: ________________________________________________

c. Incompatibility: ______________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

Solvents

1. Go back to the Valtech Industries web search box. Type the word “solvent”

2. Click the link for each of the following products. below

3. For each one identify whether it breaks-up a stain or dissolves a soil particle. Then indicate

what the solvent will clean

(Below is an example of how to answer each)

Product name Breaks-up stain

Dissolves a soil

Solvent will clean…

Silicone Spray

Graff-off

RP-7 Cleaner

Dissolve All

Custodian Practices and Procedures - An Excerpt

Education

valtech industries

valtec web

lesson 5cleaning

common complaints

common complaints

ph scale

cleaning products

housekeeping