The terms below are some frequently used by local janitorial firms. Familiarizing yourself with the terms and their meanings can ease communication between you and your office cleaning company.
biodegradable janitorial supplies
Biodegradable cleaning supplies are solid and liquid cleansers and cleaning products that break down over time. These include organic cleaning agents. Biodegradable can refer to detergents, cleansers and paper products. Many green janitorial companies use biodegradable products.
Also known as: eco-friendly janitorial supplies, non-toxic cleaning supplies, organic cleaning supplies
black marking
Black marks left floors and walls; caused by black rubber shoe soles. Black marks can usually be removed by mopping, but deep marks caused by hard-soled shoes may require buffing and rewaxing.
Also known as: black shoe mark removal
buffable surface
A buffable floor surface is one that is safe to buff with a floor buffer. This produces a sheen or gloss. Most buffable floor surfaces require stripping, buffing and waxing once or twice a year; more frequently for high-traffic areas.
Also known as: floor buffing, buffable floor, floor waxing
buildup
When many layers of dirt, grime, dust, wax, floor finish, cleaning agents or deposits collect on a surface, it is called buildup. This can often leave surfaces such as floors, sinks, cracks and corners looking dirty and dingy. Janitorial services usually have the tools and skill to easily remove layers of buildup.
Also known as: build-up, dirt build up, hard water build up
business janitorial services
Business janitorial services are those that clean small businesses. This often includes general janitorial services that take place during off-hours (such as evenings and weekends) and daytime janitorial services.
Also known as: small business custodial services, commercial janitorial cleaning, business cleaning services
carnauba wax
Carnauba wax is the hard wax obtained from the leaves of the Carnauba palm tree. This wax is has a glossy, durable finish and is easy to buff. There are different formulations of carnauba wax, and only certain formulations are used in janitorial cleaning applications.
Also known as: carnuba wax, floor wax, floor waxing services
chemical resistance
A surface’s chemical resistance is its ability to withstand exposure to chemicals without being damaged.
Also known as: chemical-safe, chemical resistant, chemical resistant flooring, chemical resistant surfaces
commercial office cleaning
Commercial cleaning services include office vacuuming, entryway cleaning, office bathroom cleaning, private office cleaning, recycling and trash removal, plant watering, office carpet cleaning, dusting, elevator cleaning, board room cleaning, janitorial services for lobbies and waiting rooms, and office floor refinishing services.
Also known as: business cleaning, commercial cleaning, commercial cleaning services, commercial janitorial services, small business cleaning, corporate janitorial services
custodian
Custodians are professional janitors and janitorial company staff. The term ‘custodian’ is most often used in conjunction with school janitorial services.
Also known as: custodial staff, custodial supervisor, janitorial custodian, janitor, janitorial cleaning staff, janitorial staff, janitorial company personnel
damp mopping
Damp mopping is a practical building maintenance method in which a janitor uses a wrung-out mop dampened with water or cleaning solution to clean floors that are slightly dirty. Damp mopping is less time-consuming than regular mopping services and is often used in bathrooms and other high traffic areas during the work day to keep public facilities clean and fresh.
Also known as: damp-mopping, light mopping
day porter services
Cleaning services for stores and large office buildings that take place during business hours and keep the buildings clean and functional for patrons are known as dayporter services or day porter services. Typical day porter services include spill clean-up, sweeping, light vacuuming, window washing, fingerprint removal, mopping, bathroom cleaning, paper product replacement, soap refilling, trash removal, high-traffic area monitoring, lobby maintenance, kitchen and cafeteria cleaning and exterior building maintenance.
Also known as: dayporter services, daytime janitorial services, on-site janitorial services
detergents
Janitorial detergents are chemicals used for cleaning surfaces. Detergents usually have abilities including surface wetting, soil emulsification, soil dispersion and soil suspension. Janitorial detergents can be green janitorial supplies or chemical-based.
Also known as: cleaning solutions, cleaning fluid, janitorial detergents, janitorial cleaning supplies
dry buffing
Janitors dry buff flooring using a floor machine and polishing pad or floor polishing brush to restore floor finishes to their glossy appearance. This is in contrast to buffing with waxes, detergents and floor buffing chemicals.
Also known as: dry buffing, floor buffing, dry floor buffing
dry stripping
When dry stripping flooring, janitorial cleaning companies remove old floor finishes with a floor machine, floor stripping pad, and spray-on floor stripping solution. After the floor stripping process is complete, new floor wax or floor polishes are applied to the floor to protect the surface and restore the shiny appearance.
Also known as: floor stripping, wax stripping, floor restripping
dust mopping
Dust mopping is a daily maintenance method in which local janitors use dry mops, dust mops or specially-treated mop heads to remove dust and light debris from floors. This is usually done between sweeping and mopping and before floor waxing to remove any fine particles. Dust mopping is also used by day porters to clean during the day and keep offices and shopping centers looking clean.
Also known as: dry mopping, floor dusting, light mopping
floor polishing
Floor polishing is the application of a temporary floor coating that enhances the appearance of flooring and protects the flooring underneath. Floor polishing is often done in hallways, classrooms and business lobbies.
Also known as: floor finish, floor wax
floor sealer
Floor sealing is done by applying a temporary or permanent coating to a floor. This is usually done before the floor polish is applied because floor sealer fills in cracks, gaps and pits in the flooring to create a flat surface which can be waxed and polished. Using a floor sealer often means fewer layers of floor finishing and floor wax are needed because the products won’t absorb into the flooring. Floor sealers also help the final flooring coats of wax and floor varnish to adhere to the flooring underneath for longer lasting results.
Also known as: floor sealing, floor sealing services, hallway floor sealing, hard floor sealing
government building janitorial services
Cleaning for civic buildings and governmental buildings is a specialized form of janitorial services provided by some local cleaning companies. These services often include office cleaning, bathroom cleaning, public lobby cleaning, courthouse janitorial services, hallway refinishing, wall scrubbing and graffiti removal.
Also known as: civic building cleaning services
green cleaning janitorial services
Eco-friendly janitorial services are popular with local business owners. They often include the use of green cleaning products, non-toxic cleaning solutions, cloth rags or reusable cleaning supplies rather than paper towels and disposable cleaning products, and biodegradable janitorial products. Some green janitorial services provide unscented cleaning products that are safe for individuals with chemical sensitivities, allergies and for children.
Also known as: green cleaning services, green janitorial firms, green janitorial companies, green janitorial services, eco-friendly janitorial services, earth-friendly janitorial services, environmentally safe janitorial services, environmentally friendly cleaning services
industrial cleaning services
Cleaning services for industrial facilities include conveyor belt cleaning, equipment cleaning, interior and exterior storage tank cleaning, coatings removal, hydroblasting, pressure washing, filter replacement, silo cleaning, machine cleaning, floor cleaning, ceiling cleaning and clean room services. Some janitorial companies in the local area provide industrial cleaning, while others are not equipped to do this specialized type of janitorial work.
Also known as: industrial facility cleaning, industrial janitorial services, industrial maintenance, industrial cleaning
janitorial equipment
Janitorial equipment provided by local commercial cleaning companies usually includes vacuums, mops, brooms, dusting cloths, janitorial carts, trash cans and recycling receptacles. This is often different than janitorial supplies, which tend to be smaller supplies rather than actual janitorial equipment.
Also known as: janitorial cleaning equipment, janitorial supplies
janitorial services
Janitorial services are any professional cleaning services offered to businesses, commercial buildings and civic or government buildings. Janitorial services often include facilities monitoring, minor building repairs, coordinating with contractors and other maintenance professionals, and garbage and waste disposal.
Also known as: commercial cleaning services, janitorial cleaning, custodial service, commercial building cleaning, janitor service, business cleaning, facility cleaning
janitorial supplies
Many local janitorial firms provide janitorial supplies including janitorial paper products, bathroom cleaning products, office cleaning products, window washing products, bathroom soap, floor cleaning products, scouring agents and abrasives, room fresheners, trash can liners and other common janitorial supplies.
Also known as: janitorial paper products, custodial supplies, janitorial cleaning supplies
medical building janitorial services
Examples of medical buildings janitorial cleaning companies serve include:
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Dental office cleaning
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Medical lab cleaning
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Chiropractic office cleaning
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Hospital cleaning services
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Medical clinic cleaning
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Private medical practice janitorial services
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Physician office cleaning
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Acupuncture office cleaning
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Veterinary clinic janitorial services
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Medical research lab cleaning
Many janitorial companies provide general cleaning services for these medical facilities including hallway and bathroom cleaning, reception area cleaning, carpet and upholstery cleaning, power washing, green janitorial services, floor sanitizing and medical office disinfecting services.
Also known as: medical building cleaning, medical building custodial services
mop and shine floor treatment
Mop and shine maintenance services use special mops made to clean and shine flooring finishes. This may be done in between floor waxing treatments.
Also known as: mop and shine floor cleaning
MSDS
MSDS forms are Material Safety Data Sheets, a standardized form containing all necessary information for the use, storage, and handling of chemical compounds and janitorial cleaning solutions. You may be required by law to have MSDS forms for all chemicals and cleaning products in your facility, even if they are provided by your janitorial company.
Also known as: Material Safety Data Sheet
no wax flooring
Flooring materials that usually have clear organic wear layers (usually made of urethane over vinyl floor backing) are known as no-wax flooring. These products are usually textured and designed for minimum maintenance and can save on janitorial costs associated with floor stripping and floor waxing services.
Also known as: no-wax flooring, non-wax flooring, low-maintenance flooring
OSHA
OSHA, or Occupational Safety and Health Administration, is the United States Federal Government regulatory agency that is concerned with workplace safety. OSHA is tasked with making sure individuals have safe and healthy working conditions through workplace inspections and enforcement programs.
Also known as: Occupational Safety and Health Administration
office cleaning
Office cleaning includes cleaning in small offices, home offices, home business cleaning and cleaning offices within larger businesses. Office cleaning services often include desk cleaning, vacuuming, organizing papers, watering plants, dusting office furniture, bookshelf dusting, window washing, trash bin removal and garbage can cleaning, paper recycling, office fan cleaning, office light changing and other janitorial tasks within a personal office space.
Also known as: small office cleaning, business office cleaning, medical office cleaning, executive office cleaning
pH
pH measures the degree of acidity or alkalinity. A pH of 1 shows extreme acidity, while a pH of 14 is highly alkaline. The pH scale runs from less than 1.0 to 14, and neutrality is centered at pH 7.0.
Also known as: pH scale, chemical pH
school cleaning
School custodial services and other educational building janitorial service companies provide cleaning and sanitizing for preschools, K-12 schools and colleges and universities.
Also known as: educational building cleaning, custodial services, custodian cleaning, custodian services
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