Whether you are cleaning a floor, a wall, dishes or anything else, there are five basic principles of cleaning that must be used in conjunction with each other:

– TIME

– TEMPERATURE

– MECHANICAL ACTION

– CHEMICAL ACTION

– PROCEDURES

These five must be carefully balanced in order to accomplish the stated job most efficiently and most economically. Should any of the five basics be decreased in strength, one of the others will have to be increased in order to accomplish the job. It is critical for operators to maintain the proper balance of the basics.

TIME

This applies to how long the job is actually performed. Common sense tells you that with all other things being equal, a floor will be cleaner if you mop it for ten minutes rather than five minutes.

TEMPERATURE

Different jobs require particular temperatures for the required function. For instance, grease is more easily cut with hot water than with cold water. Some other jobs are done better with the higher temperature that creates steam. The correct temperature has to be married to the particular cleaning problem.

MECHANICAL ACTION

Mechanical action is sometimes referred to as either the friction of the force required to do the job. It is the pressure that you exert on the mop while cleaning the floor or how hard you rub your hands together when washing them.

CHEMICAL ACTION

This is the power of the chemicals that are used in the cleaning operation. It is how much and how strong of a detergent you need to use to complete the assigned task.

PROCEDURES

Following correct cleaning and sanitizing procedures is the most important principal of cleaning.