Are You A True Cleaner?

Cleaning is more than just cleaning. It takes a sharp eye, a demand for detail and the ability to observe what needs to be done. Lynn E. Krafft has written an article in the Cleaning and Maintenance Management magazine of December, 2014 that highlights some great points on being a true cleaner. Because of its importance, I've included the whole article below. See how you measure up.

Do you have what it takes to be a true cleaner?

By Lynn Krafft, ICAN/ATEX editor

DECEMBER 29, 2014

 

If the first thought that comes to your mind when you read the word “discipline” is that time your mom made you clean your room because you had misbehaved, you are thinking in terms of the common use of the word discipline to de- scribe punishment.
Maybe your mom’s approach was effective when it came to attitude improvement, but in the cleaning industry, we want the word discipline to mean self-controlled behavior, i.e., “discipline” from within. And it should not call to mind any sort of punishment.
Rather, the meaning of the term in this con- text is, “Training that is expected to produce a specified character or pattern of behavior” or the “Controlled behavior resulting from such training.”
Cleaning technicians are especially in need of this training-focused self-discipline because they often work without direct supervision, constantly making decisions that are based on factual observation and known cleaning principles. Their approach to the work must not be casual or nonchalant. Competent cleaning is not a casual pastime; it is a discipline. Let’s review three of the prime development areas involved in developing this discipline.

Self-Esteem

First on the list is the essential discipline of developing confident self-esteem. The custodian must view the work as skilled and essential. When cleaning is done properly, the removal of unwanted soiling conditions eliminates the habitant of microorganisms, thereby reducing possible health risks from these.
If ever there was proof of the importance of proper cleaning—and those who perform it—it is now amidst such deadly communicable disease outbreaks as the Ebola virus. Cleaning also increases safety—clean floors are safer to walk on—while it enhances the appearance of the facility and extends the life of all surfaces.
No matter what others may think or believe about cleaning, the successful cleaning technician will have developed a true appreciation for his or her skills and the work’s contribution to the well-being of others.

Powers of Observation

Acute detection skills are not found in all per- sons. Sherlock Holmes was a standout due to his unique ability to observe details and make accurate deductions based on them. Cleaning technicians need these same abilities in soil detection, and this, too, is a discipline they must work to cultivate.
The least costly and most effective manner of fulfilling the cleaning task is to look closely at all surfaces, find and identify the unwanted substances, choose the correct removal technique, and then implement it. This blemish detection is properly called “indication cleaning” because when an unwanted substance is found, it indicates the best method of cleaning.
For example, some indicators require only dry cleaning (without solvents, including water)  such as:

• Dust—the most common unwanted substance due to its airborne nature
• Lint—remnants from fiber source
• Litter—scraps dropped that need to be picked up
• Grit—sand and gravel tracked in from outside, especially near the en- trances, that will soon destroy the floor finish.

Wet cleaning indicators, or blemishes, that require water or other solutions include:

• Streaks and spots—smears on surfaces created by incomplete cleaning, such as when mopping with poor technique, or spots such as those left by beverage containers
• Grime—gradual build-up on touched surfaces that need special cleaning effort
• Film—almost opaque covering on window glass caused  by  smoking  (less frequent now that smoking is prohibited in most buildings); the sedimentary de- posits inside toilet bowls, often including heavy mineral deposits in hard-water locales that may require an acid to dissolve
• Adhesives—unsightly tape remnants and chewing gum requiring removal with scraping and solvents.

These eight basic items cover 99.99 percent of the detectable surface blemishes that are indicators of the need for cleaning. They are not hard to remember. The disciplined custodian has developed powers of observation that allows her/ him to immediately identify the blemish and automatically select the most effective removal technique.

Motivation

Cleaning failures stem from two sources: the blemish was only partially removed or not enough effort was made to clean.
Inner motivation—or drive to do what is needed when it is needed—is yet another discipline of the successful custodian. Without it, all the detection skills and self-esteem in the world will mean little.
Cleaning is a discipline. Those who controlled behavior to become reliable cleaners can feel good about themselves and what they do.