What a clean building looks like.

Facility teams measure clean on a five-level scale, then check it area by area. Here is the scale, what each area should look like, and how we check it.

The five levels of clean.

APPA, the association for educational facility leaders, publishes a five-level appearance scale.¹ Universities, cities and LEED-certified buildings use it to set targets and score inspections. Pick a level, or read the APPA levels of cleaning explained.

Level 2: Ordinary tidiness

Floors shine and the corners are clear. Marks and smudges only show up close.

Level descriptions summarized from Michigan Tech's write-up of the APPA scale.²

Level 2 is the usual target. The University of Toronto sets its main campus at level two,⁴ and LEED-certified buildings need an audit score of 2.5 or better.³

The level is a budget choice too: UBC targets level 3,⁷ and the University of Alberta says its funding covers an average of level 4.⁸

Area by area.

What each area looks like when it's cleaned right, and the work that gets it there. This is the scope we start every bid from.

A large commercial washroom with stalls and sinks

Washrooms

Fixtures free of soil, scale and odourMirrors and chrome without streaksEvery dispenser fullFloor dry underfoot

Disinfect toilets, urinals and sinks
Refill towel, tissue and soap
Polish mirrors and chrome
Damp mop with germicidal solution
MonthlyMachine scrub the grout lines

Industry check: at level two, the University of Toronto expects tile and fixtures to gleam, no odour, and supplies stocked.⁴

An elevator lobby in a commercial building

Lobbies and entrances

Entrance glass without streaksCounters and seating disinfectedFloor dry underfoot

Clean entrance glass, disinfect the hardware
Vacuum the mats, spot clean the carpet
Disinfect reception counters and seating
Damp mop the hard floor

Industry check: Canada's federal janitorial standard treats entrance lobbies as high-traffic areas, with glass clean on both sides and no streaks or finger marks.⁵

An office meeting room with a wood table and chairs

Offices and meeting rooms

Surfaces clear of dust and marksBins empty, liners fittedGlass clear, no fingerprintsBaseboards dust-free

Dust desks, cabinets and counters
Empty bins to the collection point
Wipe interior glass
Disinfect switches, handles and touch points
MonthlyDust vents, ledges, blinds and baseboards

Papers and personal items on desks are never moved.

Industry check: Alameda County's janitorial spec asks for trash and dusting every day and carpets vacuumed at least twice a week.⁶

Floors

No grit or spills underfootSpots lifted, not spreadFinish even, no residue

Vacuum carpet wall to wall
Treat fresh spots before they set
Dust mop, then damp mop hard floors
QuarterlyEncapsulation clean the carpet walkways
QuarterlyScrub and recoat the hard floor walkways

Industry check: the federal standard wants hard floors with no stains, mop streaks or water spots, corners and around furniture legs included.⁵

How it gets checked.

Graded against the standard.

Every area in the scope gets a grade at every inspection.

Photos for every area.

You see what the inspector saw, not only a score.

A score in your portal.

Every building gets a score, with its trend, so you know which one needs attention.

Every miss gets a fix.

The fix is booked and checked at the next visit.

Canada's federal janitorial standard works the same way: the client inspects monthly, rates each inspection against written standards, and sends failures back for correction.⁵ In healthcare, Public Health Ontario adds fluorescent markers and ATP tests to the visual checks.⁹

Sample

‹ Buildings

Saint-Hubert Medical BuildingInspected Oct 27 · walked by Sofia, for taskforse

66.7%Needs attention

8 of 12 lines met

Lobby2/3

Washrooms2/4

Exam rooms3/3

Break room1/2

Missed

Washroom 2Soap and towel dispensers empty

Main lobbyStreaks on the entrance glass

✓ Re-clean booked for tonight's visit