Janitorial colour-coding & equipment

The four-colour code (BICSc)

The industry-standard colour system keeps equipment zoned so a toilet cloth never touches a kitchen surface.

• Red: toilets and washroom floors (highest risk).
• Yellow: washroom sinks and other surfaces.
• Green: kitchens and food-prep areas.
• Blue: general lower-risk areas — offices, classrooms, corridors.

Mops & buckets: flat vs string

Flat/microfibre mop systems use less water, dry faster and lift more soiling than traditional string mops. Pair colour-coded mop heads with matching buckets and wringers to keep zones separate.

Microfibre vs cotton

Microfibre traps dust and bacteria mechanically, so it cleans with less chemical and rinses cleaner. Launder it separately from cotton and skip fabric softener, which clogs the fibres.

Waste & refuse sacks

Match sack gauge to the load: light (office paper), medium (general waste), heavy duty (kitchen/wet/glass). Under-spec'd sacks split and become a manual-handling and hygiene problem.