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Photo of a large tree near the Nina de Villiers garden at McMaster. The sun is shining through the trees in the background and the leaves on the main tree are turning bright orange and gold with Fall colours.

Cleaning Standards and Frequencies

Facility Services Cleaning Standards and Frequencies 

Each category below outlines a list of tasks and their standard frequencies, representing the minimum level of service our Custodial teams’ provide. These frequencies may be adjusted based on specific customer needs or enhanced through premium service options. Please note, that this guide serves as a general reference and may not apply in all situations.

Auditorium  Custodial Frequencies 
Empty all waste containers/recycling  Daily x 5 days 
Sweep, dust mop floor (under seating)  Daily x 5 days 
Damp mop floors  Daily x 5 days 
Vacuum carpet  Daily x 5 days 
Clean furniture arms and backs  Annually 
Restorative carpet care  Annually 
Spot clean walls and doors  Annually 
Refinish floors  Annually 
High/Low dusting Annually 

 

 

Building Entrance  Custodial Frequencies 
Sweep outside ramp and landing  Daily x 5 days 
Dust mop floor  Daily x 5 days 
Damp mop floors  Daily x 5 days 
Clean glass  Daily x 5 days 
Dust flat surfaces  Weekly 
Vacuum entrance mat  Daily 
Shampoo walk-off mats  Monthy 
Refinish floor  Annually 

 

Classroom – Carpet & Hard Flooring  Custodial Frequencies 
Waste trash collection/recycling  Daily x 5 days 
Clean eraser trays  Daily x 5 days 
Damp mop floors  Daily x 5 days 
Dust flat surfaces  Daily x 5 days 
Spot vacuum  Daily x 5 days 
Thorough vacuum  Weekly 
Clean trash containers  Weekly 
Spot clean walls and doors  Weekly 
Dust vents  Monthly 
Clean chalkboards  Quarterly 
Clean interior windows  Annually 
Restorative carpet care  Annually 
Refinish floors  Annually 
Clean furniture and seating  Annually 

 

 

Corridor – Carpet & Hard Flooring  Custodial Frequencies 
Dust mop floors  Daily x 5 days 
Auto-scrub/wet mop floors  Daily x 5 days 
Clean & sanitize water fountains  Daily x 5 days 
Waste trash collection  Daily x 5 days 
Recyclable trash collection  Daily x 5 days 
Vacuum carpet and straighten furniture  Daily x 5 days 
Dust flat surfaces  Monthly 
Clean trash containers  Monthly 
Burnish floors  Semi-Annually 
Strip and refinish corridors  Annually 
Dust vents  Annually 
Restorative carpet care  Annually 
Spot clean walls and doors  Annually 
Refinish floors  Annually 

 

 

Elevator  Custodial Frequencies 
Sweep, dust mop floor  Daily x 5 days 
Damp mop floors  Daily x 5 day 
Spot clean walls and doors  Weekly 
Clean elevator tracks  Weekly 

 

 

Gymnasium  Custodial Frequencies 
Sweep, dust mop floors (bleachers retracted)  Daily x 5 days 
Damp mop floor  Daily x 5 days 
Dust flat surfaces  Weekly 
Spot clean walls, doors  Annually 

 

Hospitality Eateries/Dining Halls  Custodial Frequencies 
Empty all waste containers/recycling  Daily x 7 days 
Dust mop all hard flooring  Daily x 7 days 
Damp mop all hard flooring with degreaser  Daily x 7 days 
Vacuum carpet  Daily x 7 days 
Dust flat surfaces  Daily x 7 days 
Spot clean walls and doors/contact points  Weekly 
Wash all waste containers  Monthly 
Heavy scrub kitchen prep area with floor machine  Annually 
Refinish floors   Annually 
Restorative carpet care  Annually 

 

Lecture Theatre  Custodial Frequencies 
Dust mop and damp mop/vacuum floors  Daily x 5 days 
Clean chalk tray and erasers  Daily x 5 days 
Damp wipe lectern table  Daily x 5 days 
Empty/clean/reline waste receptacles  Daily x 5 days 
Replace chalk  As required 

 

Library – Carpet & Hard Flooring  Custodial Frequencies 
Clean water fountains  Daily x 5 days 
Waste trash collection  Daily x 5 days 
Recyclable trash collection  Daily x 5 days 
Vacuum carpet (complete)  Daily x 5 days 
Dust mop/damp mop hard flooring  Weekly 
Clean trash containers  Monthly 
Clean windows  Annually 
Dust vents  Annually 
Spot clean walls and doors  Annually 
Restorative carpet care  Annually 
Locker Room  Custodial Frequencies 
Clean lockers and benches  Daily x 7 days 
Clean water fountains  Daily x 7 days 
Waste trash collection  Daily x 7 days 
Sweep, dust mop floors  Daily x 7 days 
Wet-mop and scrub floor  Daily x 7 days 
Clean trash containers  Monthly 
Dust vents  Monthly 
Spot clean walls and doors  Annually 
Refinish floors  Annually 
Lounge  Custodial Frequencies 
Waste trash collection  Daily x 5 days 
Recyclable trash collection  Daily x 5 days 
Vacuum carpet and straighten furniture  Daily x 5 days 
Clean sinks  Weekly 
Dust flat surfaces  Weekly 
Clean garbage containers  Monthly 
Spot clean walls and doors  Monthly 
Clean furniture arms and backs  Annually 
Clean interior windows  Annually 
Meeting Room  Custodial Frequencies 
Clean chalk tray and erasers  Daily x 5 days 
Damp wipe furniture  Daily x 5 days 
Dust mop and damp mop or vacuum floors  Daily x 5 days 
Empty/clean/reline waste receptacles  Daily x 5 days 
Replace chalk  As required 
Spot clean walls  Monthly 
Office – Carpet  Custodial Frequencies 
Waste trash collection  Every 5 days 
Recyclable trash collection  Every 5 days 
Vacuum carpet  Every 10 days 
Clean trash container  Every 10 days 
Dust flat surfaces and furniture  Every 10 days 
Spot clean walls and doors hardware  Every 10 days 
Clean interior windows  Annually 
Dust vents  Annually 
Restorative carpet care  Every 2 years 
Office – VCT  Custodial Frequencies 
Sweep, dust mop floors  Every 10 days 
Damp mop floors  Every 10 days 
Waste trash collection  Every 5 days 
Recyclable trash collection  Every 5 days 
Spot clean walls and door hardware  Every 10 days 
Clean trash containers  Every 10 days 
Dust flat surfaces and furniture  Every 10 Days 
 Refinish floors  Annually 
Clean interior windows  Annually 
Dust vents  Annually 
Research Laboratory/Dry  Custodial Frequencies 
Sweep, dust mop floors  Every 10 days 
Damp mop floors  Every 10 days 
Waste trash collection  Every 10 days 
Recyclable trash collection  Every 10 days 
Dust vents  Annually 
Spot clean walls and doors  Annually 
Refinish floors  Annually 
Shower Room  Custodial Frequencies 
Clean drains  Daily x 7 days 
Clean/disinfect shower room  Daily x 7 days 
Check and replace Soap  Daily x 7 days 
Change Shower Curtains  As required 
Stairwell  Custodial Frequencies 
Damp mop stairs and landings  Daily x 5 days 
Back-Pack vacuum/sweep stairs and landings  3 x weekly 
Dust flat surfaces  Weekly 
Interim floor care  Semi-annually 
Spot clean walls and doors  Semi-Annually 
Refinish floors  Annually 
Teaching Laboratory/Wet  Custodial Frequencies 
Sweep, dust mop floors  Every 5 days 
Damp mop floors  Every 5 days 
Waste trash collection  Every 5 days 
Recyclable trash collection  Every 5 days 
Clean trash containers  Monthly 
Dust vents  Annually 
Spot clean walls and doors  Annually 
Refinish floors  Annually 
Clean interior windows  Annually 
Washrooms Custodial Frequencies 
Clean mirrors  Daily x 5 days 
Waste trash collection  Daily x 5 days 
Clean wash bowls  Daily x 5 days 
Clean/disinfect urinals  Daily x 5 days 
Restock soap, paper towel and toilet paper  Daily x 5 days 
Clean partitions and doors/remove graffiti  Weekly 
Clean trash containers  Monthly 
Spot clean walls, doors, and handrails  Monthly 
Dust vents  Quarterly