Lesson 1: Types and Uses of Cleaning Tools, Equipment, Supplies, and Materials

Today, cleaning is a very serious concern to have a well conducive environment for living. Our
homes, working places, and the whole environment require serious treatment in order to give us
a clean atmosphere where we can easily live.

For thorough cleaning, the following cleaning tools, equipment, supplies, and materials are to be
used:

A. Cleaning Tools. It is a handheld device created and designed in various colors, materials,
mechanisms, shapes, sizes, and styles to clean easily, effectively, and efficiently. They are vital
in cleaning and in accomplishing tasks.

Cleaning Tools Picture/s Characteristic/Meaning/Use

1. Dusters  made of soft cotton, flannel, or
artificial feathers
 used for removing dust and for
wiping various surfaces

2. Dustpans  made of either plastic materials or

metal, which must be cleaned after
use before storage
 used to collect dust and dirt with a
help of a broom

3. Mop  made of thick, loosely woven cloth

 useful tool in wiping dirt and dust
from the floor

4. Brooms  may be made from man-made

materials like plastic or from
natural materials like the soft
broom (walis tambo); made from
tiger grass and the stick broom
(walis ting-ting); made from spine
of dried coconut leaves
 used in sweeping dirt and dust
from the floor and other areas that
needs cleaning
5. Brushes designed with different sizes and
shapes for specific cleaning
purposes

a. Toilet brush used for cleaning bidets and toilet

bowl

b. Sink brush used for unclogging sink

c. Scrub brush used for cleaning sturdy dirt from

floors and walls

d. Carpet hand alternative for vacuum in cleaning

brush the carpet

e. Soft hand goes with the dust pan and is

brush used to collect dust
f. Long handle a soft brush with long handles to
brush clean hard to reach walls

g. Feather used to clean delicate surfaces

brush like lampshades, televisions, etc.

6. Buckets or Pails used for holding water or

detergent while cleaning

7. Garbage Bins are available in plastic with lid, to

hold gathered garbage and trash
while cleaning

8.Caddy Basket used to hold small tools and

chemicals whole cleaning

9. Squeegee used to gather water while

cleaning window glasses
 10. Spray Bottle used to squirt, spray or mist fluids
in a dirty surfaces

11. Sponge  made of soft porous material,

absorbs water and becoming soft
when wet
 used for wiping or cleaning
impervious surfaces

B. CLEANING EQUIPMENT. It refers to any of a large class of device used for

cleaning.

Cleaning Picture/s Characteristic/Meaning/Use

Equipment
1. Floor Scrubber used in scrubbing, stripping, and
and polishing hard floor surfaces,
Polisher vinyl, wood parquet, etc.

2. Vacuum Cleaner used in removing dust and small

pieces of debris from the floors,
upholstery, furnishings, walls, and
ceilings

3. Upholstery used to clean the carpet and

Steam upholstery; it had been fitted with
Cleaner an upholstery wand for maximum
reach when dealing with tight,
hard-to-reach crevices of
upholstery
 4. High Pressure designed to remove soil from the
Washer surface with the help of water and
steam subjected to high pressure;
water under pressure dislodges
the dirt from the surface

5. Carpet Shampoo used for the deep cleaning and

Machine stain removal; the cleaning agents
are simply mixed with hot water
and detergents; the detergent is
injected on the carpet piles and
extracted back by a wet vacuum
built into the same machine

Among all the cleaning equipment listed above, the most commonly used by a
room attendant in cleaning are the vacuum cleaner and floor scrubber and
polisher.

C. Cleaning Supplies/Materials. It refers to consumable items used in cleaning.

Cleaning Pictures Characteristic/Meaning/Use

Supplies/Materials
1. Liquid Detergent a detergent in liquid form
used for cleaning tools
and equipment

2. Water  known as “universal

solvent”
 a liquid used for cleaning
most of the tools and
equipment

3. Cleaning  most common type of

Detergent cleaning agent
 may be in the form of
powder, liquid, gel or
crystals
 a surfactant or a mixture
of surfactants with
“cleaning properties in
diluted solutions that is
also used in cleaning
purposes” making it easy
to wash it away
 4. Paper Towel an absorbent textile made
from paper instead of cloth
used in drying hands,
wiping windows, dusting
and cleaning up spills

5. Scrubbing Foam used to remove the

contaminants of any tool
and equipment

6. Gloves a garment that covers the

whole hand of a person
that performs household
services

Safety Measures/Precautions in Cleaning Tools

Household servicing is not just cleanliness. It includes keeping work areas neat and
orderly, maintaining halls and floors free of slip and trip hazards, and removing of waste
materials (e.g., paper, cardboard) and other fire hazards from work areas.

Safe Use
Risks can vary greatly. What important is, whoever has to use any tool or piece of
equipment as part of their job does so with care. To ensure safe use, employers must orient
workers and provide suitable information. They must also check that workers have the
appropriate qualifications to use intricate tools and equipment. In addition, as part of their health
and safety strategy, employers should offer orientation and training. This isn’t necessary for
basic items, but when certain tools and equipment change, orientation improves skills and
reminds users of safety procedures.
Handling material is a daily function in the workplace. All too often it is a task taken for
granted, with little knowledge of or attention to the consequences if done incorrectly.

Here are some quick and easy tips for safety measures/precautions in
cleaning tools:
1. Inspect your cleaning tools.
2. Pick the right cleaning tool.
3. Wear your Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
4. Don’t alter your tools.
5. Handle with care.
6. Keep your workplace clean.

Lesson 2: Maintenance and Storage of Cleaning Tools and Equipment

Maintenance is the systematic care and protection of tools and equipment and other
machines in order to keep them in a safe, usable condition that limits downtime and extends
productivity. Thus, proper selection and maintenance of equipment are important factors to
consider. Selecting the proper tool for the job and using the tool properly will increase efficiency
and reduce maintenance problems.
 Purchase tools that are well made and suited to the intended use. Commercial usage may
entail more heavy-duty demands on equipment. Always follow the routine “clean up while in
use and clean up before keeping it”.

A. Correct Maintenance of Cleaning Tools and Equipment

A further part of a health and safety strategy is to maintain tools and equipment regularly.
This helps to identify safety problems before they become a serious hazard. Only qualified
people should carry out the maintenance. They should also keep records of their inspections.
Furthermore, when it comes to management, there is one important way to follow the
rules and to manage the safe use and maintenance of tools and equipment. This is to assess and
control the risks.
Employers should conduct risk assessments that cover the setting up, use and
maintenance of tools and equipment at work. The risk assessment process must identify the
environments in which workers will use the tools and equipment at work.
The risk assessment process must identify the environments in which workers will use
the tools and equipment; any local conditions that may affect safety; and how the workers will
actually use each item in practice.
By limiting risks in this way, employers have some control over potential
hazards. Specifically, employers should:

guards on machinery to protect fingers and limbs
 Ensure that system controls have appropriate warning devices
 Insist staff wear personal protective clothing as necessary
 Arrange for maintenance when equipment is safely shut down and not in use.

Tools and Equipment Care and Maintenance

 Perform basic preventive maintenance.
 Execute clean up practices on the tools and equipment that must be
maintained.
 Keep all cutting tools sharp. Use the right tool for the job.
 Ensure tools are in safe working order. Attach a “Do Not Use” tag to
damaged tools and notify the maintenance department.
 Clean up and pick up after yourself as you go. Good maintenance should be
followed.
 All equipment must be inspected before and after use and all defects should
be reported.

When it comes to the use of cleaning equipment, the following general rules
need to be followed:
1. Check electrical appliances and equipment before use. Check if there are frayed
wires, loose plugs and connections. NEVER use any appliances that is defective.
2. Handle equipment with care and make sure it does not bump on hard surfaces.
3. Clean and store equipment in their proper location immediately after use.
4. Empty dust bags of dry vacuum cleaners before they overload and after each use.
5. Follow manufacturer’s operating instructions.
6. Schedule a regular check-up of equipment to prevent serious breakdown.
7. To avoid electric shock or short circuit, do not expose equipment to rain or water. Store them
indoors to protect them from getting wet. Electrical equipment should NEVER be used in wet
surfaces.

B. Proper Storage/Safekeeping of Cleaning Tools and Equipment

a. Hand Tools:
 Store hand tools in a clean dry storage area.
 Protect surfaces of cutting tools in storage
b. Tools and Equipment:
 Store tools and equipment in a clean dry storage area.
 There should be space for each tools and equipment stored.
 Clean and spray equipment after each use.
 For the equipment with wheels, clean and check wheel-driven
gears.
 The storage of all cleaning tools and equipment should also be a well-ventilated area.
 Perform basic preventive maintenance.
 Execute clean up practices on the tools and equipment that must be maintained.
 Use the right tool for each job.
 Ensure tools are in safe working order. Attach a “Do Not Use” tag to damaged tools.
 Clean up and pick up after yourself as you go. Good maintenance should be followed.
 Manufacturer’s instructions for operation and maintenance should be followed.

Types of Chemicals for Cleaning and Sanitizing Tools and Equipment

Cleaning is the removal of dirt by physical or chemical means while sanitation is the process of
reducing or getting rid of microbes on surfaces to make them hygienic. Sanitizing touchable
surfaces kills the germs and microorganisms that soap and water cannot. Moreover, it is
important to clean, sanitize and store equipment properly for us to avoid bacteria from
penetrating. Cleaning and sanitizing the equipment is essential and the most important aspects of
a sanitation, therefore different types of chemicals for cleaning and sanitizing are to be used.
Some considerations on the selection of cleaning chemicals before used.
Cleaning chemicals should be:
 mild
 of good quality
 bactericidal
 of a wide microbe spectrum
 none corrosive
 pleasant in terms of odor

Types of Chemicals for Cleaning and Sanitizing

Cleaning agents or chemicals are used to make the cleaning job easy. They are substances used
to remove dirt, including dust, stains, bad smells, and clutter on surfaces. Here are the following
chemicals or cleaning agents:
1. Detergents. These are made from pure soap or organic chemicals. There are two types of
detergent:
a. Soap detergent. It comes in flakes for washing delicate fabrics and powder for washing soft
fabric.
b. Synthetic detergent. It is made from organic chemicals derived from petroleum. It is used for
cleaning task and for washing up the floors. It may be in forms of powder, liquid, gel or crystals.
2. Deodorants. These are used for hiding bad smells. They counteract stale odors and sometimes
introduce fragrance in the area. They are used in guest rooms, bathrooms and in public areas.
3. Acid Cleaner. It is used to dissolved hard water deposits, remove mild rust stains, and
eliminate soap film from around the sink and on shower doors. They are useful in removing
tarnish from brass and copper.
4. Laundry Aids. These help and contribute to the cleaning action of laundry detergents and
offer special functions and benefits. Types of laundry cleaning aids includes fabric softeners,
enzymes, conditioning agents, dry-cleaning fluids, brightening agents and more.
5. Alkaline Cleaners. These are particularly good in removing grease.
6. Polishes. These are applied to a surface to form a hard-protective layer and thus guard against
finger marks, stains, and scratches. They also create a pleasant shine on a hard surface. Examples
are metal polish, furniture polish, and floor polish.
7. Solvent Cleaners. These are used extensively for dry cleaning and for stain removal and
useful for cleaning grease or polishing surfaces. They all have strong fumes and should be used
in a well- ventilated room.
8. Floor Seal. It is applied to a floor’s surface to form a semi-permanent protective barrier to
prevent dirt, liquids, grease stains, and bacteria from penetrating.
9. Disinfectants. These are used to kill harmful germs. Examples are:
a. Phenol. It is used in dilute or concentrate solution to disinfect surfaced in hospitals.
b. Halogen. Its elements chlorine and iodine may be used as disinfectants.
10. Abrasives. These are used to remove very stubborn stains of various surfaces.

Safe Use of Cleaning Chemicals

 Read container labels and follow directions.
 Make sure all chemical containers are not leaking or damaged.
 Label all chemicals correctly.
 Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at all times while handling chemicals.
 Do not mix chemicals.
 Do not sniff contents of containers.

Prepared by:
Miss Christine S. Nieves, LPT