Executive Housekeeping Today - February 2008 - (Page 11) Color Coding Rags and Wiping Cloths Developing and implementing a color-coded system for your rags and cleaning cloths has numerous benefits for any housekeeping program, especially one that must maintain many different areas. Taking the time to set up a system that makes sense for your facility is a quick and low-cost solution that will solve some of your most common problems. Color coding your cleaning cloths can help: • Prevent cross contamination of germs and bacteria at your facility. • Aid in the training of your employees. • Improve the consistency and quality of cleaning. d by Christopher Lundgren supplement any verbal instruction that may get lost in translation. Also, posting a chart with plenty of pictures or illustrations that details what each color represents in your system can be helpful for training new employees. Make sure to post this chart somewhere in your facility that can be easily accessed by your staff if they need to consult it. Taking the time to create this simple chart can have a dramatically positive effect on how your staff is cleaning by giving them easy instructions to follow. Many people also choose to match the color of their rags to the color of their chemicals. For instance, if a cleaning chemical with a red cap is used to clean the bathroom, then you should choose a red rag to match. If an all-purpose cleaner with a blue cap or nozzle is used to clean the common areas, then a blue rag could be used. This helps to strengthen the power of color coding and simplify the training process. Supervision and Consistency Another reason to institute and use a color-coded rag system is that it can help ensure tasks performed around your facility are done consistently each time regardless of the staff member responsible. A color-coded system puts your whole (continued on page 13) Cross Contamination One of the largest advantages of color coding your rags and cleaning cloths is that it helps to lower the risk of cross contamination and the spread of germs from one area to another. For example, in a healthcare facility, a separate rag should be used for cleaning the bathroom, the patient’s room, and the common areas, such as the lobby or hallway. By choosing a different color for each area, you can help make sure the germs from the bathroom never get to the nightstand or phone. COLOR CODED CLEANING CLOTHS Training Using separate color cleaning cloths to represent each job or area at your facility can help eliminate confusion among staff and aid in their training. This is especially true if there are language barriers between you and your staff. Establishing set colors to represent what cloths or rags are to be used on certain jobs or areas will help MICROFIBER TOWELS LINT FREE HUCK TOWELS COTTON TERRY TOWELS DURABLE PAPER WIPERS www.ercwipe.com 800-225-9473 February 2008/Executive Housekeeping Today CALL TODAY http://www.ercwipe.com
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