Cleaning Chemical Control
Professional commercial and industrial cleaning is not simply about selecting a cleaning chemical and applying it to a surface. The product needs to be appropriate for the task, used at the correct concentration and handled in a controlled way by trained cleaning operatives.
Effective cleaning chemical control protects employees and building users, maintains surfaces and equipment and delivers consistent cleaning results. It is ensures costs are controlled and removes unnecessary chemical consumption.
At SymClean, the management of cleaning chemicals forms part of the wider planning and delivery of our outsourced commercial and industrial cleaning services. From contract mobilisation and product selection through to COSHH assessments, operative training, controlled dosing, environmental management and ongoing review, there are important controls behind the everyday cleaning activities taking place on a client’s site.
Why Is Cleaning Chemical Control Important?
Using more cleaning chemical does not necessarily mean achieving a better cleaning result.
Professional cleaning products are designed to be used in accordance with specified instructions, including the appropriate dilution or dosing requirements. Using the correct concentration helps the product perform as intended while avoiding unnecessary and excessive chemical use.
Chemical control is relevant across a wide range of cleaning activities. It applies whether a cleaning solution is being prepared in something as simple as a bucket for manual cleaning, or used within larger specialist equipment such as walk behind and ride-on scrubber dryers.
Whatever the scale of the cleaning task, the principle remains the same: use the appropriate product, at the appropriate concentration, for the intended application.
Controlled Dose Bottles & Dosing Dilution Systems
Many professional cleaning chemicals are supplied in concentrated form and require dilution before use.
Using too little chemical may mean the solution does not perform as intended. Conversely, increasing the concentration beyond the recommended level does not necessarily improve cleaning performance and can create additional problems.
For many routine cleaning activities, SymClean uses professional cleaning products incorporating controlled dose bottles or dosing dilution systems. These help cleaning operatives dispense the appropriate amount of concentrated product when preparing a cleaning solution.
On some sites, automatic dosing equipment may also be used where appropriate to the cleaning operation.
Controlled dosing helps remove some of the guesswork associated with manually measuring concentrated products and supports greater consistency between operatives, cleaning activities and shifts.
Protecting Cleaning Operatives
Cleaning chemical control is also an important part of protecting the people carrying out the work.
Before using chemicals, SymClean cleaning operatives receive appropriate training and have access to the relevant COSHH assessments and Safety Data Sheets. Operatives also complete online COSHH training incorporating video based learning and questions to check their understanding.
The COSHH assessment identifies the hazards associated with a particular chemical and the control measures required when it is used. These may include requirements for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as gloves or eye protection, alongside instructions relating to handling, dilution and application.
Controlled dosing further supports these measures by reducing unnecessary handling of concentrated chemicals and helping cleaning operatives prepare products at the required concentration.
If a cleaning operative is unsure about a chemical or how it should be used, they are instructed to refer to the relevant COSHH information and seek guidance from their supervisor.
Protecting Surfaces, Flooring and Equipment
Chemical control protects more than people.
Commercial and industrial premises can contain a wide variety of flooring, finishes, fixtures, machinery and other materials. Using an unsuitable product or an incorrect concentration can potentially affect the surface being cleaned.
Excessive chemical concentrations can also contribute to issues such as residues, which may affect the appearance or condition of a surface and require further cleaning.
Correct product selection and dilution therefore help protect the client’s premises while allowing the cleaning chemical to perform the task for which it was designed.
This becomes particularly important when cleaning extends beyond routine offices and communal areas into manufacturing, food production, industrial or other specialist environments where cleaning requirements can vary significantly between areas.
Protecting Employees, Visitors and the Public
A professionally managed cleaning service also needs to consider people who are not directly involved in the cleaning operation.
Depending on the environment, this could include the client’s employees, customers, contractors, visitors, residents or members of the public.
Appropriate chemical selection, dilution, storage, labelling and application all contribute towards managing these risks.
Correctly labelled containers are particularly important because they allow the product to be readily identified and provide key safety information.
Where a chemical exposure incident requires medical attention, the relevant Safety Data Sheet (SDS) provides more comprehensive information about the product and should be available to assist those providing treatment. Product labels also contain important safety information and can help identify the substance involved.
This is one of the reasons why professional chemical management extends beyond simply storing cleaning products securely.
Cleaning Chemical Control and COSHH
Cleaning chemical control forms part of SymClean’s wider approach to COSHH in commercial cleaning.
A COSHH assessment is completed for every chemical used by SymClean operatives on site. The assessment identifies potential hazards and establishes the measures required to control the associated risks.
Safety Data Sheets provide further information supplied by the chemical manufacturer, including details relating to hazards, handling and storage, first aid and emergency measures.
Relevant information is made accessible to SymClean cleaning operatives digitally through their employee portal as well as through appropriate site based documentation.
For a more detailed explanation of our approach, read our guide to COSHH in Commercial & Industrial Cleaning: How We Manage Chemical Safety.
Controlling Cleaning Costs and Reducing Waste
There is also a straightforward commercial benefit to correct chemical dosing: unnecessary chemical use costs money.
If concentrated cleaning products are routinely overdosed, more product is consumed than is required to perform the cleaning task. Across a large commercial or industrial cleaning contract, repeated overuse can become significant.
Importantly, cost control should not mean using less chemical than a cleaning task requires. The objective is to use the correct amount to achieve the required cleaning result safely and consistently.
Environmental and Sustainability Considerations
Responsible chemical management also forms part of wider environmental considerations within professional cleaning.
Avoiding unnecessary chemical consumption through appropriate dosing and dilution can help reduce waste while still achieving the required cleaning standards.
Where SymClean is responsible for providing cleaning chemicals, procurement decisions are also made with awareness of our Environmental and Sustainability Policy, alongside considerations such as operational suitability, safety and cleaning requirements.
The objective is not simply to minimise chemical use, but to manage products appropriately as part of an effective professional cleaning service.
What Happens When the Client Provides Cleaning Chemicals?
SymClean provides the cleaning chemicals required for most of the contracts we manage, but there are circumstances where a client may provide particular products for use within their premises.
Client-provided chemicals are not simply introduced into the cleaning operation without consideration.
Where SymClean cleaning operatives are required to use a client provided chemical, its suitability for the intended cleaning activity is considered and approved, and the appropriate COSHH controls are established.
This helps maintain a consistent approach to chemical safety regardless of who originally procured the product.
Chemical Control Starts During Contract Mobilisation
During contract mobilisation, the cleaning requirements of the site can be considered alongside the products, equipment and working methods required to deliver the agreed specification.
This provides an opportunity to establish appropriate chemicals, Safety Data Sheets, COSHH assessments, dosing arrangements, PPE requirements, storage arrangements and operative training before the cleaning operation is fully underway.
This is particularly important for larger or more complex industrial and commercial environments where different areas of the same site may have very different cleaning requirements.
Chemical management also continues beyond mobilisation.
Cleaning specifications can change, new tasks can be introduced, products may be replaced and the client’s operational requirements can develop. Relevant chemical controls and documentation can therefore be reviewed as part of the ongoing management of the cleaning contract.
If you are considering outsourcing your commercial or industrial cleaning, these processes provide an indication of how SymClean approaches the wider management of our services.
By combining appropriate products with trained people, documented procedures and practical controls, we aim to deliver cleaning services that are safe, consistent, cost-effective and professionally managed.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cleaning Chemical Control
Why is correct cleaning chemical dilution important?
Correct dilution helps a cleaning product perform at its intended concentration. It can also help protect operatives and surfaces, reduce unnecessary chemical consumption and provide greater consistency across cleaning activities.
Is using more cleaning chemical more effective?
Not necessarily. Professional cleaning products are designed to be used according to specified instructions. Using a stronger concentration than required does not automatically improve the cleaning result and may increase chemical consumption or create other issues.
How can cleaning chemicals be dosed accurately?
Depending on the product and cleaning environment, this may include controlled-dose bottles, dosing systems or automatic dilution equipment. The appropriate method depends on the chemical and cleaning operation.
Does COSHH apply to cleaning chemicals?
Cleaning products that present risks to health need to be appropriately assessed and controlled. SymClean completes a COSHH assessment for each chemical used by its operatives on site, supported by the manufacturer's Safety Data Sheet.
Does SymClean provide the cleaning chemicals?
SymClean provides the cleaning chemicals on most of the contracts we manage. On some contracts, particular products may be provided by the client. Where client-provided chemicals are to be used by SymClean operatives, their suitability is considered and the appropriate controls established.
Why does chemical control matter when outsourcing cleaning?
Chemical control provides evidence of the processes operating behind the cleaning service. Product selection, dilution, COSHH management, training, PPE, storage and documentation all contribute to the safe and professional management of an outsourced commercial or industrial cleaning contract.
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In This Article...
Following product instructions, Safety Data Sheets and the relevant COSHH controls helps ensure cleaning chemicals are used appropriately. The HSE also provides specific guidance on controlling exposure when manually cleaning and disinfecting surfaces.
