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Understanding cleaning standards
Cleaning standards create a common language for custodial teams and their clients to talk about expectations and performance.
Last Updated
August 20, 2025
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Facility cleaning standards might be set by a commercial cleaning client, outlined in an SLA, or determined by an in-house custodial team. Some teams create their own custom standards. However, starting with standards from industry trade organizations and nonprofit accreditors is a great way to ensure you’re using industry best practices.
What are cleaning standards and why do they matter?
What does it mean for something to be clean? It’s a deceptively simple question. Standards take the guesswork out of the process for everyone involved, from the client to the supervisors to the individual custodians.
Standards help teams:
- Improve the quality and consistency of service
- Provide measurable goals for custodial teams
- Ensure compliance with regulations
- Clarify customer expectations
For standards to be effective, they must be integrated into every step of the process. Client contracts, inspection audits, staffing levels, and cleaner training must all be aligned.
Cleaning standards for facility management and janitorial teams
Industry organizations assembled a variety of cleaning standards for different environments and needs, the best of which are detailed and specific.
APPA cleaning standards
APPA’s five levels of clean were originally created for use in educational facilities. The organization offers corresponding staffing guidelines for each level to help with workload management.
- Ideal for: Educational facilities, including higher ed and K-12
- Audit types: Visual
- Also includes workload benchmarks
ISSA Clean Standards: Institutional & Commercial
ISSA’s standards for in-house and building service contractor teams incorporate both visual audits and ATP surface testing. They have a separate set of standards for K-12 schools.
- Ideal for: Offices, stores, hotels, and more
- Audit types: Visual, ATP surface testing
- Offers corrective actions for specific deficiencies
- Provides “ranges of clean” for the three most popular ATP systems
ISSA Clean Standards: K-12 Schools
ISSA’s standards for K-12 schools focus on unique spaces in educational environments, with an emphasis on high-touch surfaces in the classroom.
- Ideal for: Public and private K–12 schools
- Audit types: Visual, ATP surface testing
- Offers corrective actions for specific deficiencies
- Provides “ranges of clean” for the three most popular ATP systems
Joint Commission standards
Hospital and healthcare environmental services (EVS) teams must comply with Joint Commission standards for surface cleaning, infection control, and more.
- Ideal for: Doctors’ offices, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities
- Audit types: Visual, surface testing, process compliance
- Standards are available to buy individually or as a subscription
IIRC standards
The Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IIRC) was established by professionals focused on upholstery and carpet cleaning. In addition to professional certification for technicians, the IIRC publishes and sells a variety of cleaning standards.
- Ideal for: Mold, smoke and fire remediation, carpet cleaning, and more
- Standards can be purchased à la carte or as a subscription
Other cleaning standards
Other professional organizations have their own standards and recommendations for cleaning based on the priorities of their membership.
- For the air travel industry, Skytrax has standards for airport hygiene and cleanliness, airline cabin cleanliness, and more.
- The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) has Commercial Carpet Maintenance and Cleaning Standards, which are published free online.
What’s included in cleaning standards?
Cleaning standards include criteria that a space or line item must meet. The standards usually fall into one of these categories:
- Visual inspections, such as looking for visible dust or build-up
- Surface testing, including ATP testing, blacklight testing, and qPCR
- Process standards, such as cleaning frequency
Standards might also include suggested corrective actions if a certain line item doesn’t meet the criteria.
How digital inspections help support cleaning standards
Digital inspection forms help keep everyone on the same page about the level of cleanliness required. Another benefit? Immediacy. With paper forms, a failing line item might get lost in stacks of paper or take time to be entered into software. With digital forms, the item can immediately trigger an alert or create a ticket to ensure the problem is resolved quickly.
Learn more about how OrangeQC supports cleanliness standards
We partner with industry leaders, including APPA and ISSA, to license inspection forms and custom ratings for our platforms. Additionally, you can customize our forms with any standard your team uses.
If you’d like to hear more about how OrangeQC’s digital quality control tools support industry cleaning standards, we’d love to show you the software in action.
FAQs
What cleaning standards apply to schools?
The two main cleaning standards used by grade schools are APPA’s levels of cleanliness and the ISSA Clean Standards: K-12. In higher education, APPA is used almost exclusively.
Are office cleaning standards different from schools?
Yes, because offices and schools are used very differently, they require a different type of cleaning. Office spaces are usually used by the same people each day, and they tend to remain in the same workspace. Schools have much more movement throughout the day and higher occupancy.
What are the cleaning standards for healthcare facilities and medical clinics?
Healthcare cleaning and EVS are subject to a variety of regulations and standards, including those from government agencies. Joint Commission accreditation is also usually a requirement for facilities to accept Medicare and Medicaid patients.
What standards apply to housekeeping or hospitality cleaning?
For larger hotels and other hospitality environments, the corporate office usually sets cleaning standards. The American Hotel & Lodging Association also publishes guidelines. These focus on spaces like lobbies and guest rooms, as well as functions including laundry, back-of-house, and shared cleaning equipment.
Related cleaning standards resources
APPA Custodial Service Standards: The 5 Levels of Clean
APPA custodial service standards APPA’s custodial service levels provide a common benchmark for measuring cleanliness. Originally created for use in educational facilities, the levels are increasingly being used outside of education because they are detailed