Role guide · Cleaning
Cleaning kit gets bought as an afterthought and worn around the two most persistent hazards in any building: wet floors and chemicals. Get the shoes and the gloves right and the rest of the list is straightforward.
The list
| Item | Spec | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Footwear | Washable upper, SR slip-rated sole | The cleaner works ON the wet floor everyone else avoids |
| Tunic or polo ×3 | Dark or colour-coded, hot-washable | Bleach splash writes off pale cheap fabric |
| Trousers ×2 | Stretch, hot-washable | Constant bending, kneeling, reaching |
| Chemical gloves | EN ISO 374 gauntlets for dilution & dosing | Skin contact with cleaning chemistry is a dermatitis plan |
| Disposable nitrile | Boxed, for general tasks | The everyday barrier layer |
| Knee pads or mat | Strap-on or kneeler | Floor-level work adds up across a career |
| Apron | Polythene or PVC by task | Sustained wet work protects the uniform |
The two that matter
Footwear is the serious purchase: cleaners spend their shift on the wet side of the warning cone, so a slip-rated occupational shoe with a washable upper isn't a comfort item — it's the primary PPE of the job. Gloves split by chemistry: thin disposable nitrile handles routine wiping; dilution, dosing and anything the safety data sheet flags gets EN ISO 374 chemical gauntlets. Repeated "just this once" bare-handed chemical contact is how cleaning teams end up with occupational dermatitis — barrier cream and after-work moisturiser are the unglamorous back-up that dermatology nurses would put on this list themselves.
Uniform-wise, colour-coded tunics or polos matched to the healthcare pattern suit contract cleaning in clinical and care settings; embroidered polos read better in offices and retail.
Details
Questions
Washable uppers with slip-rated (SR) soles and real cushioning — cleaners work standing on the wet floors everyone else walks around. Occupational styles without toe caps suit most cleaning; add a cap only where goods handling justifies it.
Two tiers: disposable nitrile for routine tasks, and EN ISO 374 chemical-resistant gauntlets for diluting, dosing and anything the product's safety data sheet flags. Repeated bare-hand chemical contact is the main route to occupational dermatitis in cleaning.
In clinical and care settings, colour-coded uniforms (and equipment) separate clean and dirty areas and identify contract staff at a glance — mirroring healthcare's infection-control conventions. In offices and retail it's simpler: an embroidered polo identifies the team.
Send the headcount — the kit list comes back priced, embroidered and sized.