What Do We Mean When We Say, "Color-Coded Cleaning?"
Posted by Megan MacBride on Jun 28th 2021
Color-coded cleaning is a way to organize your rags and wipers to decrease the risk of cross contamination and the spread of germs. By assigning different color wipers to a specific task, everyone is on the same page about what wiper to use where. This also has the added benefit of simplifying employee training.
To create a color-coded cleaning program, start by picking the various areas that need to be cleaned and assign them each a different color. Make sure to have plenty of each color wiper on hand for each specific cleaning task. Lastly, put signage up where appropriate reminding employees about the color-coding system.
Implementing a color-coded cleaning program can be as simple or complex as you would like it to be. Below are a few quick examples of how different industries can implement color-coded cleaning programs into their everyday tasks. More colors can be added as it makes sense to your application, too.
Car Wash:
Black: wheel and engine cleaning
Blue: windows
Red: exterior surfaces
Yellow: interior surfaces
By separating the wipers for each of these tasks, you avoid grease and grime from wheel wells getting onto interior surfaces or road debris from exterior surfaces potentially scratching windows or mirrors. Both of which would be costly to clean or fix and decrease customer satisfaction.
Hotel Housekeeping:
Blue: dusting
Red: bathroom
Green: kitchen
Yellow: floor
It is an easy mistake for housekeeping to accidentally use the same rag in the bathroom and guest room. When this happens, bathroom germs are transferred onto other surfaces which can become a real health concern for guests. Using separate color wipers can help prevent the spread of germs to remotes, coffee pots, etc. Similarly, kitchen grease is difficult to launder out of rags. Greasy rags can cause streaks on mirrors and leave a film on furniture. It is very important to purchase different color rags for kitchens and housekeeping and store and wash them separately.
Healthcare:
Red: toilets
Blue: general patient areas
Yellow: isolation areas
One way for a healthcare facility to color-code is to have one color for cleaning and a second color for disinfecting. Another option would be area based as laid out above. This will prevent cross-contamination between areas which is critical to maintaining a sanitary environment for patients and staff.
We have a wide variety of wipers to get you started, or that can easily integrate into your existing color-coded cleaning program. Whether you are looking for cleaning rags, terry towels, bar towels, microfiber towels, food service wipers, huck towels, disposable wipers, or disposable gloves, our large in-stock inventory is sure to have the size and color you need to get the job done right.
If you have any questions about how our products can help you implement a color coding cleaning program at your place of business, please feel free to reach out to us at 800-225-9473, Monday – Friday, from 8AM to 5PM EST or email us at
customerservice@ercwipe.com and one of our wiping specialists will be happy to help!
To create a color-coded cleaning program, start by picking the various areas that need to be cleaned and assign them each a different color. Make sure to have plenty of each color wiper on hand for each specific cleaning task. Lastly, put signage up where appropriate reminding employees about the color-coding system.
Implementing a color-coded cleaning program can be as simple or complex as you would like it to be. Below are a few quick examples of how different industries can implement color-coded cleaning programs into their everyday tasks. More colors can be added as it makes sense to your application, too.
Car Wash:
Black: wheel and engine cleaning
Blue: windows
Red: exterior surfaces
Yellow: interior surfaces
By separating the wipers for each of these tasks, you avoid grease and grime from wheel wells getting onto interior surfaces or road debris from exterior surfaces potentially scratching windows or mirrors. Both of which would be costly to clean or fix and decrease customer satisfaction.
Hotel Housekeeping:
Blue: dusting
Red: bathroom
Green: kitchen
Yellow: floor
It is an easy mistake for housekeeping to accidentally use the same rag in the bathroom and guest room. When this happens, bathroom germs are transferred onto other surfaces which can become a real health concern for guests. Using separate color wipers can help prevent the spread of germs to remotes, coffee pots, etc. Similarly, kitchen grease is difficult to launder out of rags. Greasy rags can cause streaks on mirrors and leave a film on furniture. It is very important to purchase different color rags for kitchens and housekeeping and store and wash them separately.
Healthcare:
Red: toilets
Blue: general patient areas
Yellow: isolation areas
One way for a healthcare facility to color-code is to have one color for cleaning and a second color for disinfecting. Another option would be area based as laid out above. This will prevent cross-contamination between areas which is critical to maintaining a sanitary environment for patients and staff.
We have a wide variety of wipers to get you started, or that can easily integrate into your existing color-coded cleaning program. Whether you are looking for cleaning rags, terry towels, bar towels, microfiber towels, food service wipers, huck towels, disposable wipers, or disposable gloves, our large in-stock inventory is sure to have the size and color you need to get the job done right.
If you have any questions about how our products can help you implement a color coding cleaning program at your place of business, please feel free to reach out to us at 800-225-9473, Monday – Friday, from 8AM to 5PM EST or email us at
customerservice@ercwipe.com and one of our wiping specialists will be happy to help!
