Cleaning Science

Cleaning science studies the methodology, chemistry and hygiene of cleaning: cleaning frequency, material compatibility, microbiological contamination risk, and the measurability of cleanliness as an outcome rather than an activity. Since the pandemic the field has expanded to documented health-risk management, not only aesthetic cleanliness.

Cleaning is often procured on frequency and hours, while the actual objective — managing hygiene risk — requires an entirely different justification. Knowledge of cleaning science gives FM the ability to assess a cleaning programme on outcome (microbiological load, visual and hygiene standard) rather than on hours delivered.

• Does this cleaning programme measure outcome (hygiene, microbiological load) or only input (hours, frequency)?
• Is the chosen cleaning method and chemistry suited to the specific material and risk level of this space?

• ISO 14644 (cleanrooms, where relevant); cleaning science research institutes (for example TNO research on cleanliness measurement).
• Post-pandemic research into transmission routes in buildings and the effectiveness of cleaning protocols.

• Cleaning contracts should be specified on outcome (VSR inspections, measurable hygiene outcomes), not only on frequency.
• Hygiene protocols introduced during the pandemic deserve periodic cost-benefit reassessment rather than automatic continuation.

• Cleaning & Hygiene

• Specifying and assessing outcome-based cleaning contracts

• Regieorganisatie — managing organisation / intelligent client function

  Outcome-based cleaning contracts require oversight able to audit measurement, not only delivered hours.

• VSR quality measurement (Dutch practice standard); ISO 14644 where relevant.

The standards section arrives in Part 7.

• Cleaning quality judged purely visually, while the actual risk is microbiological and invisible.

There is still no standardised, cost-effective method for routinely measuring microbiological cleanliness in office environments; most measurement remains visual or sample-based laboratory testing without continuous monitoring.

• TNO research on cleanliness measurement and contamination risk in buildings.