As IJCSA members, we put our clients first. Great customer service is a priority, and we want our clients to experience the exceptional service that comes from working with true professionals. That means really listening, understanding each client’s expectations and preferences, acknowledging concerns, and finding solutions when those expectations aren’t being met. Our goal is to make sure every client is completely satisfied with the services they receive.

Being an IJCSA member is about more than restoring or refreshing a home or business. It’s about a commitment to meeting each client’s individual needs with genuine care, a friendly personality, and a smile. Come meet the members of IJCSA here in our IJCSA Business Directory.

Properly cleaning a healthcare facility is very important because you are dealing with an environment where people may already be sick or have a weaker immune system. When cleaning a regular office, the main goal may be to keep the building clean and presentable. In a healthcare facility, cleaning also plays an important role in infection prevention and keeping patients, employees, visitors, and cleaning staff safer. This is why medical cleaning requires proper training and more attention to detail.

One of the biggest concerns when cleaning healthcare facilities is cross-contamination. Many people touch the same surfaces throughout the day, including door handles, light switches, counters, chairs, restroom fixtures, and other high-touch surfaces. A cleaning employee needs to understand that simply wiping down a surface is not always enough. The correct cleaning products and disinfectants need to be used, and disinfectants need to stay on the surface for the proper contact time. Employees should also understand how to use personal protective equipment (PPE) and follow the facility's infection-control procedures.

Another important part of healthcare cleaning is understanding the difference between cleaning and disinfecting. Cleaning helps remove dirt and other material from a surface, while disinfecting is used to kill or inactivate germs on surfaces. Both steps can be important depending on the area being cleaned. Cleaning employees also need to be careful with their equipment and supplies so they don't carry contamination from one room or area into another. Following proper procedures every time is important because taking shortcuts can reduce the effectiveness of the cleaning process.

As a cleaning company, I believe training is one of the most important parts of providing medical cleaning services. Employees need to understand why they are following each procedure instead of just being told what to clean. When employees understand things like infection prevention, cross-contamination, bloodborne pathogens, high-touch surfaces, PPE, disinfectants, and contact time, they can better understand the responsibility that comes with working in a healthcare environment.

At the end of the day, healthcare cleaning is about more than making a building look good. It is about providing a clean and properly maintained environment for the people who receive care and work there every day. A professional cleaning company should take medical facility cleaning seriously, properly train its employees, use the right products, and follow established procedures. Healthcare facilities looking for professional cleaning companies can also visit the IJCSA Janitorial Service Directory to find janitorial service providers.

A clean atmosphere is one that should be offered no matter where we go. Imagine visting a place, any place at all, that has no janitorial staff. Gross!

The janitorial (or custodial) staff offers a safe and sanitary environment for our children, staff and any visitors to a school, office, or any cooperate setting. 

Janitorial cleaning ranges anywhere from keeping hallways free of debris or slipping hazards, bathrooms sanitation and even can include lawn maintenance. 

Janitorial services are a very important role in our daily lives. They help keep us safe and healthy while also providing a clean aesthetic to the places we work, visit and learn.

Bloodborne pathogens are microorganisms in the blood that can cause disease in humans. (ex. HBV, CMV, and Zika virus.) usually caused by access to the mucus membrane by touching breaks in the skin or your nose and mouth. That is why you shouldn't eat, drink, smoke or even apply makeup in areas of exposure.

That is why "universal precautions" are very important for health care workers or anyone that works in areas of exposure. Universal precautions is an approach that OSHA follows and recommends other facilities to follow, it means that all blood and other bodily fluids from ALL patients need to be considered potentially infectious and that infection protocols be taken to minimize the risk of exposure.

Finally, always practice good handwashing to prevent unnecessary spread of infection and disease as well as follow disinfecting protocol for equipment. If you have had an exposure you MUST talk to your supervisor for safety protocol and next steps, as well as talking to your primary care physician. You can always gain more knowledge on these subjects on the OSHA website or on the IJCSA website as well.

Published by Madison Coldwell

We often walk through schools, office buildings, hospitals, and stores without giving much thought to who keeps those spaces clean, healthy, and functional. But the reality is that janitors and janitorial staff play an essential role in maintaining the environments we rely on every day. Their work ensures that germs are kept at bay, trash doesn't pile up, and restrooms, floors, and shared surfaces stay sanitized and welcoming. In many ways, they are the unsung heroes of public health and safety — always working behind the scenes to protect us.

In the world of commercial cleaning, janitorial teams are crucial for business operations. Clean workspaces lead to higher productivity, fewer sick days, and a more professional appearance for customers and clients. From dusting and disinfecting to handling specialized cleaning for medical facilities or industrial environments, janitorial staff are trained to meet high standards. That’s why hiring qualified professionals through a reliable source like the IJCSA Janitorial Services Directory makes all the difference when looking for consistent, trustworthy cleaning support.

When we think about essential workers, janitors deserve to be at the top of the list. Their contributions touch every part of our daily lives — often unnoticed, but always appreciated when we pause to recognize them. Whether in schools, hospitals, office buildings, or retail stores, janitorial staff are a vital part of keeping our world running smoothly. To find certified, dependable cleaning professionals in your area, be sure to visit the IJCSA Janitorial Services Directory and support the hardworking individuals who help keep our spaces clean, safe, and comfortable.

Healthcare facility cleaning is not the same job as cleaning a home or a typical office, even though the tools can look similar. The people inside a medical space often have weaker immune systems, open wounds, or medical devices that give germs a direct path into the body, so a shortcut that would go unnoticed with general commercial cleaning can directly contribute to a healthcare-associated infection (HAI) in a clinical setting. HAIs are not a rare or theoretical risk — CDC data puts the number at roughly 1.7 million reported HAIs a year in the U.S., with tens of thousands of resulting deaths, and no population is exempt, including newborns and otherwise healthy patients in for routine procedures. A medical cleaning and disinfection team that treats every surface as a possible pathogen reservoir, even when it looks spotless, is the first line of defense against that risk — which is exactly why hiring a certified, properly trained janitorial service matters so much in this industry.

That's why effective infection control cleaning has to go beyond wiping a surface until it looks clean. True disinfection requires physically cleaning a surface first so dirt and debris don't block the disinfectant from making contact, then applying an EPA-registered, hospital-grade disinfectant and leaving it wet for its full listed contact/dwell time — something that's easy to rush past under time pressure but that makes or breaks whether a surface is actually decontaminated versus simply wet-wiped. High-touch surface disinfection — door handles, bed rails, call buttons, light switches, countertops — deserves extra attention because these points are touched constantly by patients, staff, and visitors, making them the most likely surfaces to spread infection if they're missed or wiped dry too soon. On top of that, proper hand hygiene and personal protective equipment (PPE) protocols — gloved, gowned, and masked in the correct order, with hands washed before gloving and after degloving — protect the cleaning team itself from bloodborne pathogens like HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C, which spread through contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM), not just visibly contaminated surfaces.

Ultimately, properly cleaning a healthcare facility protects three groups at once: the patients who are most vulnerable to infection, the staff and visitors moving through the space, and the cleaning professionals themselves. Every step in a healthcare-adjacent cleaning protocol — from sequencing PPE correctly, to honoring disinfectant dwell times, to knowing exactly what to do in the first minutes after a sharps or bloodborne pathogen exposure — exists because skipping it has a real, measurable cost. Understanding why each step matters, not just memorizing what the step is, is what turns routine environmental cleaning into a genuine infection-control measure. Facilities and clients looking for a qualified provider can find one through the IJCSA https://www.ijcsa.org/Janitorial-Service-Directory-Find-A-Janitorial-Service-JanitorialServices, which connects them with cleaning companies trained to this same OSHA- and CDC-aligned standard.

Bloodborne pathogens are microorganisms present in human blood and other bodily fluids that can cause serious disease in people who come into contact with them. Among the most significant are Hepatitis B (HBV), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), both can be transmitted through exposure to infected blood or bodily fluids. For commercial cleaning professionals, the risk of exposure is real and present on every shift each person does. Cleaning staff regularly handle waste bins, restroom surfaces, and shared areas where contact with blood or bodily fluids can occur without warning. Having the understanding what bloodborne pathogens are, how they spread, and how to protect against them is not optional knowledge for cleaning professionals. It is a fundamental requirement of doing this work safely and responsibly.

OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard exists specifically to protect workers in occupations where exposure is possible, and commercial cleaning is squarely in that category. Proper training covers the use of personal protective equipment, safe handling and disposal of sharps and contaminated materials, proper cleaning and disinfection protocols, and what to do in the event of an exposure incident. A cleaning employee that understands these protocols is not only protecting themselves but also protecting the clients, employees, and visitors inside every facility they serve. In medical offices, dental practices, and any facility where patient care occurs, this knowledge is very important to know, understand, and be able to follow. These are universal guidelines to follow to ensure for proper safety to each of worker, as well as those who risk exposure to them.

Bloodborne pathogen safety is part of what separates a professional cleaning operation from a basic janitorial service. Workers who are properly trained know how to recognize potential exposure risks before they become incidents, also know how to use protective equipment correctly. They also know how to respond quickly and appropriately if this does happen. The level of preparedness protects not just the worker, but every person who enter the facility afterward. Being trained properly also builds confidence. If we understand the risks, and dangers we are better suited than those who are not trained.

Janitoral and residental cleaning employees and staff play a frontline role in maintaining a safe and healthy environment, and one of the most critical aspects of their work is understanding bloodborne pathogens. These are  microorganisms—such as hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), and HIV—that can be transmitted through contact with infected human blood and certain bodily fluids. Because cleaning staff often handle waste, or are sweeping up areas that may have a hazzard to these pathogens , they face a higher risk of exposure than many other employees. Proper knowledge empowers them to recognize hazards, follow safety protocols, and protect themselves and others from potentially life‑altering infections.

Training on bloodborne pathogens also ensures that cleaning staff know how to use ( PPE) which plays a vital role in these type of enviroments  and follow safe cleanup procedures. This includes making sure that we as professionals know  to wear gloves, masks, or eye protection; how to properly disinfect contaminated surfaces; and how to dispose of sharps or biohazardous waste. When employees are confident in these procedures, they reduce the likelihood of accidental exposure and help maintain a safe enviroment for  everyone. 

Beyond personal safety, knowledgeable cleaning staff contribute to a culture of responsibility and preparedness within the workplace. When employees understand the seriousness of bloodborne pathogens, they are more likely to report incidents promptly, follow established protocols, and encourage others to do the same. This creates a safer environment for coworkers, customers, and visitors. The IJCSA training provided on bloodborne pathogens is a shield for janitoral workers all over the world. 

Cleaning employees and staff have an important responsibility in keeping workplaces clean, sanitary, and safe. Because they may come into contact with blood, bodily fluids, or contaminated materials while performing their duties, it is essential that they understand bloodborne pathogens. Bloodborne pathogens are harmful microorganisms that can be present in human blood and may cause serious illnesses, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV. Understanding these hazards helps employees recognize situations that could put them at risk and take the proper precautions to protect themselves and others.

Proper training teaches cleaning employees how to prevent exposure to bloodborne pathogens while performing their everyday tasks. Employees should know when and how to use personal protective equipment, including gloves and other appropriate protective clothing. They should also understand proper handwashing, cleaning, disinfecting, and waste-disposal procedures. Items such as used bandages, tissues, needles, broken glass, or surfaces contaminated with blood should always be handled carefully and according to workplace safety procedures. Following these practices can greatly reduce the possibility of accidental exposure and help maintain a healthier environment for employees, customers, visitors, and other staff members.

It is also important for employees to know what to do if an exposure occurs. Accidents such as cuts, needlesticks, or splashes involving blood or bodily fluids should be reported immediately according to the employer's exposure-control procedures. Employees should not ignore an exposure or assume that there is no risk simply because they cannot see a hazard. Prompt reporting allows the appropriate steps to be taken, including cleaning the affected area and obtaining medical evaluation when necessary. Knowing these procedures ahead of time can help employees respond calmly and appropriately during an emergency.

In conclusion, educating cleaning employees and staff about bloodborne pathogens is an important part of workplace safety. Proper knowledge and training help employees recognize potential hazards, use protective equipment correctly, follow safe cleaning procedures, and respond appropriately when an exposure occurs. By taking bloodborne pathogen safety seriously, cleaning staff can protect their own health while also helping create a cleaner and safer environment for everyone in the workplace.

Finding a reliable residential cleaning service is easy with the International Janitorial Cleaning Services Association (IJCSA). Their directory connects you with certified professionals who meet industry standards for quality and care.

IJCSA members are trained, verified, and committed to eco-friendly, customer-focused cleaning. You can trust they’ll treat your home with professionalism and respect.

From weekly housecleaning to deep cleans or move-outs, IJCSA companies offer services to match your needs and budget.  Find your house cleaning professional today.