Maintenance and Cleaning Services Key Terms

Understand maintenance and cleaning services key terms to make the right choice for your needs

By Missy Duncan

All companies require cleaning and maintenance services, whether they are in-house or outsourced. Hiring a company to handle all the maintenance and cleaning needs allows companies to spend less time hiring and training new employees. When you begin to shop for maintenance and cleaning services, there are some key words that you may be unfamiliar with. Learning these key terms will help you narrow down potential maintenance and cleaning service companies.

Request for proposal (RFP)

A request for proposal (RFP) is a formal document that businesses use to solicit bids for products and services, such as maintenance and cleaning services. An RFP outlines the company's needs and special desires in a given situation.
Try: Learn more about RFPs at TechTarget. Find more information and guidelines about how to write an RFP at Instructional Designs.

Green cleaning

Green cleaning is a type of cleaning that is safer for the environment. Green cleaning companies use no harmful chemicals and choose to use recycled bags. Green cleaning also focuses on keeping pollutants out of your building.
Try: Discover more information about green cleaning at ABM. Healthy Clean Buildings has information about green cleaning products.

Makeready

Makeready is a term used mostly with hotel and rental property companies. A makeready is a cleaning service in which someone prepares the area for the next residents or company.
Try: Blue Whale has a description of makeready.

High Efficiency Particulate Absorbing (HEPA)

High Efficiency Particulate Absorbing (HEPA) is a type of filter used in air systems and vacuums. A HEPA filter is designed to attract and absorb microscopic particles in the air, as well as in carpet or other fabrics.
Try: Home-air-purifier-guide.com provides detailed information about HEPA filters. Synergy Wholesale Distributing also supplies information about how HEPA filters work.

Hypoallergenic

Hypoallergenic is a description used to explain products and procedures that do not produce or release allergens into the air. Hypoallergenic cleaning services ensure no employees or clients will be effected by the products used.
Try: Allergy Consumer Review and BellaSugar both have information about hypoallergenic products and how they work.

U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI)

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) insures that all its members use proper green cleaning techniques and products. The Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) certifies companies and employees in cleaning and maintenance services.
Try: Learn more at the U.S. Green Building Council website. Learn more about the GBCI by visiting the Green Building Certification Institute.