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From the Field Guide

• Floors · Carpet

  Vacuum slowly, in two directions

  Most soil in carpet is dry grit. A slow forward pass and a slower pull back, then a cross pass in high-traffic lanes, lifts far more than one fast pass. Empty the bag or bin at half full; suction drops as it fills.

• Floors · Carpet

  Blot spots, never rub

  Blot a fresh spill from the outside in with a white cloth, then use the least aggressive spotter that works. Rinse the spotter out with plain water and blot dry, or the residue attracts soil and the spot comes back.

• Floors · VCT

  Dust mop before every wet mop

  Wet-mopping over grit turns it into sandpaper on the finish. Dust mop first, then damp mop with a neutral cleaner at the label dilution. Too much cleaner leaves a film that dulls the shine.

• Floors · Polished concrete

  Neutral pH, auto-scrubber, soft pad

  Acidic or strong alkaline cleaners etch and dull polished concrete. Use a neutral cleaner with a white or red pad, and pick up all the water; standing water leaves marks as it dries.

• Floors · LVT

  No strippers, no steam, little water

  Luxury vinyl tile has a factory wear layer. Sweep, then damp mop with a neutral cleaner. Skip strippers, steam mops and flooding, which can lift edges and void the warranty. Felt pads under chair legs prevent most scratches.

• Floors · Hardwood

  Damp, not wet

  Use a microfiber pad barely damp with a wood-floor cleaner. Water in the seams makes boards cup. Never use vinegar or oil soaps on finished wood; they dull or build up on polyurethane.

• Windows · Technique

  Keep the squeegee blade dry at the edge

  Wipe the rubber with a dry cloth after every stroke and keep the blade at about a 30 to 45 degree angle to the glass. A nicked blade leaves a line every pass; turn or replace it.

• Windows · Hard-water spots

  Try the mildest fix first

  Fresh mineral spots often come off with a mild acid (diluted white vinegar or a glass descaler) and a white pad. Test in a corner, keep it wet, rinse well. Avoid abrasives on coated or tinted glass.

• Building types · Medical

  Clean, then disinfect, and respect dwell time

  Disinfectants work on clean surfaces and only after the label's wet contact time, often several minutes. Work from clean areas to dirty ones and from high to low, and change cloths between rooms.

• Building types · School / warehouse

  Stop dirt at the door

  Most soil walks in. Fifteen feet of walk-off matting at entrances (scraper outside, wiper inside) cuts floor work everywhere else. In warehouses, sweep the dock lanes daily and keep the matting vacuumed so it keeps working.

SHEET L-01 · from Field Guide · as of 2026-10-05