Colour-coding is the idea of designating certain cleaning tools and processes by consistent colour schemes.
Its purpose is the segregation of equipment, materials and procedures as a means of preventing cross-infection and cross-contamination in the home and the workplace.
The colours used must remain consistent for their tasks, and the fewer colours used, the better. 

• Red - most often used in high-sanitary (high risk for the spread of infection) applications or in restroom cleaning, such as with toilets and urinals
  
• Yellow - for sinks, counters and washroom surfaces; also used for specialty cleaning (counters, mirrors), gym areas and metal works
  
• Blue - in lower-risk areas of a building, such as desktops, ledges, window cleaning and high and low dusting
  
• Green - used in food-processing and food-serving areas, as well as bar areas

By means of the colour-coding system, a cleaning operative knows that red signifies “high risk,” and would act appropriately by using red cleaning tools. In another situation, green tools may signify use in kitchen areas only, or blue would tell the operative to use these tools in low-risk areas.

 Colour schemes
All cleaning operatives must be taught these colour rules.Make the code’s guideline your company policy, with items colour-coded per task, including:

  • Protective gloves
  • Buckets
  • Mops
  • Cloths
  • Floor pads
  • Brushes

Always clean starting from the cleanest, least contaminated areas to the dirtiest

Keep colour-coding part of an ongoing employee education and training program

Develop a colour-coding system that’s simple to use, easy to learn and clearly understood by all cleaning workers.

Monitor the colour-coding system on an ongoing basis to make sure it remains effective and is used properly