Commercial Cleaning Watford. Colour Coding Buckets

Welcome to another blog from The Callver Cleaning Co, Watford’s most trusted cleaning company for over 20 years. Since 2005, we’ve proudly been delivering cleaning brilliance across the region, transforming offices, clinics, gyms, shops and every space in between into hygienic havens that shine with care and professionalism. And today, we’re diving into one of the simplest, smartest, and most effective tools in the cleaning arsenal: COLOUR CODING!

Having different coloured buckets may not seem anything other than the choice a cleaner may have made - They prefer the colour green, perhaps? But, it’s MUCH deeper than that. And it forms an integral part of any professional cleaning company operation. And ALL proper professional cleaners should (and must) follow this guidance.

In professional kitchens, chefs have a variety of cooking utensils that they use for separating the preparation and cooking of different food items, such as different coloured chopping boards for raw/cooked meats, fish and vegetables. In fact, you may even do something similar in your own home. After all, who wants to risk CROSS-CONTAMINATION?

This same principle also applies to commercial cleaning. In the same way that you wouldn’t want cross-contamination between your raw chicken and your carrots, you wouldn’t want the floor of your office mopped with a bucket that is also used for cleaning the communal toilets. 

Although in a general workplace it isn’t a legal requirement for cleaners to have different coloured mops & buckets, the British Institute of Cleaning Service (BICSc) developed an industry wide cleaning code to allow cleaners to identify which areas should be cleaned with which colour, to avoid contamination. Your kitchen floor should be cleaned with a different mop than was used to clean your toilet floor. It seems simple when put like this. 

For those preparing food, serving food, selling food, the rules change with EHO (Environmental Health Organisation) constantly, and rightly on your heels. And they should be. The Food Standards Agency (food.gov.uk) sets standards that all cafe's, restaurants, hospitality, food outlets and sandwich shops MUST follow, creating a 'Food Hygiene Rating'. You've seen them. It's a star rating from 1-5. Would you eat in a place with a one-star...? Colour coding changes the rating. It changes the game. It can change everything. COLOUR CODING MATTERS. 

What is Colour Coding in Cleaning?

Put simply, colour coding refers to assigning specific colours to cleaning tools and equipment—such as mops, buckets, cloths, and gloves—so they are only used in designated areas. At The Callver Cleaning Co, we take this approach seriously. It’s not just about aesthetics. It’s about strategy.

Every cleaner at TEAM Callver is trained to follow these colour codes with precision:

A Colour for Every Corner

Let’s take a closer look at what each colour brings to your commercial cleaning routine:

Blue – The Office All-Rounder

Blue tools are used for general, low-risk areas. Think entrance halls, desks, corridors, and your main open-plan office space. These are the places where foot traffic is high but biohazard risk is low. With the right protocols in place, blue-coded equipment keeps them pristine and polished.

Green – Kitchen Cleanliness Champions

Green is the colour of freshness—so it makes perfect sense for food preparation and catering spaces. Whether it’s a bustling kitchen in a Watford café or a small staff canteen, our green mops and cloths are designated solely for these spaces. They’re kept separate, cleaned more frequently, and never, ever used elsewhere.

Yellow – Clinical Control

Hygiene in clinical settings is non-negotiable. Doctors, dentists, physiotherapists, and even tattoo artists rely on spotless environments. Yellow-coded tools are designed to maintain the ultra-high standards required in these sensitive areas, minimising risk and safeguarding health.

Red – Bathroom Bosses

The boldest and most urgent colour is reserved for the most sensitive spaces: washrooms. Toilets, sinks, and urinals are breeding grounds for bacteria, so they demand the strongest response. Red-coded cleaning equipment ensures these areas are treated with maximum precaution and zero tolerance for cross-use.

Why Colour Coding Matters

Let’s take a moment to imagine the alternative. A mop used to clean a toilet is then used in a kitchen. Or a cloth from a clinical room somehow ends up wiping down a staff break area. It’s unthinkable. Or at least, it should be.

Cross-contamination isn’t just unpleasant—it’s dangerous. The invisible bacteria and viruses that travel on cleaning tools can spread illness, compromise food safety, and lead to serious reputational damage. That’s why every member of TEAM Callver treats colour coding with respect

Creating Comfort in a Post-Covid World

In a time when cleanliness has taken on new meaning, businesses in Watford are under more pressure than ever to demonstrate their commitment to hygiene. And rightly so.

When your visitors walk into a reception area cleaned with a blue-coded mop, they know it hasn’t been near a washroom. When your team makes a coffee in a spotless kitchen maintained with green-coded cloths, they’re reassured. When clients step into your boardroom, the fresh scent and visible order put them at ease.

That’s the magic of colour coding. It builds trust in the company tasked with looking after cleaning for you. 

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Better for Cleaners, Brilliant for Business

At The Callver Cleaning Co, we believe that smart systems don’t just serve hygiene; they empower people. Our cleaners are confident in their work because they know exactly what to use and where to use it. It eliminates doubt. It improves efficiency. And it means that every member of TEAM CALLVER delivers the same high standard of cleaning brilliance—whether they’re in a busy Watford office block or a quiet clinical space.

It’s consistency that breeds excellence. And that’s exactly what our customers have come to expect from us.

Colour Coding: A Simple System with Profound Impact

The brilliance of colour coding lies in its simplicity. There’s no need for guesswork. No chance for confusion. Just a clear, universal system that enhances every aspect of your commercial cleaning routine.

And it’s not just something we encourage—it’s something we teach. At The Callver Cleaning Co, every new team member is trained in colour-coded cleaning from day one. We even offer consultancy services to our clients across Watford to help them adopt and maintain the system in-house.

Because we don’t just clean. We care. We educate. And we create environments where everyone—from guests to staff—feels respected, protected, and welcome.

Trusted in Watford for 20 Years

We’ve spent two decades refining our craft. Since 2005, The Callver Cleaning Co has been at the forefront of commercial and office cleaning in Watford. Our clients stay with us because they know we never cut corners. We’re proud of our legacy, our team, and our reputation for cleaning brilliance.

When you hire TEAM Callver, you get more than sparkling surfaces. You get peace of mind. You get a partner who understands your challenges and tailors cleaning solutions to fit your space, your industry, and your values.

And yes, you get colour-coded confidence.

Let’s CLEAN!