Cleaning: Domestic and Commercial

Learn cleaning skills and knowledge to become a successful commercial or domestic cleaner or cleaning service manager. Understand different cleaning chemicals, products, and techniques - kitchens, wash rooms, floors, fabrics, furniture and more.

Course Code: VTR207
Fee Code: S1
Duration (approx) Duration (approx) 100 hours
Qualification Statement of Attainment
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Learn to be a Better Cleaner

  • Domestic or Commercial
  • Choose the right cleaning products and equipment for each job
  • Avoid damaging buildings and furnishings - choose appropriate techniques
  • Learn the fine points of many cleaning techniques
  • Full support from expert tutors and sound feedback on submitted assignments

A Lot of Work Opportunities

Virtually every public building employs cleaners, from restaurants, offices and shopping centres to community centres and hotels. Cities employ cleaners to sweep the streets, and clean public places. Transport companies employ cleaners to clean trains, planes, trams, ferry boats, cars etc. Private households increasingly employ part time cleaners, particularly when both spouses work, and there is sufficient extra money to pay for a cleaner.

Why Study?

Studying cleaning sets you apart, making you more attractive to an employer, or client. 

Anyone who has employed cleaners will tell you that there are good ones and bad. Often a cleaner might be employed because they are in the right place at the right time, and they "seem nice"; but to keep and thrive in a cleaning job, you need to perform, and to do that you do need to know what you are doing. Cleaners are also often employed because they are "recommended".  Those who are new to the cleaning industry may start a cleaning business with a little well thought marketing; getting a few clients. If you follow that path, your business needs to impress those first clients and then recommend you to others.

Whatever way you find work in the cleaning industry one thing is clear - you will prosper if you understand more about how to clean different things, different ways, and as a result, do a better job.

 

Lesson Structure

There are 8 lessons in this course:

  1. Nature and Scope of Cleaning
    • Introduction
    • Standard Types of Cleaning
    • Bond Cleans
    • Outdoor Work
    • Cleaning Roles – general cleaners, specialist cleaners,
    • Chemicals/Products
    • Natural versus Synthetic Products
    • General Procedures (over 25 product types reviewed)
    • Equipment and Tools
    • Inventory and Resourcing
    • Reporting Concerns
    • Disposal of Waste
    • Compliance with legislation
    • Sustainability and Maintaining Reputation
    • Pest Control -spiders, rodents, insects
  2. Cleaning Stains & Specialist Cleaning Techniques
    • Introduction
    • Categories of Stains
    • Protein Stains
    • Carbohydrate Stains
    • Lipid Stains
    • Pigment Stains
    • Resin Stains
    • Cleaning Artwork – restoration
    • Cleaning Products You can Make Easily
  3. Floor Care
    • Introduction
    • Carpet Cleaning
    • Deep Cleaning Carpet
    • Shampooing Carpet – manually, with a machine
    • Steam Cleaning Carpet
    • Removing Pigment Stains from Carpet
    • Rugs
    • Sisal, Jute, Seagrass
    • Wool
    • Cleaning Newer Timber Floors
    • Cleaning Reclaimed Timber
    • Waxing and Polishing Timber
    • Unvarnished Timber
    • Varnished Timber
    • Tiles
    • Porcelain Tiles
    • Stone Tiles
    • Concrete/Cement Floors
    • Bamboo Flooring
    • Linoleum
    • Outdoor Ground Surface Cleaning
    • Tiles
    • Paving
    • Timber
    • Concrete
    • Artificial Grass
  4. Furniture & Furnishings
    • Furniture versus Furnishings
    • Cleaning Furniture
    • Upholstered Furniture – general clean, deep clean
    • Wood Fixings
    • Waxing Furniture
    • Polishing
    • Conducting Inspections
    • Cleaning Leather
    • Linen Cleaning
    • Assessing Quality of Linen
    • Care of Linen
    • Fibre Structure and Appearance -tensile strength, Elongation, Elasticity, Specific Gravity
    • Effect of Moisture
    • Chemical Properties of Fibres
    • Insect Resistance
    • Resistance to Microorganisms
    • Electrical Properties
    • Effect of Sunlight
    • Thermal Properties
    • Fire Resistance
    • Classification of Fibres
    • Natural Fibres -Cotton, Linen, Wool
    • Manmade Fibres – Viscose Rayon, Acetate, Nylon, Polyester, Acrylic, Plypropylene, Fibreglass
    • Blended Fibres
  5. Washroom Cleaning
    • Importance of Hygiene
    • Routing Cleaning Maintenance
    • Wash Basins and Taps
    • Soap Dispensers
    • Mirrors
    • Paper Towel Dispensers
    • Hand Dryers
    • Vending Machines
    • Sanitary Item Dispensers
    • Sharps Disposal Containers
    • Toilet Paper Holders
    • Toilets
    • Urinals
    • Light Fixtures
    • Floor Cleaning
    • Rubbish Removal and Disposal
    • Vandalism
    • Replacing Dispensers
    • Workplace Health and Safety
    • Avoiding Falling
    • Caustic and Corrosive Cleaners
  6. Kitchen Hygiene and Cleaning
    • Introduction
    • Storage Cupboards
    • Sink and Drainage Area
    • Removing drain blockages
    • Cleaning Sinks
    • Oven Cleaning
    • Oven Door
    • Cooktop -gas, ceramic, metal, etc
    • Refrigerator
    • Freezer
    • De-icing
    • Freezer Drains
    • Defrosting a Freezer
    • Dishwasher
    • Waste Disposal
    • Waste Disposal and Work Flow
    • Organic Waste Disposal
  7. Commercial Cleaning
    • Introduction
    • Divisions of Commercial Cleaning
    • Janitorial Work -finding work, cleaning skills, building maintenance, administration, general
    • Commercial Cleaner Work – finding work, skills/scope of work
    • Specialist Cleaning Jobs
    • High Rise Window Cleaner
    • Professional Laundry Worker
    • Future outlook for Cleaning Industry
  8. Cleaning Businesses
    • Introduction
    • Cleaners versus Housekeepers
    • Essential Cleaning Skills
    • Advanced Cleaning Skills
    • Administrative Skills
    • General Skills
    • Becoming a Residential Cleaner
    • Joining a Franchise
    • Setting up your Own Business
    • Getting a first Client
    • Introductory Offers/ Loss Leaders
    • Advertising -local print, digital, etc
    • Complaints

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Aims

  • Explain the nature of the cleaning industry, equipment and materials used, and concepts such as sustainability.
  • Understand how to clean a range of stains from different surfaces and specialist cleaning techniques.
  • Describe how to clean different indoor floor surfaces and outdoor ground surfaces.
  • Understand ways to clean furnishings and furniture including a range of fabrics and other materials.
  • Understand what is involved in washroom cleaning including toilets bathrooms.
  • Understand how to clean and maintain hygiene in kitchens in residential homes, cafes, and restaurants.
  • Discuss requirements for working in a range of commercial cleaning ventures such as cleaners in industry, hospitals, shopping centres, or for specific purposes.
  • Discuss the requirements for cleaners working primarily as cleaners of residential buildings.

What You Will Do

  • Choose one indoor and one outdoor floor surface to clean, either where you live or where you work. Clean each of these two surfaces using notes from this lesson, your own knowledge and any other tips you may have found out through research. Take photos before you clean the surface, during cleaning and after cleaning. Also photograph any cleaning products you used and how you made them (if you combined ingredients). Remember to follow health and safety guidelines. Don’t mix chemicals you are unsure about. Wear personal protective equipment and ensure the room for your indoor surface is well-ventilated.
  • Search for residential cleaning jobs in your nearest town or city. You may find these online via jobs websites or you may find them in the classified section of newspapers. Try to find three different jobs that are currently being advertised and make notes on what they ask for. Note: If you can’t find any jobs advertised in your nearest town or city try looking further afield. The point is to get an idea of what sort of skills and duties are required.
  • Find out what different types of cleaning services are available in your town or city (or nearest large town if you live in a rural or remote location). You may find this information quickly through conducting an online search. Make a note of what services are being offered, the most common types of service and those which are less common.
  • Get hold of a piece of fabric which you can experiment with by applying and attempting to remove stains. For example, you could use an old sheet, an item of clothing, or perhaps pick up an off-cut of material from a fabric or sewing accessories store. It is better for this experiment to use something which is pale and plain coloured (not patterned) so that the stains are easy to see. Don’t use anything of value to you in case you permanently damage it. Apply five stains to the fabric as follows: Protein stain – egg yolk is probably easiest, but you could rub grass onto the fabric or use blood from a piece of fresh meat; Carbohydrate stain – tomato sauce, chocolate or gravy; Lipid stain – cooking oil or machine oil; Pigment stain – pen ink; Resin stain – wax, glue or tree sap. Next, take a photo of each stain and label it. Now, attempt to remove each stain using methods described in this course (take precautions where necessary e.g. wear rubber gloves, eye goggles and a face mask which blocks vapours, and do this in a ventilated room). Photograph the end result and once again label your photos.

These activities are examples of what you will do in the course.

There are 8 assignments - one for each lesson - which are marked and returned with feedback from your tutor also. At the end of the module, you can formalise your learning and sit the exam in Cleaning Solutions to obtain the Statement of Attainment. This is the final challenge to assess your knowledge. You will receive your Statement of Attainment in Cleaning Solutions (Home and Work) to present to employers or anyone with an interest in your industry competence. 

Working flexibly, online with no set deadlines to meet, makes this substantial online course in Cleaning the perfect option for busy people.

 

Get in touch with us to find out more about this course or other options for learning with ACS. Our friendly team of Enrolment Advisors are here to help you.

 

OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK IN CLEANING

 

Domestic

Working as a domestic cleaner provides a lot of opportunity if you are good at what you do. Time efficient and a good finish is what is sought after.

You can work as a domestic cleaner without qualification but to be trusted you may complete suitable course which demonstrates your skills and knowledge. The job market demands so much of people.  As a domestic cleaner, you may work on your own or in small teams, or you may run your own business and organise jobs for employees.  You will need to have a comprehensive knowledge of legislation and possibly even employment regulations.

 

Commercial Cleaning

You can specialise in a particular area of cleaning such as offices, residential complexes and care homes, hospitals, schools and childcare settings, industrial workplaces, aircraft… and more.  

  • If you want to work in the recreation or hospitality sector, cleaning is essential, upskill today. Add this Statement of Attainment to your resume or CV, stand out from the crowd.
  • Working in the health sector? You know how important cleaning and sanitation really is.
  • Working in childcare or in schools?  Tidy, clean schools make for productive and effective classrooms. Hygiene is important for children too with high numbers of people in one place. 
  • Working in cinemas, on aircraft etc? In these and some other situations, you must meet tight turnaround times. Efficiency is a key skill.

 

Who is this Course For?

  • Anyone starting or running a commercial cleaning business
  • Anyone seeking to work as a domestic housekeeper or cleaner 
  • Staff training - eg. hotel managers or others may use this course to train their cleaning staff
  • Building managers - to understand, monitor and better manage the services of your cleaning staff
  • Home owners -to better understand how to clean what in their homes
ACS Distance Education holds an Educational Membership with the ATA.
ACS Distance Education holds an Educational Membership with the ATA.
Member of Study Gold Coast Education Network.
Member of Study Gold Coast Education Network.
ACS Global Partner - Affiliated with colleges in seven countries around the world.
ACS Global Partner - Affiliated with colleges in seven countries around the world.
Since 1999 ACS has been a recognised member of IARC (International Approval and Registration Centre). A non-profit quality management organisation servicing education.
Since 1999 ACS has been a recognised member of IARC (International Approval and Registration Centre). A non-profit quality management organisation servicing education.
Principal John Mason has been honoured to be awarded a Fellow of Parks and Leisure Australia, having been an active member since 1974.
Principal John Mason has been honoured to be awarded a Fellow of Parks and Leisure Australia, having been an active member since 1974.
UK Register of Learning Providers, UK PRN10000112
UK Register of Learning Providers, UK PRN10000112

How can I start this course?

You can enrol at anytime and start the course when you are ready. Enrolments are accepted all year - students can commence study at any time. All study is self paced and ACS does not set assignment deadlines.

Please note that if a student is being assisted by someone else (e.g. an employer or government subsidy), the body offering the assistance may set deadlines. Students in such situations are advised to check with their sponsor prior to enrolling. The nominal duration of a course is approximately how long a course takes to complete. A course with a nominal duration of 100 hours is expected to take roughly 100 hours of study time to complete. However, this will vary from student to student. Short courses (eg. 100 hrs duration) should be completed within 12 months of enrolment. Certificates, Advanced Certificates and Awards (eg. over 500 hours duration) would normally be completed within 3 -5 years of enrolment. Additional fees may apply if a student requires an extended period to complete.
If a student cannot submit their assignments for 6 months to ACS, they should advise the school to avoid cancellation of their student
registration. Recommencement fees may apply.

Simply click on the ENROL OPTIONS button at the top of this screen and follow the prompts.

You can see the course price at the top of this page. Click 'enrolment options' to see any payment options available.

You can pay by Credit Card, PayPal, Afterpay or bank transfer.

Yes! We have payment plans for most courses. Click 'enrolment options' to see the available payment plans.
We also have Afterpay that will allow you to pay for your course or payment plans in four instalments (if you are in Australia).


What do I need to know before I enrol?

There are no entry requirements that you need to meet to enrol in our courses, our courses are for everyone.
If you are under 18, we need written permission from your parent/ guardian for your enrolment to continue, we can arrange that after you have enrolled.

You don’t need to purchase any additional resources to complete our courses.

We aim to teach you the essentials without you having to purchase any specific computer program.
We recommend that you have access to a word processing program, such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs, so that you can easily complete and submit your assignments.

You sure can. We are here to help you learn whatever your abilities.

Yes, if you are enrolling in a Certificate or Advanced Certificate, you might be eligible for credits if you have evidence of your previous studies or relevant experience. More information is here.

We recommend that you are able to browse websites, send emails and conduct online research. You will need to be able to type and submit your assignments.
If you have limited computer skills, we can make special arrangements for you.

This is possible, it depends on the institution. We recommend that if you would like to use our courses that you contact the institution first. Our Course Handbook is a good resource for this.

Our courses are written in English and we only have English speaking academic staff. If you can read and complete your assignments in English, our courses are ideal for you.

Our courses are designed to build knowledge, hands on skills and industry connections to help prepare you to work in the area, running your own business, professional development or as a base for further study.

This course has been designed to cover the fundamentals of the topic. It will take around 100 hours to complete, which includes your course reading, assignment work, research, practical tasks, watching videos and anything else that is contained in the course. Our short courses are a great way to do some professional development or to learn a new skill.

It’s up to you. The study hours listed in the course are a rough guide, however if you were to study a short course (100 hours) at 10 hours per week, you could finish the course in 10 weeks (just an example). Our courses are self-paced, so you can work through the courses in your own time. We recommend that you wait for your tutor to mark and return your assignment before your start your next one, so you get the benefits of their feedback.

The course consists of course notes, videos, set tasks for your practical work, online quizzes, an assignment for each lesson (that you receive feedback from your tutor from) and ends in an exam (which is optional, if would like to receive the formal award at the end), using our custom built Learning Management System - Login.Training.

Our courses are designed for adults to gain professional development and skills to further their careers and start businesses.

Our custom online learning portal allows you to conduct your learning online. There may be practical tasks that you can do offline. You have the option of downloading your course notes or print them to read later.

There is also the option to pay an additional fee for printed course notes and or USB (availability limited to location and deliverability).

Yes, if you don’t have access to the internet, you can receive the course as paper notes or on a USB stick for an additional fee. We can also make alternative arrangements for you to send your assignments to us.

We offer printed notes for an additional fee. Also, you can request your course notes on a USB stick for an additional fee.

Yes, your tutor is here to help you. Simply post any questions you have in your login.training portal or contact the office and we can pass on a message to your tutor.

We are more learning focussed, rather than assessment focussed. You have online quizzes to test your learning, written assignments and can complete an exam at the end of the course (if you want to receive your certificate). You will not receive a pass/ fail on your course work. If you need to add more details on your assignment, we will ask you to resubmit and direct you where you need to focus. If you need help, you can ask your tutor for advice in the student room.

Each module (short course) is completed with one exam.

Exams are optional, however you must sit an exam if you would like to receive a formal award. You will need to find someone who can supervise that you are sitting the exams under exams conditions. There is an additional cost of $60 incl. GST for each exam.
More information is here

There are practical components built into the course that have been designed to be achieved by anyone, anywhere. If you are unable to complete a task for any reason, you can ask your tutor for an alternative.

When you complete the course work and the exam and you will be able receive your course certificate- a Statement of Attainment. Otherwise, you can receive a Letter of Completion.

You can bundle the short courses to create your own customised learning bundle, Certificates or Advanced Certificates. More information is on this page.

Yes, our courses are built to be applicable for people living anywhere in any situation. We provide the fundamentals, and each student can apply their own unique flair for their own interests, region and circumstances with the one-on-one guidance of a tutor. There is also a bit of student directed research involved.

Employers value candidates with industry skills, knowledge, practical skills and formal learning. Our courses arm you with all of these things to help prepare you for a job or start your own business. The longer you study the more you will learn.

ACS has an arrangement with OAMPS (formerly AMP) who can arrange Professional Indemnity from Australian and New Zealand graduates across all disciplines. Ph: 1800 222 012 or email acs@oamps.com.au.


Who are ACS Distance Education?

ACS Distance Education have been educating people for over 40 years.

We are established and safe- we have been in education for over 40 years.
We are focused on developing innovative courses that are relevant to you now and what you will need to know in the future.
We are focused on helping you learn and make the most of your experience.
You can enrol at any time, you can work on your course when it suits you and at your own pace.
We are connected to many industry bodies and our staff participate in continuous improvement and learning activities to ensure that we are ahead of what learning is needed for the future.

Our courses are not accredited by the Australian Government. However many of our courses are recognised and held in high regard by many industry bodies.

Our courses are written by our staff, who all have many years experience and have qualifications in their speciality area. We have lots of academic staff who write and update our courses regularly.


How do I enrol my staff/ sponsored students?

Yes, you can do a request for a bulk enrolment and request an invoice on our Invoice Request Form

We can prepare an invoice, quote or proforma invoice. Simply complete your details on our Invoice Request form

We can arrange bulk discounts for your course enrolment, please get in touch with us to discuss your needs.

Yes, we have many students who are in locked facilities, such as prisons or hospitals. We can cater by also offering paper notes at an additional cost.


What if I have any more questions or need more information?

We can assist you to find the right course for your needs. Get in touch with us via email (admin@acs.edu.au) call on +61 7 5562 1088 or complete our course advice form.


What if I change my mind?

Please get in touch with studentservices@acs.edu.au if you would like to be removed from our mail list.

If you would like ACS Distance Education to delete your information at any time (whether you are a customer or a prospective customer), please contact our privacy officer and we will process this ( admin@acs.edu.au ).

If students require a reproduction of their certificate, an electronic copy can be provided at a cost of AUD$35 incl GST. Printed copies are not available.




Course Contributors

The following academics were involved in the development and/or updating of this course.

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