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Step 1: Basic Information













Next: Quality Settings

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Go Back to: Basic Information

Step 2: Select Your Quality

By setting your overall quality level, you establish a baseline quality for your cleaning program. PDM uses both APPA standard cleaning levels and a more detailed defect driven quality scale.

APPA’s Five Levels of Cleanliness

The following is a summary of key indicators for each of APPA’s five levels of cleanliness. The lower the score, the higher the level of cleanliness.

Level 1: Orderly Spotlessness

  • Floors and base molding shine and/or are bright and clean; colors are fresh.
  • There is no buildup in corners or along walls.
  • All vertical and horizontal surfaces have a freshly cleaned or polished appearance and have no accumulation of dust, dirt, marks, streaks, smudges, or fingerprints.
  • Lights all work and fixtures are clean.
  • Washroom and shower fixtures and tile gleam and are odor free. Supplies are adequate.
  • Trash containers and pencil sharpeners hold only daily waste and are clean and odor free.

Level 2: Ordinary Tidiness

  • Same as Level 1, with the following exceptions:
  • There can be up to two-days worth of dust, dirt, stains, or streaks on floors and base molding.
  • Dust, smudges, and fingerprints are noticeable on vertical and horizontal surfaces.

Level 3: Casual Inattention

  • Floors are swept or vacuumed clean, but upon close observation, there can be stains. A buildup of dirt and/or floor finish in corners and along walls can be seen.
  • There are dull spots and/or matted carpet in walking lanes. There are streaks or splashes on base molding.
  • All vertical and horizontal surfaces have obvious dust, dirt, marks, smudges, and fingerprints. Lamps all work and fixtures are clean.
  • Trash containers and pencil sharpeners hold only daily waste and are clean and odor free.

Level 4: Moderate Dinginess

  • Floors are swept or vacuumed clean, but are dull, dingy, and stained. There is a noticeable buildup of dirt and/or floor finish in corners and along walls.
  • There is a dull path and/or obviously matted carpet in the walking lanes. Base molding is dull and dingy with streaks or splashes.
  • All vertical and horizontal surfaces have conspicuous dust, dirt, marks, smudges, and fingerprints. Lamp fixtures are dirty, and some lamps (up to 5 percent) are burned out.
  • Trash containers and pencil sharpeners have old trash and shavings. They are stained and marked. Trash containers smell sour.

Level 5: Unkempt Neglect

  • Floors and carpets are dull, dirty, scuffed, and/or matted. There is a conspicuous buildup of old dirt and/or floor finish in corners and along walls. Base molding is dirty, stained, and streaked. Gum, stains, dirt, dust balls, and trash are broadcast.
  • All vertical and horizontal surfaces have major accumulations of dust, dirt, smudges, and fingerprints, all of which will be difficult to remove. Lack of attention is obvious.
  • Light fixtures are dirty with dust balls and flies. Many lamps (more than 5 percent) are burned out.
  • Trash containers and pencil sharpeners overflow. They are stained and marked. Trash containers smell sour.

You will notice an estimated quality percentage next to each APPA level. Please pick from the APPA level standards below; you can also change this setting later.
← Lower Quality

Overall Quality Level: APPA Level 3

→ Higher Quality

Unkempt Neglect (~30% Quality)
Floors and carpets are dull, dirty, scuffed, and/or matted. There is a conspicuous buildup of old dirt and/or floor finish in corners and along walls. Base molding is dirty, stained, and streaked. Gum, stains, dirt, dust balls, and trash are broadcast. All vertical and horizontal surfaces have major accumulations of dust, dirt, smudges, and fingerprints, all of which will be difficult to remove. Lack of attention is obvious. Light fixtures are dirty with dust balls and flies. Many lamps (more than 5 percent) are burned out. Trash containers and pencil sharpeners overflow. They are stained and marked. Trash containers smell sour.

Moderate Dinginess (~55% Quality)
Floors are swept or vacuumed clean, but are dull, dingy, and stained. There is a noticeable buildup of dirt and/or floor finish in corners and along walls. There is a dull path and/or obviously matted carpet in the walking lanes. Base molding is dull and dingy with streaks or splashes. All vertical and horizontal surfaces have conspicuous dust, dirt, marks, smudges, and fingerprints. Lamp fixtures are dirty, and some lamps (up to 5 percent) are burned out. Trash containers and pencil sharpeners have old trash and shavings. They are stained and marked. Trash containers smell sour.

Casual Inattention (~65% Quality)
Floors are swept or vacuumed clean, but upon close observation, there can be stains. A buildup of dirt and/or floor finish in corners and along walls can be seen. There are dull spots and/or matted carpet in walking lanes. There are streaks or splashes on base molding. All vertical and horizontal surfaces have obvious dust, dirt, marks, smudges, and fingerprints. Lamps all work and fixtures are clean. Trash containers and pencil sharpeners hold only daily waste and are clean and odor free.

Ordinary Tidiness (~80% Quality)
Floors and base molding shine and/or are bright and clean. There is no buildup in corners or along walls; however, there can be up to two days worth of dust, dirt, stains, or streaks on floors and base molding. Dust, smudges, and fingerprints are noticeable on vertical and horizontal surfaces.

Orderly Spotlessness (~90% Quality)
Floors and base molding shine and/or are bright and clean; colors are fresh. There is no buildup in corners or along walls. All vertical and horizontal surfaces have a freshly cleaned or polished appearance and have no accumulation of dust, dirt, marks, streaks, smudges, or fingerprints. Lights all work and fixtures are clean. Washroom and shower fixtures and tile gleam and are odor free. Supplies are adequate. Trash containers and pencil sharpeners hold only daily waste and are clean and odor free.




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