Colour Coding in Cleaning — Module 2: The 4 Colours & Where They're Used
What you'll learn in this module
- The 4 standard BSI colours and the zones they represent
- What equipment each colour applies to
- Real-world examples of where each colour is used
- Why mixing colours — even accidentally — is a serious risk
The 4 Colours at a Glance
The BSI colour coding system assigns four colours to four distinct cleaning zones. Every cloth, mop head, bucket, and pair of gloves should be colour-matched to its zone — and never used outside of it.
BSI Colour Coding System — standard UK cleaning industry reference
🔴 Red — Toilets & Urinals
- Toilet bowls and seats
- Urinals
- Surrounding floor areas
- Sanitary bins (exterior)
🟡 Yellow — Clinical Areas
- Sluice rooms
- Clinical and isolation areas
- High-risk infection zones
- Medical facility washrooms
🔵 Blue — General Areas
- Offices and classrooms
- Corridors and reception areas
- General washbasins
- Non-food, non-clinical surfaces
🟢 Green — Food Prep & Catering
- Kitchen worktops
- Canteen and dining surfaces
- Food preparation equipment
- Bar and serving areas
Why Mixing Colours is a Serious Risk
Even if a cloth looks clean, it can carry invisible bacteria. Using a red cloth on a food preparation surface — even once — can transfer pathogens such as E. coli or Salmonella. In a professional environment, this is not just poor practice — it can result in illness outbreaks, complaints, and loss of contracts.
Colour coding only works if everyone on the team follows it consistently. It should be part of your induction process for any new cleaning operative.
Equipment That Should Be Colour Coded
The system applies to all reusable cleaning equipment, including cloths and microfibre pads, mop heads and handles, buckets, dustpan and brush sets, and gloves. Many suppliers — including CCMTec — stock colour-coded versions of all of these.
Create a free CCMTec account to track your learning and access your completion certificate.