Cleaning Practices and Procedures

The primary function of Custodial Services is to provide a clean and safe environment around the campus of Western Michigan University.

We are committed to efficient cleaning and high quality standards. Our cleaning and special project cleaning are scheduled to ensure a clean and healthy learning, working and living environment for our students, faculty, staff and visitors.

Custodial Services is responsible for cleaning over one million square feet of carpeting in the University’s facilities.

Schedule

Carpeting is cleaned on the third shift, Sunday through Thursday from 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. Carpet cleaning is generally scheduled out six months in advance at any given time. The carpet crew is supervised by Val Armstrong.

For spills

  1. Saturate the area with clean water.
  2. Blot with a white cloth or paper towel.
  3. Call the Service Center at (269) 387-8514 to request service.

Custodial Services cleans carpets on a regular basis. If you would like to request a carpet cleaning, please submit a request via Bronco Fix-It.

Custodial Services is responsible for refinishing all floors on the Western Michigan University campus.

Schedule

Floors are refinished during the third shift, Sunday through Thursday from 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. Floor refinishing is generally scheduled six months in advance at any given time.

If you would like to request floor refinishing, please submit a Bronco Fix-It request.

Western Michigan University's pest control is provided by a pest solutions contractor. The contractor does proactive inspections three days a week and also addresses any work order issues reactively.

For any pest control problems in WMU buildings please call the Service Center at (269) 387-8514 or place a Bronco Fix-It request.

Offices

Each office has a landfill trash container and a paper recycling bin. Office occupants are responsible for emptying their own containers and bins into the appropriate container in the identified departmental office area. A brute barrel will be available for landfill trash, a container will be available for paper and cardboard and a 20-gallon brute barrel will be available for bottles, cans, caps and foils.

Designated central recycle bins are emptied on a daily basis by building custodial staff. 

Classrooms

There are no trash and recycling containers in classrooms. Where appropriate, signs are posted indicating that discarded materials should be taken to the appropriate containers in public spaces. There are a few special circumstances such as wood and metal shops, computer labs or art education labs that may require certain containers to remain.

Bathrooms

Landfill trash containers remain in each bathroom.

Science labs

Appropriate containers are determined on a case by case basis.

Public spaces

There should be a trash and recycling center (i.e., a determined location that includes containers for landfill trash, paper recycling and bottle or can recycling—this is serviced on a daily basis) at or near all major entrances to buildings as well as in “hidden” hallways. Other locations throughout buildings must be determined during a walk through.

Events

If you are planning an activity in a conference room or classroom, a Facilities Management Event Request form must be completed to provide additional trash and/or recycling containers.