UW Facilities staff are responsible for cleaning and disinfecting approximately 185 buildings on the Seattle campus. These buildings include academic, administrative and research spaces.
Our custodians use EPA-registered disinfectants and Green Seal®-certified cleaning products. The Building Services Department stays in regular contact with University and public health officials and follows Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) cleaning and disinfection guidelines.
Daily cleaning
Custodians clean classrooms, lecture halls and auditoriums daily, usually before the start of the first class. Restrooms are cleaned daily. Custodial staff also disinfect common touchpoints in restrooms a second time during their shift.
Custodians clean and disinfect surfaces in public areas that are touched frequently, such as door handles, elevator buttons and stair handrails daily. Custodians empty public area waste containers daily and refill more than 2,000 soap dispensers. Custodial staff also service more than 200 hand sanitizing dispensers at building main entrances.
Staff and faculty are responsible for the cleaning and disinfection of their individual workspaces. Custodians clean staff and faculty conference rooms and break rooms daily.
Response to COVID-19 pandemic
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, our custodial staff has worked to ensure clean and safe learning and working environments. Custodians conducted a one-time deep clean and disinfection of spaces in all of the buildings they service. Staff also completed special project work, including floor refinishing and carpet cleaning, to prepare for the UW’s community’s return to campus.
When confirmed COVID-19 positive cases occur, deep cleaning of affected spaces will be carried out according to EH&S protocols.