Top 10 General Cleaner Certifications

Certifications are important for general cleaners in the job market because they demonstrate that the cleaner has the necessary knowledge and skills to perform the job. They also serve as a way to differentiate cleaners from one another, helping employers find individuals who have specific qualifications or certifications that are relevant to their needs. Certifications can also help build trust between an employer and employee, since it shows that the cleaner is qualified and experienced enough to do the job correctly. Additionally, certifications may open up opportunities for promotions or higher wages, as they demonstrate a level of expertise and commitment to the profession.

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the most valuable certifications for General Cleaners and show how they can help advance a cleaner's career.

What are General Cleaner Certifications?

General cleaner certification is a type of professional certification that demonstrates a person’s knowledge, skills and abilities in the field of general cleaning. This certification can be obtained through organizations such as the International Janitorial Cleaning Services Association (IJCSA), which offers an online course and certification exam.

Having a general cleaner certification can help employers verify that their employees have the necessary qualifications to perform general cleaning tasks. It also provides cleaners with recognition for their hard work and dedication to their profession. A certified cleaner will also have access to resources such as industry-specific training materials, job postings and networking opportunities that may not be available to non-certified cleaners. In addition, having a general cleaner certification may lead to higher wages or better job opportunities due to the increased credibility it brings.

Pro Tip: When looking for a general cleaner certification, make sure to check the credentials and qualifications of the program you are considering. Look for certifications that offer hands-on training and experience in cleaning techniques so that you can be equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to provide quality services.

Related: What does a General Cleaner do?

Top 10 General Cleaner Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to General Cleaners today.

1. Green Seal Certification

Green Seal Certification is a certification program that recognizes products, services, and companies that meet rigorous environmental standards. It is designed to help organizations demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and green practices. To get Green Seal Certification, an organization must submit an application and provide evidence that its products or services meet the Green Seal Standard. The process typically takes 4-6 weeks, depending on the complexity of the application.

To get Green Seal Certification, an organization must first identify which Green Seal Standard applies to its products or services. Then it must complete an application form and submit supporting documentation demonstrating compliance with the standard. The organization may also need to provide additional information such as product labels, test results, or other evidence of compliance. Once the application is submitted, Green Seal will review it and determine whether the applicant meets all requirements for certification.

The cost of obtaining Green Seal Certification varies depending on the size of the organization and the number of products or services being certified. Generally speaking, certification fees range from $2,000-$5,000 per product or service line. Additionally, there are annual maintenance fees associated with maintaining certification status.

2. CRI Green Label Plus Certification

CRI Green Label Plus is a certification program developed by the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) to recognize carpet and rugs that meet stringent indoor air quality standards. It is the only independent, third-party testing program for carpets and rugs that verifies their compliance with CRI’s stringent indoor air quality criteria. The certification is based on a series of tests that measure volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions from carpets and rugs.

The process of obtaining the CRI Green Label Plus certification typically takes about 8-10 weeks, depending on the size of the product line being tested. To get certified, manufacturers must submit samples of their products to an accredited laboratory for testing. The cost of getting certified varies depending on the number of samples submitted and the type of tests required. Generally, it costs around $2,000-$3,000 per product line tested.

3. EPA Design for the Environment (DfE) Certification

Design for the Environment (DfE) Certification is a program developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It is designed to recognize and promote products that are formulated with ingredients that have been evaluated and verified as being safer for human health and the environment. The DfE certification process involves an extensive evaluation of a product's ingredients, manufacturing processes, and end-of-life disposal options.

The process typically takes six months or more to complete, depending on the complexity of the product and its formulation. To get started, companies must submit an application package to EPA's Design for the Environment Program along with supporting documentation such as product labels, safety data sheets, ingredient lists, and other materials. The application will then be reviewed by EPA staff who will determine if it meets all requirements for DfE certification.

The cost of getting DfE certified varies depending on the size of the company and their product portfolio. Generally speaking, companies can expect to spend anywhere from several thousand dollars up to tens of thousands of dollars in fees associated with testing and certification costs.

4. LEED Cleaning Product Standard

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Cleaning Product Standard is a certification program developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). It provides guidance for manufacturers, distributors, and purchasers of cleaning products to ensure that their products meet certain environmental criteria.

The LEED Cleaning Product Standard is based on four main criteria:

1) Reduced Human and Environmental Toxicity;

2) Improved Indoor Air Quality;

3) Enhanced Performance; and

4) Responsible Packaging.

In order to get certified under the LEED Cleaning Product Standard, companies must submit their product information to the USGBC for review. This process can take anywhere from 4-6 weeks depending on the complexity of the product and its ingredients. Once approved, the company will receive an official LEED certification label which they can use to advertise their product as being LEED certified.

The cost of getting certified under the LEED Cleaning Product Standard varies depending on the size of the company and number of products submitted for review. Generally speaking, it can range anywhere from $200-$500 per product submission.

5. EcoLogo Certification

EcoLogo Certification is an environmental certification program that recognizes products and services that meet stringent environmental criteria. It is a voluntary, third-party certification program developed by Environment Canada in 1988 to help consumers identify products and services that are better for the environment.

The EcoLogo Certification process takes approximately 8-12 months from start to finish. The process involves submitting an application form along with supporting documentation, such as product specifications, test results, and manufacturing processes. Once the application is approved, an audit of the site where the product or service is produced must be conducted. This audit verifies that all environmental requirements are being met and any corrective actions needed are taken.

To get EcoLogo Certification, companies must demonstrate their commitment to meeting stringent environmental requirements through their product design, production processes, packaging materials, and other factors. Companies must also demonstrate their commitment to continual improvement in their environmental performance.

The cost of obtaining EcoLogo Certification can vary depending on the complexity of the product or service being certified. Generally speaking, it costs between $2,000 to $10,000 USD per product/service certified.

6. Greenguard Gold Certification

Greenguard Gold Certification is a certification program administered by UL Environment, an independent, third-party organization. It is designed to help manufacturers create healthier indoor environments by certifying products that meet stringent chemical emissions standards.

The Greenguard Gold Certification process typically takes between four and six weeks and includes testing of the product in accordance with UL 2818, a standard developed specifically for this purpose. To get certified, manufacturers must submit their product to UL Environment for testing and analysis. The cost of certification varies depending on the size and complexity of the product, but it generally ranges from $1,500 to $2,500.

In addition to meeting the requirements of UL 2818, manufacturers must also provide documentation that demonstrates compliance with applicable regulations such as California Proposition 65 or other regional regulations. Once certified, manufacturers can use the Greenguard Gold logo on their products and marketing materials to show customers that their products have been tested for safety and quality assurance.

7. USGBC Certified Cleaning Products Program

The USGBC Certified Cleaning Products Program is a voluntary certification program that recognizes cleaning products that meet the highest standards of sustainability and environmental performance. The program is designed to help purchasers identify cleaning products that are healthier for people, better for the environment, and more cost-effective.

To become certified under this program, a product must meet stringent criteria in three categories: human health, environmental protection, and economic value. Products must be free of ingredients known to cause adverse health effects; they must have minimal impact on the environment; and they must offer cost savings over traditional cleaning products. The certification process involves an independent evaluation by a third-party certifier who verifies that the product meets all criteria.

It typically takes between four to six weeks to complete the certification process, depending on how quickly you can provide all necessary information and documents. To get started, you will need to submit an application package which includes a detailed description of your product and its ingredients as well as supporting documentation such as safety data sheets (SDS). Once approved, you will receive a certificate of compliance from USGBC along with instructions for displaying the logo on your packaging or website.

The cost of certification varies based on the size of your business and number of products being certified. Generally speaking, it costs around $500 per product for small businesses ($250 per product if you certify multiple at once) and up to $2500 per product for large companies ($1500 per product if you certify multiple at once).

8. NSF International Certification

NSF International Certification is a certification program that verifies the safety, quality, and performance of products, processes, and services. It is an independent third-party certification process that helps protect public health by ensuring that products meet strict standards for safety and performance. NSF International Certification covers a wide range of products, including food service equipment, plumbing fixtures and materials, dietary supplements, bottled water products, home appliances, medical devices, and more.

It typically takes between six to eight weeks to get NSF International Certification. The process begins with submitting an application form along with the product or service information required for evaluation. After the application is submitted and reviewed by NSF experts, they will contact you to schedule an on-site audit of your facility. During this audit they will review your product or service against the applicable standard(s) as well as evaluate your production facility’s quality control systems. Once all requirements are met and approved by NSF International Certification staff, you will receive a certificate of compliance from them.

The cost of getting NSF International Certification varies depending on the type of product or service being evaluated as well as other factors such as the size of your facility and number of employees involved in production. Generally speaking though it can range anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars depending on the scope of work required for evaluation.

9. UL Environment GREENGUARD Certified Products Program

The UL Environment GREENGUARD Certified Products Program is a certification program that verifies products meet stringent chemical emissions standards. The program is designed to help protect human health and the environment by reducing indoor air pollution from off-gassing of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

To get certified, products must pass rigorous testing for VOCs and other chemicals. The testing process typically takes several months to complete, depending on the complexity of the product and its components.

In order to get UL Environment GREENGUARD certification, manufacturers must first submit an application with a fee that is based on the number of products they wish to certify. Once approved, manufacturers can then send their product samples to UL’s laboratory for testing. After successful completion of testing, UL will issue a certificate of compliance that can be used as evidence of certification when marketing the product.

The cost for certification varies depending on the number of products being tested and the complexity of each individual product. Generally speaking, it costs between $2,000-$5,000 per product for certification.

10. BIFMA e3 Furniture Sustainability Standard

BIFMA e3 Furniture Sustainability Standard is a voluntary certification program that helps furniture manufacturers demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. It was developed by the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA) in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Sustainable Furnishings Council, and other industry stakeholders. The standard sets criteria for evaluating the environmental performance of furniture products, including materials, energy use, emissions, waste management, product durability, and recyclability.

It typically takes 3-6 months to get BIFMA e3 certification depending on the complexity of the product being evaluated. To get certified, companies must submit an application along with supporting documentation to BIFMA’s Certification Body. This includes a detailed description of the product’s components and materials used in its manufacture as well as information about how it is manufactured and distributed. Once submitted, BIFMA will evaluate the application and may request additional information or testing before granting certification.

The cost of getting BIFMA e3 certified varies depending on the complexity of the product being evaluated but can range from several hundred dollars up to several thousand dollars for more complex products.

Do You Really Need a General Cleaner Certificate?

The answer to this question depends on the individual and what their goals are. In some cases, a general cleaner certificate may be beneficial in helping someone gain employment or advance in their career. However, it is important to consider the cost of obtaining such a certificate as well as the time commitment that is necessary to complete the required coursework.

For those who plan to work as a professional cleaner, having a general cleaner certificate can help demonstrate their level of proficiency and knowledge. It can provide employers with an indication of the individual’s dedication to the job and show that they have taken the initiative to learn about cleaning techniques and safety protocols. Furthermore, some employers may require that their employees hold such a certification before being hired or promoted into certain positions.

On the other hand, there are people who may not need such a certificate to find employment in a related field or even advance in their current position if they already possess relevant experience and knowledge. For instance, those who have been working as cleaners for years may not need additional certification to prove their skillset since they will likely already be familiar with most industry standards and procedures.

Ultimately, whether or not someone needs a general cleaner certificate will depend on their situation and career aspirations. Those looking for employment or advancement in the industry should consider if such a certification would be beneficial before investing time and money into obtaining one.

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FAQs About General Cleaner Certifications

1. What is a General Cleaner Certification?

Answer: A General Cleaner Certification is a certificate that shows the holder has met the requirements to be a professional cleaner. It can include a variety of topics, such as safety and health regulations, cleaning techniques, materials and equipment, and customer service.

2. How do I get a General Cleaner Certification?

Answer: Generally, you need to complete an accredited course or training program in order to obtain a General Cleaner Certification. This can typically be done online or through a local community college or trade school.

3. Is there an exam required for certification?

Answer: Yes, most certifications require the completion of an exam that tests your knowledge and understanding of the material covered in the course or program.

4. How long does it take to get certified?

Answer: The amount of time it takes to become certified varies depending on the type of course or program you choose to take and how quickly you complete the necessary requirements. Generally speaking, most courses will take anywhere from one week to several months to complete.

5. Are there any costs associated with getting certified?

Answer: Most courses or programs have associated costs such as tuition fees, textbooks, materials, and/or other supplies needed for completing the coursework.