Janitor
Craft
A fresh
Perspective for Janitors, Custodians, and Facility Managers
Mike Settles
Copyright 2024
Mike Settles
I have over forty years of experience as
janitor, supervisor, facilities manager in schools, library, and even a bowling
alley.
This experience is reinforced by a
Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management and a Graduate Certificate in Public
Management.
Beginnings
and Basics
One of my earliest memories of life is of riding
on the head of a floor scrubbing machine while my grandfather, Roy Leach,
stripped worn and scratched finish from a vinyl tile floor. I don’t recall if
it was a school classroom floor or a hospital room (as he had worked both), but
I do remember with great detail the aroma of floor wax removal solution, the
mechanical whirl of the machine, and the expanse of the flooded floor reaching
out toward walls which seemed to be “forever” away.
As my grandfather slowly and gently moved the
machine across the floor. I felt it fall into a “valley” and then back to
level. It felt almost like an amusement ride. It was summertime, the windows
were open, a breeze cooled the non-air-conditioned room. I would learn later,
as I worked the floors myself, that such a breeze also worked to evaporate the
solution on the floor. A janitor had to work quickly, efficiently, and professionally to achieve a wax-free
tile floor upon which to apply new, fresh wax so as to give that floor a
beautiful and welcoming shine.
It is that light-reflecting shine of which
janitors are most proud. It is that shine that causes students and teachers to
feel as though they are entering a bright new world in which discovery and
excitement are adorned with the effects of janitor-craft.
“Janitor Craft”…I have always preferred the term
”janitor” rather than custodian because of the history of the word. The word
“janitor” derives from the Latin Janus which meant “gate-keeper”. Also, the
Roman god Janus guarded the gate to Heaven. It may seem a bit grandiose, but
seeing the school as a realm of knowledge, self-development, and personal
achievement, I do bestow a sense of halo upon the occupation. Also, I have much
the same sentiment for hospitals in which health is a heavenly occupation.
But coming back to that attractive shine, that
sense of freshness and beauty to which students and teachers return as school
begins. It carries such a powerful impression that most folks think of the work
of the janitor as merely making surfaces attractive; Surfaces such as floors,
windows, chairs, and chalkboards. Surely that is part of the job, but there are
aspects of janitor-craft that are much more fundamental.
The work
of the janitor, in the craftsman’s sense, involves:
1. Preparing the facilities
for the safe, effective, and accommodating use for which they are intended.
2. Preserving the facilities
such that they maintain as lengthy a life as possible so as to protect the
financial investment of community taxpayers or other investors.
3. Finally, giving the
facility an attractive appearance.
As these three elements comprise the fundamental
aspect of cleaning or Janitor-Craft, I shall discuss them here and encourage
the reader to use them as a guide toward building a cleaning program that can
contribute to the mission or goal of the organization, save money, and have a
competitive edge over similar organizations.
Preparing the facilities
for use…
It is a misconception that the work of the
janitor is a “clean up after the event or day” service. Embracing the correct
attitude that the work of the janitor is actually to prepare the facilities for
use in the future is a much more accurate and contributory approach. I offer an
example from a different scene of life; A family that uses disposable diapers
does not take the time or effort to launder or clean those diapers before
discarding them in the trash. Doing so would be a waste of money, time, and energy.
Alternatively, the use of cloth diapers will encourage cleaning those valuable
resources for future safe use, preservation of fabric, and comforting
attractiveness.
Another example to make my point would be the use
of paper plates after a picnic. Typically, one does not clean a used paper
plate, they are discarded. But other plates made of China, plastic, or other
materials of a more durable nature are cleaned and sterilized that they can be
used repeatedly.
My fundamental point being that we don’t clean
things simply because they are soiled or dirty. We clean them because we intend
to use them again at some future time. The work of the janitor is a
“preparation for use” investment rather than a “clean up after” expense. And,
in the process of preparing the facility a janitor uses much personal skill and
judgment. Most of the time the leadership of organizations thinks of the
“appearance” of the facility as the main objective. Taking such a cosmetic-only
approach is like “putting lipstick on a pig”, but perhaps that cliché insults
pigs.
My point is this:
just throwing a coat of shiny wax on a floor achieves only a temporary
effect which will scratch and dull. Sometimes the desire for such a shine can
even be dangerous. There once was a school kitchen manager that wanted a shine
on her kitchen floor. I advised that such a wax on a kitchen floor was
dangerous because if water or grease falls on the floor it creates a slippery
condition placing employees at risk of falling. The kitchen manager continued
to insist on the shine. I further advised that the tile on the floor was
designed for kitchens and to be without wax.
There are places in a facility where “shine” is
not a desirable goal. Safe usability is always the primary goal of a facility
and the facility manager. Not only does this minimize liability or risk. But
also, it promotes that loyalty from users and employees.
We empty trash cans so that they may be used
again the next day. We remove spent light bulbs and replace them with new ones
so that proper lighting will enable safe operations. We shampoo carpets to
remove the distractions of stains and odors.
The health threat of Covid-19 during 2020 and
into 2022 caused much attention to be placed on preparing a facility for safe
and healthy use. The janitor is the professional that works to make a facility
a safe place in which to work, study, worship, or play.
I encourage the janitor, facilities manager, and
other invested parties to see the work of the janitor as an integral function
of reaching the mission of the organization. When creating a budget, give as
much attention to the tasks that prepare the floors, change the bulbs, remove
the odors, and literally open the doors on time, as you do to other budgetary
line items.
Preserving the facilities…
Whether we are talking about shareholders of
for-profit hospitals, tithe contributors in a church, or taxpayers in a school
district; due diligence will require proper care of personal property such as
furniture, equipment, and tools, as well as the real estate.
This due diligence compels proper training
regarding the application of cleaning chemicals and the use of the cleaning
equipment.
Most of the damage I have observed on surfaces is
due to improper use of chemicals much more so than wear from normal usage. Too
much ice-melt thrown upon sidewalks and parking lots not only damages concrete,
but as it is tracked into the building it causes deterioration to tile,
terrazzo, and carpet. Use of an improper cleaning agent on a carpet stain can
make the problem worse.
To avoid causing unintended damage, the
supervisor or manager should take time to be aware of the precautions and
instructions regarding the chemical as stated on the container. Janitorial
staff should be taught these precautions and instructions because adhering to
the instructions on the container can preserve the health and life of the
janitor as well as the condition of the surface. As a very young janitor using
ammonia to clean a floor, I used too much on a floor in an area with no air
movement. I quickly learned my mistake and, as I hastened to exit the building,
I could feel my brain fill with disorientation. I made it out into the fresh
air, and all was then well. But I learned firsthand and with great conviction
to always adhere to instructions given on containers! Never be a hero and never
think that your personal experience and “feel” for the work supersede the
directions of the manufacturer.
Presenting an attractive
appearance…
It is my conviction that appearance is the last
and the least of the importance of the work of the janitor. Yes, this is
contrary to most attitudes out there. But hopefully, I have impressed the
reader with the importance of preparation for use and preservation of the
faculties as the dominant goals. Though I suggest appearance to be least and
last of budgetary concerns, I also acknowledge its importance. While the
following discussion is set in the context of a church facility, the basic idea
can be applied to a school, library, hospital, or any facility that seeks
users, guests, or visitors.
One major area of work that is
affected by janitor-craft is that of hospitality. It is customary practice for
a church to have wide-smiled greeters to meet visitors at the door. But these
wide- smiled greeters are not the first impression the visitor acquires. Of
course, once a visitor has parked their car in your lot, they are probably
committed. But that parking lot is their first indication of what your church
is like. These visitors will notice whatever debris may lay in the lot. They
will notice if the parking lines are bright yellow or faded like cheese too
long on the stove. For sure they will notice if your “Visitor Parking” signs
are clean or covered with dingy discoloration. As they approach the doors they
will gain sight of the church front, the sidewalk, and the doors themselves.
What they see there will have an impact on how they will experience the rest of
their visit. If you’ve done a respectable job preparing your church for use,
then they will feel comfortable and receptive. But if not, then they may feel
that your service is as worn or cluttered as the parking lot.
People do not usually return to a
negative experience. If the cleanliness of your church restrooms is of
noticeably poorer quality than one would expect in a home, this will create a
lasting negative impression on visitors. The more negative impressions they
receive of your church, the less they will be inclined to return. People often
think “the way they treat their building is the way they will treat me”.
Hospitality is a necessity for churches, not a specialty for willing churches.
Don’t make the call to create disciples harder by neglecting your physical
facilities.
The second area
of impact is worship. It is often difficult for those in the pews to focus on
the message of the sermon. This is because we have so many problems and plans
to think about, that we find ourselves attending to those distractions at
church though we really came to hear a sermon or uplifting music. Surely, we
don’t want to further distract the worshiper with burned-out or flickering
light bulbs over the pews, dusty windowsills, and cobwebs in the corners. A
sanctuary that has been poorly kept is an obstacle to worship. It is the job of
the janitor to remove these distractions and obstacles so that all attention
can be placed on the sermon, in the prayer, with the choir.
The church building in general and
the sanctuary in specific are designed to be special, sacred places. All of the
furnishings, finishes, and decorations are brought together with the intent to
enable the spirit to awaken and be receptive to spiritual encouragement and
uplifting. We should take care to see that this effect is not hindered nor
hampered by the neglect of housekeeping.
The third area of impact is that of
stewardship. An effectively managed housekeeping program will protect and
lengthen the life of the facility. Floors that are regularly and properly
maintained will last longer than if neglected. Cleaning restrooms daily will
reduce mineral build-up on toilets, sinks, and other fixtures. All of this may
sound like common sense, but common sense is too often the last to receive
attention.
By giving due attention to the
physical facilities and to those who are charged with their upkeep, we not only
enhance the appearance of our churches but we are enabled to move more monetary
funds into other areas of ministry. If we do not have to prematurely replace
carpet or tile, we can put those funds into outreach programs, vacation Bible
schools, and fellowship get-togethers.
Another favorable contribution of
proper maintenance and appearance as it relates to stewardship is that it helps
to legitimize member giving and tithing. Certainly, we are Biblically
instructed to give toward the work of the church. But I have found that people
become discouraged from giving when they see deterioration and unattractiveness
of the church facility. They fear that their giving is wasted or misused if
they continually see the church in physical decline. And again, in all physical
facilities, whether they be churches, hospitals, or schools, people think “if
this is how they treat the building, this is how they will treat me”. Care for
your visitors, your worshipers, and your givers by caring for the facility.
Create a sacred place that will be inviting and engaging with spirit and gift.
Admirable Skills in an Unappreciative Social Environment
One of the most affirming compliments
I have ever received was from an assistant director…”Mike, you’ve done an
admirable job!” This director seemed impressed that I had taken a small crew of
cleaning people who had become overly relaxed in their attention to their work
and transformed them and their resulting efforts into an effective cleaning crew
with noticeable and favorable results. The individuals of the cleaning crew
were good people. They were dependable as attendance is measured. They were of
mental capacity comparable to anyone of any other department in the
organization. They were willing to accept the direction in their efforts.
But, before I arrived, there had been
some conditions that had contributed toward their less than acceptable work
results. These conditions tend to be commonplace in organizations of every
kind. Libraries, industries, schools, and churches tend to view and treat their
custodial staff as organizationally and socially peripheral to the
mission rather than having full and equal standing in the organization. One
misguided view of these organizations is that the custodial staff incurs an
expense without contributing to income or furthering the mission. This attitude
results in a display of condescension on the part of valued employees toward
janitors and cleaners. I have often heard from people that they were raised to
show as much respect to the janitor as much as they showed to the CEO. In my
forty-plus years of working as a janitor or manager of custodial staff, I have
never once seen such a display of respect actually happen.
As an example, I remember one summer,
working at a school, I had the air conditioning service turned on in the
building in which a cleaning staff of ten people were working. I assert that
encouraging people to clean toilets, lift and move heavy tables, climb ladders
to clean the lens covers of light fixtures, and scrape “gunkies” from student
desks is a challenge even in comfortable environmental conditions. To motivate
folk to engage in uncomfortable activities becomes exceedingly difficult when
heat and humidity offer a demoralizing counter effect. Air conditioning helped
to make the work less uncomfortable.
But, one day as we were working
productively in a wonderful airconditioned environment, the superintendent of
schools came into the building. I immediately could tell that he was displeased
that we were using the air conditioning which created an expense unnecessary in
his calculations. I was instructed to turn off the air conditioning as the
presence of only ten employees did not justify the use. The custodial staff
were discouraged. Yet continued to be faithful to the work.
The next week, when the principal arrived for work, only one
person, I stress, the superintendent instructed me to turn on the air
conditioning. The immediate thought that you may have is that the custodial
staff were happy for the principal’s arrival such that they once again could
enjoy the cool comfort. Quite contrary… they were terribly upset! It was
obvious to them that while they, ten in number, performing heavy, manual labor,
were not worthy of comfortable working conditions whereas one person, the principal,
who proceeded to work in a full suit, was, of course, worthy of such
pretentious expense. They felt disrespected. They felt that, once again, it was
obvious that they were not worthy of dignity, let alone air conditioning.
All the while working as a janitor or
managing janitors, I discovered that the most demoralizing aspect was that of
being treated as unworthy of dignity. If you want to improve the behavior of
your janitorial staff, the effect, and results of their efforts, give them what
they will not get anywhere else…give them dignity. Publicly give them credit
for the results of their work. Treat them as full contributors to the mission
of the organization rather than as an incidental expense, peripheral at best.
Another demoralizing point is that
the work of the cleaning staff is seen as needing no skill or expertise in
order to perform the work. There is a scene in “Columbo: A Trace of Murder” in
which police forensic scientist Patrick Kinsley, played by David Rasche,
speaking to Detective Columbo regarding the difficulty of a particular task,
says “Well if it were easy, we would just let the janitor do it.” Such comments
and attitudes are common in television, movies, and everyday conversation.
I report a personal experience in
which I was participating in a meeting of school staff including teachers,
principals, librarians, and others discussing the planning of an event to be
held. At one point, during this discussion, I made the social mistake of
prefacing my contribution with “In my professional opinion…” This preface drew
immediate and uncontrollable laughter from a few people in the room. Obviously,
they felt that there was something humorous about a janitor proposing a
“professional” opinion. It surely did not occur to them that if these
complicated and intricate plans they were designing were to become a reality,
the actual and logistical details needed to be clarified, calculated, and
staged out.
I, not any of them, knew the amount
of work, movement of equipment, timing, and deployment of custodial staff in a
way that would make their plans actually achievable. Their laughter indicated
to me that they must have thought that the accommodation of their plans just
happened to happen by sheer desire. Of course, I had, by that time, become
accustomed to such attitudes and could brush it off without internalizing an
insult. But I was happy that there was no other custodial staff in that meeting
to hear that laughter. If there had been other janitorial staff present, the
attack on their dignity may have motivated them to sabotage rather than enable
the plans of the “professional” staff.
Dignity and respect of person are
incredibly effective motivators while lack of such regard often causes
counter-productive activities. Organizations that genuinely want to succeed
and gain a competitive edge will find ways to show respect and bring a sense of
dignity to their janitorial staff. But regarding the idea of
professionalism, craft, the expertise of the actual work, my grandfather taught
me much.
He had worked as a
janitor while he served in the Coast Guard, in the Secret City which later
would become Oak Ridge Tennessee, in the nuclear research facility. Later he
would work as a janitor in a hospital and, also in a school.
As I began to work in the
field for my own paycheck, I discovered that the skills, tools of the trade,
methods, and such, while merely to him necessary to prove one’s worth to make a
living, were in fact attributes of an occupation worthy of being described as a
profession or craft.
One evening while working
alongside my grandfather we were walking a hall toward a classroom. I carried a
dust broom. My grandfather contributed a piece of practical advice that I
applied immediately and always thereafter. He said “Never just carry a dust
broom. Even if you are just walking a hall to get somewhere else, use that dust
broom along the way. It might catch a piece of glass or another small object.
It will at least make you look productive.” I applied that advice when carrying
a dusting cloth. If along the way to somewhere else, I discovered an
incidental, easy thing to correct, I did so rather than put it off until later.
My grandfather taught me
how to unfold a tarp to cover a gym floor, and then how to fold it back up
after an event. There is indeed a trick to the task. He taught me to scrub and
wax tile floors, to strip and refinish wood floors and windowsills, how to move
furniture without harming myself.
Of course, as I got
older, I felt as though I could think for myself regarding methods and means. I,
as an older teen, remember arguing with my grandfather about methods when I
worked with him at a school during the summer of 1973. My criticism of his
methods finally resulted in his respectful and wise suggestion that maybe we
should work separately from then on. I had developed a sense of a craftsman’s
regard for the work and my methods had become different from his. I remind you
that it was he who had worked for many decades in the Coast Guard, the nuclear
facility, hospitals, and schools long before I ever triggered a scrubbing
machine.
There are technical
skills beyond proper mixing and best practices suggested by manufacturers that
only years of experience can provide. Also, a diligent and dedicated janitor
acquires a “personalized sense of procedure” much like a hobbyist perfecting his
or her method of proficiency.
Legacy
As an encouragement to those who work
as janitors, I offer an observation and a report of affirming attention from
others. During a city festival in 2011, while walking along the sidewalk, I
noticed a vaguely familiar woman approaching. As we made eye contact and she
recognized me, she began to tear up. She walked up to me and embraced me as if
I were a relative, she had not seen for many years. And then she told me her
story. While I was working as a janitor at Concord Junior High School in
Elkhart County Indiana in 1975 and I was on my way to a critical task, she got
my attention. She explained that her locker was jammed, and she could not open
it. I explained that I would have to look at it later as I was pressed for
time. But she persisted in requesting help explaining that it was extremely
critical that she got to class on time. I then took the time to address her
perceived emergency.
She remembered me as her “hero of the
moment” for that day in which I saved her in her moment of perceived emergency.
Yes, for decades I had been a hero! I have had many people over the years
recognize me and offer such stories in which I have made their day comfortable
in some way. Being remembered in such a way is as much an honor to me as if I
had won a Grammy or Gold Record.
More impactful was my grandfather’s
funeral. When he passed away in 1976, after working for years at Concord Junior
High, most of the folk who attended the visitation were students at that
school. Imagine, junior high students who would have arranged for a ride to the
visitation of a sixty-five year old janitor! Now that is indeed a dignified
legacy!
Productivity and Recruitment
Dignity is a highly
effective motivator! I was raised in a family of waitresses and janitors, and I
can assert that the employer that can deliver to her or his employees a sense
of dignity will earn loyalty to the vision and mission of the organization that
will accrue much productivity. My advice on productivity improvement is to
provide respect and dignity to employees. It is worth noting here that though
many people regard themselves as honorable in their regard to janitors, I
suggested a great deal of self-reflection. Yes, to improve the productivity of
those already employed, find ways to heap upon them a sense of dignity.
If you are looking for
productive and effective janitors, I would suggest this:
Forget about looking into resumes to
see if a prospective employee has previous experience in working as a janitor.
Very often people who have such experience have learned bad and ineffective
habits at their previous jobs which they would bring to your organization.
A better approach to finding the
right janitorial staff is to ask them about their hobbies. Yes, work is what we
do to earn money. What we spend our money on is a better indicator of our
skills, interest, personality. A person’s hobby will divulge the skills they
have practiced and will then naturally provide at work. Hobbies that make for
good janitors include those that require and develop an eye for detail, a sense
of proper ordering, and the skill for interpersonal cooperation. Hobbies that
rely on creativity are to be shunned because we don’t want janitors creatively
designing their own cleaning mixtures and methods. That could become quite
dangerous. Also, we don’t want people who excel in competitive hobbies as that
works against the quality of cooperation. In looking for good janitors, we want
skilled people, but not creative people. The hobbies in which they invest their
money, time, and energy will make for good indicators of good janitors.
Before I leave the idea
of recruitment allow me to address monetary compensation. In the marketplace,
nothing says “I respect you!” more than actual take-home cash, usable time off,
and meaningful retirement programs. Seek ways to compensate your employees
respectfully.
Conclusion
Ministry and service of tomorrow are built upon the facility prepared today. The janitor is the enabler of the physical facility, the usable space, the sacred space, and the safe and healthy touchable surfaces. Respect and dignity showed the janitor will achieve long-lasting benefits to any organization, its goals and mission.
