Cleaning
Custodial Services keeps UVic clean and green. We provide a safe and healthy environment for the campus community using environmentally friendly products and practices.
You can help. Please:
- report hazards that need to be cleaned up to us
- follow posted rules about food and drinks in teaching, lab and study spaces
- dispose of your garbage, compost and recycling in the Sort-it-Out stations
For emergency building services on weekends, on holidays or after normal business hours, please contact Campus Security at 250-721-7599.
Cleaning services
Details
- For
- The UVic community
- Cost
-
- No charge routine cleaning and hazard response
- Cleaning above and beyond that must be requested and funded by departments
- Team
- Interior Services
- Hours
- 5 am to 1am
- Priority
-
- Reported safety hazards are high priority or emergencies.
- See details below for cleaning routines.
We do routine cleaning every day that the UVic campus is open. Departments can request additional cleaning services using FMIS.
Request cleaning services
To request cleanup services for an event, create a new request using FMIS. In the form, choose:
- Location: the event venue building, floor and room or space
- Type: Special Events
- Sub type: Pre / Post-Event Cleaning
To request additional cleaning in an office, workspace or lab, create a new request using FMIS. In the form, choose:
- Location: the building, floor and room or space to clean
- Type: Custodial Services
- Sub type: choose whichever one best describes your request
Report a mess or spill
If you don't have access to FMIS, you can report an issue on the web.
We respond to reported hazards (like spills) ASAP. Our priorities and frequencies for routine cleaning:
| Area | Frequency | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Washrooms | Once/day | High |
| Common | 5 times/week | High |
| Teaching | 3-5 times/week | Medium |
| Lab | 5 times/week | Medium |
| Shared | 5 times/week | Low |
| Offices | Once/week | Low |
Our schedule for cleaning lower-priority spaces is flexible. We don't always clean the rooms on the same day every week. Short delays are normal during busy periods of the year.
Washrooms are cleaned and sanitized every week day. High-traffic buildings are cleaned and sanitized on weekends as well. Service includes:
- cleaning floors, counters, sinks, toilets, and high-touch surfaces
- replenish soap and paper towel dispensers
Common spaces are open to the public. They include high-traffic hallways, elevators, and stairwells. Service includes:
- cleaning floors, water fountains, study tables, high-touch surfaces,
- collecting waste from Sort-it-Out stations
Teaching spaces include classrooms and lecture theatres. Service includes:
- tidying and cleaning chalkboards (5 times/week)
- cleaning floors, desks, high-touch surfaces (3 times/week)
- collecting waste from Facilities Management-supplied bins (3 times/week)
Lab cleaning includes:
- cleaning floors (not equipment, desk or counter tops)
- collecting waste from Facilities Management-supplied bins
Shared areas aren't open to the public, but are shared within a department or group. They include staff kitchens, lounges and meeting rooms. Service includes:
- cleaning floors and high-touch surfaces
- cleaning tables, counters and desks if they're clear of papers and belongings
- collecting waste from Facilities Management-supplied bins
- not washing dishes or the inside of appliances
Office cleaning includes:
- cleaning floors
- cleaning desks (if they're clear of papers and belongings)
- not cleaning personal items or equipment
- not collecting waste
- occupants are responsible for bringing waste, recycling and compost to the Sort-it-Out stations in common and shared areas
During UVic's office hours, contact our customer service desk to report a problem. Outside of those hours, either:
- report emergencies to Campus Security at 250-721-7599
- submit a non-urgent request using FMIS or our web form
We do most of our cleaning in the early morning, evening and at night to avoid disrupting teaching and research activities. Our shift schedule is:
- Morning: 5 am to 1 pm, Monday to Sunday
- Night: 5 pm to 1 am, Monday to Friday
- Emergency coverage: 1 pm to 5 pm, Monday to Friday
Routine cleaning and incident responses (for example, cleaning graffiti or spills) are centrally funded. We charge for additional service like:
- requests for additional cleaning in department-managed areas (like the inside of appliances or unscheduled deep cleaning)
- extra cleaning that's part of a department-initiated project
- extra cleaning after an event or function
- customer-requested overtime
See Facilities Management's service rates.
Washrooms
Washrooms are located in every building on campus. We clean and disinfect washrooms daily.
- The interactive campus map shows the locations of washrooms.
- Find all-gender washrooms and free menstrual supplies.
- The cycling page and cycling amenities map (1.5 MB PDF) list washrooms with showers and change rooms.
Report a problem in a washroom
Let us know if a washroom needs to be cleaned, restocked or repaired.
Residence buildings
Cleaning in residence and cluster buildings is managed by Residence Services. Residents submit cleaning requests using the online housing portal.
Learn more about cleaning and maintenance in residences.
Accessibility
We are always working to improve accessibility at UVic. We:
- use unscented cleaning products
- use toxic chemical cleaners rarely, and only when strictly necessary and after hours (to minimize exposure)
Sustainability
Our Green Cleaning Policy protects the UVic community and environment. We:
- use sustainable, low-scent, non-toxic cleaning and paper products
- that meet or exceed Green Seal, UL EcoLogo, EC EcoLogo, FSC, or EPA standards
- buy highly concentrated detergents to reduce packaging, storage, and transportation impacts
- train staff on safety procedures and equipment and strategies that conserve water and energy