🧪 Chemicals & Dilution

• air freshener AIR FRESH-en-er ▶ EN
  aromatizante ah-roh-mah-tee-SAHN-teh ▶ ES

  Metered dispensers and gels; refilled on the schedule, and never the answer to a smell that has a source.

  Swap the air freshener refills on the first of the month. — Cambia los repuestos del aromatizante el primero de cada mes.

• bleach BLEECH ▶ EN
  cloro KLOH-roh ▶ ES Safety-critical

  Chlorine disinfectant; effective and dangerous — never mixed with ammonia, acid, or anything else.

  If you use bleach in that bathroom, nothing else goes in the bowl. — Si usas cloro en ese baño, nada más se le echa a la taza.

  Also: lejía (general) · cloro / clorox (PR)

• carpet protector KAR-pet proh-TEK-tor ▶ EN
  protector de alfombra proh-tek-TOHR deh al-FOHM-brah ▶ ES

  The stain-resist treatment applied after extraction on accounts that pay for it.

  The law office gets carpet protector after every extraction. — El despacho lleva protector de alfombra después de cada lavado.

• chemical inventory KEM-ih-kul IN-ven-tor-ee ▶ EN
  inventario de químicos een-ben-TAH-ryoh deh KEE-mee-kohs ▶ ES Safety-critical

  The list of every product on site, matching the SDS binder one-to-one; a jug with no SDS doesn't come in the building.

  New product? It goes on the chemical inventory and its SDS goes in the binder first. — ¿Producto nuevo? Primero entra al inventario y su hoja a la carpeta.

• chemical storage KEM-ih-kul STOR-ij ▶ EN
  almacén de químicos al-mah-SEN deh KEE-mee-kohs ▶ ES Safety-critical

  The locked closet or cage: acids away from bleach, nothing above eye level in glass, everything labeled and upright.

  Reorganize the chemical storage — the bowl acid is sitting next to the bleach. — Reacomoda el almacén de químicos — el ácido de tazas está junto al cloro.

• closed-loop dispensing KLOHZD-loop dis-PEN-sing ▶ EN
  dosificación cerrada doh-see-fee-kah-SYOHN seh-RRAH-dah ▶ ES

  Sealed concentrate bottles that only dispense through the station — nobody ever touches or breathes the concentrate.

  The new system is closed-loop dispensing — the jug locks into the station. — El sistema nuevo es dosificación cerrada — el envase se traba en la estación.

• color coding KUL-or KOH-ding ▶ EN
  código de colores KOH-dee-goh deh koh-LOH-rehs ▶ ES Safety-critical

  Red for restrooms, yellow for specialty, green for food areas, blue for general — cloths, buckets, and mops keep their color's territory.

  Color coding is not decoration — the red bucket never leaves the restroom rotation. — El código de colores no es adorno — la cubeta roja nunca sale de la rotación de baños.

• concentrate KON-sen-trayt ▶ EN
  concentrado kohn-sen-TRAH-doh ▶ ES Safety-critical

  Full-strength product that must be diluted before use; the jugs that stay in the locked closet.

  Never use concentrate straight on the floor — it leaves a film. — Nunca uses el concentrado directo en el piso — deja una película.

• cream cleanser KREEM KLEN-zer ▶ EN
  limpiador en crema leem-pyah-DOHR en KREH-mah ▶ ES

  The mildly abrasive paste for sinks and porcelain; rinse it fully or it leaves a haze.

  Cream cleanser on the stained sink, then rinse until it squeaks. — Limpiador en crema al lavabo manchado, y enjuaga hasta que rechine.

• cross-contamination KRAWS kun-tam-ih-NAY-shun ▶ EN
  contaminación cruzada kohn-tah-mee-nah-SYOHN kroo-SAH-dah ▶ ES Safety-critical

  Carrying germs from a dirty surface to a clean one — the wrong cloth, the same water, unwashed gloves; color-coding exists to stop it.

  A restroom cloth on a desk is cross-contamination, even if it looks clean. — Un paño del baño en un escritorio es contaminación cruzada, aunque se vea limpio.

• degreaser dee-GREE-ser ▶ EN
  desengrasante des-en-grah-SAHN-teh ▶ ES

  The alkaline cleaner for kitchen grease and heavy soil; too strong for finished floors.

  Use degreaser on the kitchen line and rinse it well. — Usa desengrasante en la línea de la cocina y enjuágalo bien.

• dilution day-LOO-shun ▶ EN
  dilución dee-loo-SYOHN ▶ ES Safety-critical

  How much water gets mixed with concentrate — 1:32 means one part product to 32 parts water; wrong dilution wastes product or damages surfaces.

  Check the dilution on the neutral cleaner — it's 1:64, not 1:10. — Revisa la dilución del limpiador neutro — es 1:64, no 1:10.

  Also: mezcla (general)

• dilution station day-LOO-shun STAY-shun ▶ EN
  estación de dilución es-tah-SYOHN deh dee-loo-SYOHN ▶ ES

  The wall unit that mixes concentrate and water at the right ratio automatically; fill bottles there, not by pouring.

  Fill the mop buckets at the dilution station, button two. — Llena las cubetas del trapeador en la estación de dilución, botón dos.

• disinfectant dis-in-FEK-tunt ▶ EN
  desinfectante des-een-fek-TAHN-teh ▶ ES

  The EPA-registered product that kills germs when left wet the full dwell time on the label.

  Disinfectant on all the touch points, and let it sit wet. — Desinfectante en todos los puntos de contacto, y déjalo húmedo.

  Also: sanitizante (general)

• enzyme cleaner EN-zaym KLEE-ner ▶ EN
  limpiador de enzimas leem-pyah-DOHR deh EN-see-mahs ▶ ES

  The biological cleaner that digests organic odor sources — urine around urinals, drains; it needs time, not scrubbing.

  Pour enzyme cleaner around the urinal base and let it work overnight. — Echa limpiador de enzimas alrededor de la base del mingitorio y déjalo trabajar toda la noche.

• expiration date ek-spih-RAY-shun dayt ▶ EN
  fecha de caducidad FEH-chah deh kah-doo-see-DAHD ▶ ES

  Disinfectants and mixed solutions lose strength over time; expired product cleans but no longer disinfects.

  Check the expiration date on the sanitizer — mixed quat is only good a few days. — Revisa la fecha de caducidad del sanitizante — el cuaternario mezclado solo dura unos días.

• foaming FOHM-ing ▶ EN
  espuma es-POO-mah ▶ ES

  Too much product or the wrong one in the auto scrubber makes foam that kills the vacuum motor; defoamer in the recovery tank.

  The recovery tank is all foam — add defoamer and cut the soap dose. — El tanque de recuperación es pura espuma — ponle antiespumante y bájale al jabón.

• gallon GAL-un ▶ EN
  galón gah-LOHN ▶ ES

  The standard jug and the unit dilutions are figured against — ounces per gallon.

  Order four gallons of neutral and two of the peroxide. — Pide cuatro galones de neutro y dos del peróxido.

• glass cleaner GLAS KLEE-ner ▶ EN
  limpiavidrios leem-pyah-BEE-dryohs ▶ ES

  The ammonia or alcohol cleaner for glass and mirrors; keep it off screens with coatings.

  Glass cleaner and a dry microfiber on every mirror. — Limpiavidrios y microfibra seca en cada espejo.

  Also: limpiacristales (general)

• green cleaning GREEN KLEE-ning ▶ EN
  limpieza ecológica leem-PYEH-sah eh-koh-LOH-hee-kah ▶ ES

  The certified-product program some buildings require — different chemicals, same dwell times; substitutions void the certification.

  This is a green cleaning building — only the approved list goes on that cart. — Este edificio es de limpieza ecológica — solo la lista aprobada sube a ese carrito.

• hydrogen peroxide cleaner HAY-droh-jen per-OK-sayd KLEE-ner ▶ EN
  limpiador de peróxido leem-pyah-DOHR deh peh-ROK-see-doh ▶ ES

  The peroxide-based multi-surface cleaner many accounts use instead of bleach; safer, and it still needs its dwell time.

  The school switched to hydrogen peroxide cleaner — same dilution station, button three. — La escuela cambió a limpiador de peróxido — misma estación, botón tres.

• measuring cup MEZH-er-ing kup ▶ EN
  taza medidora TAH-sah meh-dee-DOH-rah ▶ ES

  The marked cup or pump that makes a dilution exact when there's no dilution station; 'a glug' is not a measurement.

  Use the measuring cup — two ounces per gallon means two ounces. — Usa la taza medidora — dos onzas por galón son dos onzas.

• neutral cleaner NOO-trul KLEE-ner ▶ EN
  limpiador neutro leem-pyah-DOHR NEH-oo-troh ▶ ES

  The everyday pH-neutral floor cleaner that is safe on finish; the default for daily mopping.

  Daily mop is neutral cleaner only — the degreaser dulls the wax. — El trapeado diario es solo con limpiador neutro — el desengrasante opaca la cera.

• ph scale pee-AYCH skayl ▶ EN
  escala de ph es-KAH-lah deh peh-AH-cheh ▶ ES

  Acid to alkaline, 0 to 14: acids dissolve mineral (scale, rust), alkalines dissolve organic (grease, wax). Match the chemistry to the soil.

  Grease is alkaline work, scale is acid work — the pH scale picks your product. — La grasa es trabajo alcalino, el sarro es trabajo ácido — la escala de pH escoge tu producto.

• quat disinfectant KWAT dis-in-FEK-tunt ▶ EN
  desinfectante de cuaternarios deh-seen-fek-TAHN-teh deh kwah-tehr-NAH-ryohs ▶ ES

  The standard quaternary-ammonium disinfectant; cotton mops absorb and deactivate it — use microfiber and fresh solution.

  The quat loses strength sitting in the bucket — mix it fresh each area. — El cuaternario pierde fuerza en la cubeta — mézclalo fresco para cada área.

• ready-to-use RED-ee too YOOS ▶ EN
  listo para usar LEES-toh PAH-rah oo-SAHR ▶ ES

  Product sold at working strength — no dilution; diluting it 'to stretch it' just makes it not work.

  The disinfectant wipes and that spray are ready-to-use — straight from the bottle. — Las toallitas y ese atomizador vienen listos para usar — directo del envase.

• solvent SOL-vent ▶ EN
  solvente sohl-BEN-teh ▶ ES Safety-critical

  The strong degreasing liquids for adhesive, ink, and marker; flammable — ventilation, no sparks, small amounts.

  Solvent takes the sticker residue off — rag it on, don't pour it. — El solvente quita el residuo de la calcomanía — aplícalo con trapo, no lo vacíes.

  Also: thinner (general)

• spray bottle SPRAY BOT-ul ▶ EN
  atomizador ah-toh-mee-sah-DOHR ▶ ES

  The labeled trigger bottle each product gets; the label must match what's inside, always.

  Blue spray bottle is glass cleaner, red is disinfectant — don't swap tops. — El atomizador azul es limpiavidrios, el rojo es desinfectante — no cambies las tapas.

  Also: botella con atomizador (general)

• test in a corner TEST in ah KOR-ner ▶ EN
  probar en una esquina proh-BAHR en OO-nah es-KEE-nah ▶ ES

  Any new product or strong chemical gets tried on a hidden spot first — after the finish is ruined is a bad time to learn.

  Test in a corner behind the door before that solvent touches the counter. — Prueba en una esquina detrás de la puerta antes de que ese solvente toque la cubierta.

• wipes WAYPS ▶ EN
  toallitas desinfectantes toh-ah-YEE-tahs ▶ ES

  Pre-wetted disinfectant wipes for quick touch-point passes; one wipe per area, tossed while still wet.

  Day porter carries wipes for the door handles between full services. — El conserje de día trae toallitas para las manijas entre servicios completos.

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