Residential house cleaning

House cleaning in the Okanagan (BC): where the operator's soap/vinegar/Murphy baseline fails in a home (vinegar etches marble; oil soap barred on laminate and prefinished hardwood; vinegar/bleach off stainless), maker methods for stone, stainless, glass-tops, ovens, scale, floors and carpet; BC RTB move-out duties; working alone; WorkSafeBC worker-vs-contractor.

Operating manualNAICS 561722 · NAICS 561720 · Commercial Janitorial Services · Lawn Care & Snow Removal Route Business· prepared 2026-10-07

Owner-operator or small crew cleaning occupied homes (recurring, deep, move-in/move-out) in British Columbia's Okanagan; US equivalents noted (OSHA HazCom, IRS/state worker tests).

Sample Website / Landing Page

What the website for this business can look like — a Part Owner template, built around the manual below.

The system, surface by surface

What goes on each surface, with what, at what dilution, and what never to do. Where the method is an operator’s own practice it is checked against the maker’s label and the regulator.

Surface	Method	Product	Dilution	Never
Painted walls, doors, baseboards, switch plates	Operator's practice — soap (mild detergent) and water on a damp, well-wrung cloth — is right in a home too. Work high to low and clean to dirty (ceiling edges and tops of frames first, baseboards last), spot-clean marks rather than flooding the wall, fresh cloths, no double-dipping. The public-health cleaning order (high to low, clean to dirty) applies to any room.	Mild detergent in water (operator); Murphy's label also lists painted surfaces	—	Do not soak drywall; skip textured walls that cannot be wiped (BC RTB recognises texture can prohibit wiping).	8
Natural stone counters and vanities (granite, marble, travertine, limestone, quartzite)	Clean with a neutral cleaner, stone soap or a mild liquid dishwashing detergent in warm water; rinse thoroughly and dry with a soft cloth; change rinse water often. Blot spills (do not wipe), flush with water and mild soap, rinse, dry. Too much soap leaves film and streaks. Calcareous stone (marble, limestone, travertine) is calcium carbonate, which acids dissolve; siliceous stone (granite, quartzite) resists most kitchen acids but may contain acid-sensitive minerals, so acids are still not recommended.	Mild dish detergent or a pH-neutral stone cleaner (professional option: a neutral cleaner such as Stride at label dilution — Stride's SDS gives pH ≈7.3 at use dilution, but Stride is not labelled for stone; spot-test)	—	OPERATOR'S VINEGAR + SOAP SPRAY IS WRONG HERE: products containing lemon, vinegar or other acids may dull or etch calcareous stone. No scouring powders/creams (scratch). No rust removers or toilet-bowl cleaners — many contain trace hydrofluoric acid, which attacks ALL stone incl. granite. Never mix ammonia and bleach.	19
Natural stone — vinegar on granite (counter-claim check)	NSI's own sanitation test wiped granite with 10% household vinegar, but the bulletin cautions some granites contain acid-sensitive minerals and that sealers/impregnators can be attacked by mild acids: do not use vinegar without the stone supplier confirming the stone's mineralogy. Practice: treat every client's stone as acid-sensitive unless the homeowner has the fabricator's word otherwise. Granite is more acid-tolerant than marble, not acid-proof.	—	—	Do not let the operator's vinegar glass spray drift onto stone counters or stone shower walls.	20
Stone and tile showers — soap scum	Minimise scum with a squeegee after use (advise the client). To remove scum on stone use a non-acidic soap-scum remover or ammonia and water (about 1/2 cup ammonia per gallon of water); over-use of ammonia may eventually dull some stone. Acid descalers etch marble/travertine shower walls; ammonia is the stone-safe alternative.	Non-acidic soap-scum remover, or household ammonia solution	About 1/2 cup ammonia per US gallon of water (Natural Stone Institute)	Never use the ammonia solution in the same visit as bleach or a bleach-based mould/tile spray (chloramine gas — Health Canada).	19
Shower glass, glass doors, chrome fixtures — hard-water scale (Okanagan water)	Routine: operator's vinegar + soap spray, wipe and squeegee/buff dry (fine on glass and ceramic tile, never on stone). Heavy scale: CLR PRO, which its maker lists for glass, ceramic tile, stainless steel, faucets, shower fixtures, fiberglass, toilets and sinks — spot-test, apply to the deposit, rinse promptly with cold water. Scale is mineral; it needs an acid. The acid is what must be kept away from stone and from bleach.	Operator vinegar + dish soap (routine); CLR PRO Calcium, Lime & Rust Remover (scale)	CLR PRO: light soils 1 part CLR to 4 parts warm water; medium 1:1; heavy full strength (maker page)	CLR PRO SDS: do not mix with other household cleaners or chemicals including bleach — toxic fumes; incompatible with metals other than stainless, chrome, aluminum, brass, copper; avoid wood and organic materials. Keep off stone (acid — see stone rows).	25
Stainless steel appliances (fridge, dishwasher, range front, hood)	Wash with warm soapy water (liquid detergent) and a non-abrasive sponge, always rubbing evenly with the grain; rinse with clean water; dry with a soft lint-free cloth and polish with the grain. Water left on can discolour the steel (iron in water). A stainless polish (e.g., affresh Stainless Steel Cleaning Mousse) is an optional finish. Appliance maker's care instructions (KitchenAid/Whirlpool).	Liquid detergent + water; optional affresh Stainless Steel Cleaning Mousse	—	No chlorine-bleach products, abrasive or harsh cleaners, soap-filled scouring pads, steel wool, gritty cloths. Maker warns acid food spills 'such as vinegar' may affect the finish — so do not use the operator's vinegar glass spray on stainless.	22
Glass-top (ceramic glass) range	Controls off, surface cool (turn on cooktop lockout where fitted). Scrape residue with a ceramic-cooktop scraper at about 45° while the top is warm, not hot (oven mitt). Apply a few dime-sized drops of cooktop cleaner, rub in with the cooktop pad, let it dry to a white haze, polish with a clean dry cloth; repeat for burnt-on stains. Maker's procedure.	affresh cooktop cleaner (or another ceramic-glass cooktop cleaner)	Used as supplied — a few dime-sized drops (maker page)	No steel wool, abrasive powder cleansers, chlorine bleach, rust remover or ammonia on the cooktop.	23
Oven interior (deep clean / move-out)	For a manual oven clean use a labelled oven cleaner per its label, with the PPE its SDS calls for, windows open and kids/pets out of the kitchen. Easy-Off Heavy Duty is a flammable, corrosive aerosol (Danger). BC RTB Guideline 1: at move-out the tenant must clean the stove top, elements and oven.	Easy-Off Heavy Duty Oven Cleaner (Reckitt)	Aerosol, used as supplied — follow the can label	SDS: corrosive to metals, skin corrosion Cat. 1, serious eye damage Cat. 1, flammable aerosol — eliminate ignition sources (pilot lights), keep away from metals; never with any other cleaner.	24
Hardwood and engineered hardwood floors (factory polyurethane finish)	Sweep or vacuum frequently (grit acts like sandpaper); clean with a cleaner formulated for prefinished hardwood, damp mop only. Kentwood (a BC-based maker) names its own Therapy cleanser 'or a similar cleaning product designed for pre-finished hardwood'; Bona Pro Series Hardwood Floor Cleaner is labelled for unwaxed polyurethane-finished and prefinished aluminium-oxide floors (mist, then clean with a microfibre pad; rinse the pad often). Follow the floor maker's care sheet — it governs the warranty.	Bona Professional Series Hardwood Floor Cleaner, or the floor maker's own cleaner	Bona RTU spray: mist and clean (no mixing); the TDS also states 1 part concentrate to 7 parts water for the concentrate	OPERATOR'S MURPHY ON WOOD FLOORS CONFLICTS WITH THE FLOOR MAKER: Kentwood lists detergents, oils, waxes, polishes, bleach, scouring agents, 'all in one' floor cleaners and OIL SOAPS as products that should not be used (damage finish or leave dulling residue). Never steam-clean wood; never a wet mop. Vinegar only occasionally — prolonged use may alter the gloss.	29
Hardwood floors — Murphy label check	Murphy's own label lists wood floors, cabinets, tables, chairs, panelling, laminate floors and bookcases, at 1/4 cup per gallon of warm water (1/2 cup heavy). In a home, the floor maker's instructions win where they conflict: keep Murphy for finished wood furniture, cabinets and panelling, and for floors only where the flooring maker allows it (often older site-finished floors with no maker sheet — ask the client). Label-approved use, but not every floor maker agrees.	Murphy Oil Soap Original	1/4 cup per US gallon warm water; 1/2 cup heavy (label)	SDS: skin sensitiser Cat. 1 — gloves.	1
Laminate floors	Dust-mop or vacuum (hard-floor setting). For heavier cleaning, damp-mop with water only on a well-wrung mop; if needed, 1 cup vinegar per gallon of water or 1/3 cup non-sudsing ammonia per gallon (Pergo Pro care sheet). Spray onto the mop, not the floor. Laminate swells if water stands at the seams.	Water; optionally vinegar or non-sudsing ammonia solution per the maker	1 cup vinegar per US gallon water, OR 1/3 cup non-sudsing ammonia per gallon (Pergo Pro)	OPERATOR'S MURPHY IS WRONG ON THIS LAMINATE: Pergo says do not use detergents, abrasive cleaners, soaps, waxes or polishes, no puddling/excessively wet mop, no beater bars, scrubbers, jet mops or buffers. (Murphy's label lists laminate — the floor maker overrides.) Check each brand's sheet; other laminates differ on steam.	28
Carpets and rugs	Vacuum slowly and regularly (at least weekly; more in traffic lanes and pet homes). Spots: blot with a white cloth until nearly dry (scoop semisolids); treat with a CRI Seal of Approval spot cleaner, pretested, applied to a white cloth and worked from the edge to the centre; blot, don't scrub; finish by blotting with clear water. Professional deep clean every 12–18 months (or as the carpet maker requires). Scrubbing frays pile; residue resoils.	CRI Seal of Approval spot cleaner	—	Do not scrub or brush spots; no printed/coloured towels (dye transfer).	42
Bathrooms (toilet, sink, tub) and high-touch points in an occupied home	Clean first, then — where the client wants disinfection — a Health Canada DIN product at its label directions and contact time; toilet last; toilet tools stay in the bathroom. Oxivir Tb is used neat. Soap and vinegar carry no disinfectant claim; a DIN does.	Oxivir Tb (DIN 02283522) or another DIN disinfectant	Oxivir Tb: ready to use, neat (SDS)	Oxivir Tb is acidic (pH ≈3) and its SDS says do not mix with any other product; never with bleach.	4
Glass, mirrors (home)	Operator's vinegar + dish soap spray is fine on glass and mirrors; wipe and buff dry. Labelled alternative: Glance RTU (not WHMIS-classified). Label every decanted bottle so nobody tops it up with bleach. Health Canada names vinegar among acids that release toxic gas with bleach.	Operator mix or Glance	—	Never with or after bleach; keep the overspray off stone sills/counters and stainless.	3

Chemicals and their safety data sheets

Every product the system names: what it is for, the dilution from its label or technical sheet, the hazard classes and PPE from its SDS, and how to get it. The SDS is linked to the maker’s copy — always read the current one before use.

Product	Use	Dilution	Hazards · PPE	SDS	How to buy
Murphy Oil Soap — Original (liquid) Colgate-Palmolive · wood cleaner (soap-based)	Finished wood furniture, cabinets, panelling; floors only where the flooring maker allows oil soap.	1/4 cup per gallon warm water; 1/2 cup heavy; no rinse (label)	Skin sensitisation Category 1 (Colgate SDS 660000010906, US GHS) PPE: SDS s. 8: safety goggles; protective gloves	SDS	Retail (grocery, hardware, big-box); no account.	2
Glance Glass & Multi-Surface Cleaner (RTU) Diversey (Solenis) · glass cleaner, ready to use	Glass, mirrors, chrome.	Used neat (SDS)	Not classified (WHMIS 2015 / OSHA HazCom 2012) PPE: SDS s. 8: none required under normal use	SDS	Diversey/Solenis Canada (1-800-668-7171) or an authorised janitorial distributor.	6
Stride Citrus SC Neutral Cleaner Diversey (Solenis) · neutral general-purpose cleaner (concentrate)	Tile and vinyl floors, general hard surfaces; neutral option where acids must be avoided (spot-test on stone — not labelled for stone).	1:128 (SDS)	Concentrate: Eye irritation Cat. 2A (Warning); diluted: not classified PPE: Concentrate: splash goggles, chemical-resistant gloves	SDS	Diversey/Solenis account or distributor.	5
Oxivir Tb (Canada) Diversey (Solenis) · RTU accelerated hydrogen peroxide cleaner-disinfectant DIN 02283522 (SDS)	One-step clean and disinfect of hard non-porous high-touch surfaces, bathrooms.	Ready to use, neat (SDS)	Not classified (2018 SDS) PPE: None required under normal use (SDS s. 8)	SDS	Diversey/Solenis Canada or authorised distributor.	4
CLR PRO Calcium, Lime & Rust Remover Jelmar (CLR Brands) · acidic descaler	Hard-water scale and rust on glass, ceramic tile, stainless, faucets, shower fixtures, fiberglass, toilets, sinks.	Light 1:4 with warm water; medium 1:1; heavy full strength; rinse promptly with cold water (maker page)	Skin irritation Cat. 2; Eye irritation Cat. 2A (SDS 2025-01-16) PPE: Protective gloves and eye/face protection; rubber gloves with cuff; goggles for industrial users (SDS)	SDS	Retail (hardware/big-box) for consumer CLR; CLR PRO through janitorial distributors (maker B2B line).	26
Easy-Off Heavy Duty Oven Cleaner Reckitt Benckiser (Canada) Inc. · caustic aerosol oven cleaner (sodium hydroxide)	Baked-on grease in ovens (deep clean / move-out).	Aerosol, as supplied (label)	Flammable aerosol Cat. 1; gas under pressure; corrosive to metals Cat. 1; skin corrosion Cat. 1; serious eye damage Cat. 1 — Danger (SDS D8362392 v4.0, US) PPE: Protective gloves, protective clothing, eye or face protection; chemical-resistant impervious gloves; splash goggles as assessed (SDS)	SDS	Retail (grocery, hardware, big-box).	24
affresh cooktop cleaner Whirlpool Corporation · ceramic-glass cooktop cream cleaner	Glass-top ranges after scraping.	As supplied, a few dime-sized drops (Whirlpool page)	Eye irritation Cat. 2B, signal word Warning (SDS, Spanish) PPE: Gloves and protective clothing; avoid eye contact (SDS s. 8)	SDS	Appliance retailers, big-box, whirlpool.com/affresh (kit W11042470 includes cleaner, pads, scraper).	30
affresh Stainless Steel Cleaning Mousse Whirlpool Corporation · aerosol stainless cleaner/polish	Optional finishing polish on stainless appliance fronts, with the grain.	As supplied (aerosol)	Flammable aerosol Cat. 2; Eye irritation Cat. 2 (H320) (SDS rev. 2017-01-18) PPE: None required under normal use; safety glasses advised, nitrile gloves for sensitive skin (SDS s. 8)	SDS	Appliance retailers and big-box.	31
Bona Professional Series Hardwood Floor Cleaner Bona · hardwood floor cleaner (hydrogen-peroxide, pH 4.5–5.5)	Unwaxed polyurethane-finished and prefinished aluminium-oxide wood floors; wood cabinets.	RTU spray: mist and clean; TDS also states 1 part concentrate to 7 parts water	—	No SDS retrieved — the TDS says read the SDS before use; get it from Bona or the distributor. TDS is EPA Safer Choice certified (US).	Flooring dealers, big-box, janitorial distributors; 32 oz spray WM700051187, 128 oz refill WM700018174.	27

Standard operating procedures

The routines, in order, with how often each is done.

Standard recurring clean (weekly / bi-weekly)weekly or bi-weekly

Arrive, disarm alarm with the client's code, note pets and anything broken already (photo).
Set up caddy outside the first room; open a window or run the fan where sprays are used.
Each room: top to bottom, clean to dirty — dust high surfaces, light switches and doors, glass/mirrors, counters, then floors last; baseboards on rotation.
Kitchen: stainless with the grain (no vinegar, no bleach); stone counters with neutral cleaner, rinse and dry (no vinegar); cooktop per maker; sink last.
Bathrooms last of the wet rooms, toilet last within each; bathroom-only cloths.
Floors: vacuum carpets; dust-mop then damp-mop hard floors with the cleaner the floor maker allows (no oil soap on Pergo-type laminate or prefinished hardwood).
Walk-through, re-lock, re-arm, log the visit and any damage.

Deep clean (first visit / seasonal)first visit, then 1–4 times a year

Everything in the recurring clean, plus:
Baseboards, door frames, switch plates and walls spot-washed with soap and water.
Oven per oven-cleaner label with gloves/goggles, kitchen ventilated, kids and pets out (Easy-Off is corrosive, flammable).
Glass-top range: scrape, cream, polish.
Shower glass and fixtures descaled (CLR PRO 1:4 → 1:1 → neat, rinse) — never on stone, never with bleach.
Stone showers: ammonia solution (≈1/2 cup/gal) or non-acidic scum remover.
Carpet spots blotted and treated; recommend professional extraction every 12–18 months.

Move-out clean (BC tenancy)per tenancy end

Ask the client for the move-in condition inspection report and any landlord instructions (window coverings may have special cleaning instructions).
Walls: wash scuff marks and fingerprints unless the wall texture prohibits wiping.
Inside windows and tracks (incl. removing mould); balcony doors, windows and tracks inside and out.
Stove top, elements and oven; defrost and clean the refrigerator; wipe out the dishwasher.
Pull out fridge and stove if on rollers and clean behind/underneath; if not on rollers, only if the landlord says how to move them safely.
Internal window coverings left clean (mandatory where anyone smoked).
Carpets: tenant generally responsible for steam-cleaning/shampooing after a tenancy of one year, or any length if uncaged pets or smoking — book an extractor or carpet cleaner.
Standard is 'reasonable health, cleanliness and sanitary standards' — not a higher standard; photograph each room when done.

Working in a client's home: keys, codes, pets, breakage, productsevery visit

Keep keys and alarm codes coded (no address on the key tag), logged, and returned at service end.
Store every product the visit uses in its original or properly labelled container, closed, in the caddy, out of sight and reach of children and pets — never set an open bottle down.
Never decant into beverage containers; never cover or remove labels.
Ask about fragrance sensitivities/allergies: 'unscented' can still contain masking agents; 'fragrance-free' on a label means odourless and no masking perfume — choose accordingly.
If a child or pet is exposed: call BC DPIC 1-800-567-8911 / 604-682-5050 and read the label to them.
Report any breakage or damage to the client the same day, with photos; record in the visit log.

The software this runs on

What the trade actually buys, screened by Research Upon and read here from the buyer's side: who the default is, who the alternatives are, and what leaving costs. 1058 named products across 168 markets sit behind this — the ones for this trade are below.

Cleaning Business Software561722

Default Split by segment: Jobber (horizontal home-service software, Edmonton) at the residential and small-crew end; TEAM Software / WinTeam (WorkWave, an IFS company) at the commercial-contractor end

Getting out Low at the residential end: recurring schedules, client list and stored cards move with a CSV, and ZenMaid advertises free data migration and month-to-month plans [C]. The real lock-in is the payments attach on Jobber and Housecall Pro.

JobberBHousecall ProBTEAM Software (WinTeam) — WorkWave / IFSBSweptCanadaBOtuvy (formerly CleanTelligent)United StatesCZenMaidUnited StatesCJanitorial ManagerUnited StatesCLaunch27 / BookingKoala / ServiceM8C

The buying brief · the full screen

And the company-wide stack

Nothing to do with the trade and everything to do with being a company. One of these per job below, and no more — a second CRM is a decision to keep two customer lists.

CRMHRMERPExpense & Corporate Spend Management

Residential cleaning runs on recurring schedules and stored cards, which is exactly what the horizontal home-service systems do well — and the research is blunt that the lock-in is the payments attach rather than the software. Before committing, ask what the processing rate is and what an export of your client list and schedule actually contains.

Safety

What the crew must know and carry: the never-mix list, PPE, WHMIS, the fire extinguisher and first-aid kit the regulations call for, and the training.

Never mix

bleach + vinegar or any acid (CLR, toilet-bowl cleaners, Oxivir Tb pH 3) — Toxic gas; Health Canada names vinegar3
bleach + ammonia (incl. the NSI stone-shower ammonia solution, some glass cleaners) — Chloramine gas — can be deadly3
CLR PRO + any other household cleaner or chemical incl. bleach — SDS: toxic fumes may result26
ammonia + bleach on stone — NSI: creates a toxic and lethal gas19
Oxivir Tb + any other product — SDS: do not mix unless directions say so4

WHMIS

A residential cleaning business with workers must run a WHMIS programme in BC: supplier labels and SDSs for every hazardous product, workplace labels on decanted bottles (OHS Reg s. 5.10), worker education and training (ss. 5.6–5.7), annual review (s. 5.5), and incompatibles stored apart (s. 5.24 — e.g., CLR/acid away from bleach in the van). US: OSHA HazCom 29 CFR 1910.1200.10

Personal protective equipment

Chemical-resistant gloves + goggles/face protection — Oven cleaner (corrosive, Cat. 1 eye damage)24
Rubber gloves with cuff + eye protection — CLR PRO descaling26
Gloves — Murphy Oil Soap (skin sensitiser)2
Goggles and rubber gloves; ventilation — Any use of bleach36

Fire extinguishers

Multipurpose A:B:C in the work vehicle (recommended; homes supply their own) — Van/caddy area with aerosols (oven cleaner, stainless mousse are flammable aerosols)
Monthly visual, annual maintenance (BC adopts NFPA 10)
14
(NFPA 10 intervals) — Any workplace
Monthly visual; annual maintenance; 6-year internal exam (stored-pressure dry chemical); non-rechargeable units out at 12 years
13

First aid

WorkSafeBC OHS Reg s. 3.16 + Schedule 3-A; kits per CSA Z1220 (WorkSafeBC) — Written first-aid assessment required. Mobile 1–2-person crews: a personal (CSA Z1220 Type 1) kit per vehicle/worker at minimum; add a basic kit and attendant as Schedule 3-A requires by worker count and hazard rating. Poison line BC DPIC 1-800-567-8911.11

Training

WHMIS 2015 + site-specific product training — In-house or outside provider (WorkSafeBC does not certify) (Reviewed at least annually)9
Working-alone check-in procedure — Employer (written procedure; worker and checker trained, s. 4.22) (Ongoing)34
Ladder use and MSI (lifting, kneeling, reaching) awareness — Employer toolbox talk (Ongoing)35

Equipment

The kit the system assumes.

Item	Use
Ceramic-cooktop scraper + non-scratch pads	Glass-top ranges	23
Flat microfibre mop with dust and damp pads	Hardwood and laminate — damp, never wet; mist the pad	27
Squeegee	Shower glass and stone shower walls (prevents scum)	19
Vacuum with hard-floor setting (no beater bar on laminate) and white cloths for spot work	Carpets, rugs, laminate	42
Ladder rated to CSA/ANSI	High dusting, light fixtures	35

Who you need, and when

You need to wear many hats to create a company, as a startup, land funding and become a future unicorn business. These are the hats this trade needs filled — each one a page on what the person looks like, what it pays, and which other hat they can wear at the same time.

Crew Supervisor / Foreperson

Runs the crew on site: the sequence, the safety, the quality and whether the job finishes in the hours it was sold for.

At pre-seed: The owner is the supervisor, and the legal duties of a supervisor…

Dispatcher / Service Coordinator

Owns the day: who goes where, in what order, with which parts — and tells the customer the truth about when.

At pre-seed: The owner's phone, and a calendar the customer can see

Experience Specialist

Answers the customer, fixes what can be fixed in the moment, and routes the rest to whoever can.

At pre-seed: The founder answers every ticket personally, and should

Account Manager

Owns the customers you already have: adoption, renewal, expansion, and the early warning before one leaves.

At pre-seed: The founder

Chief Human Resources Officer

Owns hiring, employment compliance, compensation and the thing people mean when they talk about culture: who gets…

At pre-seed: The founder, with a template employment agreement reviewed by an actual…

Corporate Accountant

Keeps the books: the close, the reconciliations, accounts payable and receivable, and the file the auditor will ask for.

At pre-seed: A bookkeeper for a few hours a month

Marketing Manager

Runs the demand engine day to day: the site, the content, the campaigns, the launches and the numbers underneath them.

At pre-seed: The founder writes everything

Chief Executive Officer

Owns the direction, the money in the bank and the hiring bar. In a startup, also owns whatever nobody else owns yet.

At pre-seed: Does the work

Occupation employed in this industry	Canadian median	How concentrated
Managers in construction and facility operation and maintenance Construction managers · Home building and renovation managers · Facility operation and maintenance managers	$94,016	concentrated	214,735
Logging, forestry, landscaping and other related labourers Logging and forestry labourers · Landscaping and grounds maintenance labourers	$59,717	concentrated	103,260
Contractors and supervisors, agriculture, horticulture and related operations and services Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors · Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services	$62,005	concentrated	23,100

Occupation, median wage and headcount: Statistics Canada, as carried by Research Upon (the job tables). These are measured occupations rather than job titles — broader than a role, and useful as a wage anchor rather than a salary band.

Every role in a company, and the order to hire in →

Where to get it

The makers and distributors, how to open an account, and how to find the wholesalers in your own city — then the same question answered for whichever country you are in.

Supplier	What	How to buy
Diversey — part of Solenis	Oxivir Tb (DIN 02283522), Stride, Glance	Diversey Canada 1-800-668-7171 or authorised distributor; SDS on sds.solenis.com	7
Retail (grocery, hardware, big-box)	Murphy Oil Soap, Easy-Off, CLR, affresh, Bona — consumer SKUs, no account	Over the counter; keep the SDS link for each in the WHMIS binder	25

Canada

A disinfectant sold in Canada is a drug and carries a DIN; a sanitiser carries a DIN or NPN. Verify the product in Health Canada's Drug Product Database before standardising a case of it, and buy through janitorial and chemical distribution rather than retail — the pack sizes, the SDS and the account terms all come with the distributor.44

National janitorial distributorsChemical wholesalersDIN-registered disinfectants

United States

Disinfectants are EPA-registered pesticides and carry an EPA Reg. No.; the label governs the dilution, the contact time and the claims you may repeat to a client. Distribution is deep and price-transparent, and buying groups give a small operator real terms.45

National janitorial distributorsBuying groupsEPA-registered disinfectants

United Kingdom and European Union

Disinfectants fall under the biocidal products regime and must be authorised for the market; labels and safety data sheets follow CLP. Buy from a distributor established in your own market so the authorisation and labelling duty sits with them rather than with you as an importer.46

Authorised biocide distributors

Australia and New Zealand

Safety data sheets and labels follow the model WHS laws, disinfectants making therapeutic claims fall to the TGA, and some products are APVMA-registered. Distribution is concentrated with national importers, so freight and minimum orders shape the stock policy.47

National janitorial distributors

Wholesale codes: 424690 · 423850. In /local look under janitorial/chemical wholesale (NAICS 424690, 423850; Canadian 418/417 series by description) in Kelowna/Vernon/Penticton; flooring dealers carry the floor makers' own cleaners. Find your city on Research Upon’s local research to see who is already operating there, or read what your country requires before a product may be sold to you at all.

Licences and insurance

What it takes to operate legally and be hired by a commercial client.

Licences and registrations

Municipal business licence + Okanagan Inter-Community (Mobile) Business Licence — Home municipality; participating Okanagan municipalities
$150 add-on to the home licence covers mobile service businesses (janitorial named) across participating municipalities (Vernon).
16
Inter-community / non-resident licence options — City of Penticton
Inter-Community add-on via the home municipality, or Non Resident licence if working only in Penticton.
17
WorkSafeBC registration — WorkSafeBC
Required for any employer unless exempt; owners can buy optional Personal Coverage. Clients may ask for a clearance letter.
15
Worker vs contractor — cleaners you hire — WorkSafeBC
A contractor is likely your worker (you pay premiums) if they supply only labour (or labour + minor materials) or work regular hours for you on an ongoing basis; independent if they have multiple clients, advertise to the public and supply their own major equipment. Get clearance letters before and after using any subcontractor.
40
Worker vs contractor — tax (CRA) — Canada Revenue Agency
CRA weighs control, who provides tools and equipment, ability to subcontract/hire helpers, financial risk, investment and management, opportunity for profit, and the written contract (RC4110). US: IRS common-law test / state rules.
39
Homeowner as employer — why clients hire a business — WorkSafeBC
A homeowner who hires their OWN housekeeper for 8+ hours a week must register as an employer; hiring an independent business makes them a customer, not an employer. Selling point and a reason to look and operate like an independent business.
41

Insurance

Commercial general liability (CGL) — Breakage and damage in client homes (stone etched, floors clouded, appliances scratched); IBC lists CGL among standard business policies — limit per broker/client.18
Crime / employee dishonesty coverage or a fidelity (janitorial) bond — Crews hold keys and alarm codes to occupied homes; IBC lists crime cover. Bonding itself is not described by IBC — ask a broker.18
WorkSafeBC Personal Coverage for the owner — Proprietors are not covered as workers unless they buy it (clients may ask for proof).40

Not yet established

What the sources did not settle. Nothing here is guessed at elsewhere on the page.

Coordinator stopped research early: no source fetched for grout care (sealing, acid on cement grout, coloured grout) — use neutral cleaner and test; a grout/tile maker or TCNA sheet is still needed.
Self-cleaning ovens: no maker statement retrieved on whether oven cleaner may be used inside a self-clean oven — check the oven's manual before using Easy-Off.
Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner SDS not retrieved (TDS only); TDS says 'pH neutral' yet lists pH 4.5–5.5 and gives a 1:7 concentrate dilution on an RTU sheet.
NWFA's own consumer page (woodfloorsonline.com) did not respond; hardwood guidance rests on Kentwood (BC maker) and Bona.
CLR consumer label 'do not use on' surface list not retrieved (product pages 403); stone exclusion rests on NSI's acid guidance.
No retail stone cleaner (e.g., Granite Gold) with SDS researched; NSI-recommended neutral cleaner / mild dish soap used instead.
No retail DIN disinfectant (Lysol/Clorox Canada) SDS researched; Oxivir Tb is the only disinfectant.
Pets: no veterinary/regulator source specific to pets beyond Health Canada's 'out of reach of children and pets'.
BC Employment Standards page on employee vs contractor returned 404; CRA RC4110 and WorkSafeBC used.
Fidelity/janitorial bond specifics (cost, who issues in BC) not sourced.
Affresh cooktop cleaner SDS only in Spanish; Easy-Off SDS is the US version.
WorkSafeBC hazard rating for residential cleaning classification unit not looked up (needed for Schedule 3-A).
Murphy Oil Soap gel (operator's form) — no label or SDS (carried from commercial record).

Sources

Every number in the margins above points here. Tier A is a regulator, standard or manufacturer; B a trade body or distributor.

1. Murphy Oil Soap Wood Cleaner, Original — product page and directions (lists wood floors, laminate floors, painted surfaces, ceramic tile, vinyl) — Colgate-Palmolive (Murphy brand site)A · 2026-10-07
2. SDS: Murphy Oil Soap Liquid Original, SDS no. 660000010906, rev. 2022-03-23 (distributor-hosted copy) — Colgate-Palmolive Co (copy hosted by Zoro/Essendant)A · 2026-10-07
3. Public advisory: Reduce your risk from toxic gases — never mix bleach with other cleaning products — Health Canada (Recalls and safety alerts)A · 2026-10-07
4. SDS: Oxivir Tb (Canada), SDS # MS0301086, 2018-03-14 (institution-hosted copy) — Diversey, Inc. – Canada (copy hosted by University of Waterloo)A · 2026-10-07
5. SDS: Stride Citrus SC Neutral Cleaner, SDS # MS0800204, rev. 2024-04-09 (distributor-hosted copy) — Diversey Canada, Inc. (copy hosted by NASSCO)A · 2026-10-07
6. SDS (Spanish): Glance Glass and Multi-Surface Cleaner, SDS # MS0800662 (distributor-hosted copy) — Diversey, Inc. – Canada (copy hosted by Imperial Dade)A · 2026-10-07
7. Safety Data Sheets portal (sds.diversey.com redirects here) — SolenisA · 2026-10-07
8. Best Practices for Environmental Cleaning … in All Health Care Settings, 3rd ed. (high-to-low, clean-to-dirty) — Public Health Ontario / PIDACA · 2026-10-07
9. Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) — WorkSafeBCA · 2026-10-07
10. OHS Regulation Part 5 — Chemical and Biological Substances (WHMIS ss. 5.3–5.19; decanted labels s. 5.10; incompatibles s. 5.24) — WorkSafeBCA · 2026-10-07
11. OHS Regulation Part 3 — Rights and Responsibilities (first aid ss. 3.14–3.21, Schedule 3-A) — WorkSafeBCA · 2026-10-07
12. First aid kits and equipment (CSA Z1220 kit types) — WorkSafeBCA · 2026-10-07
13. Maintenance and Testing of Portable Fire Extinguishers (NFPA 10 intervals) — Minnesota Department of Health (US regulator)A · 2026-10-07
14. Toolbox Talk: Fire Extinguisher – Inspection and Maintenance — Safety Alliance BCB · 2026-10-07
15. Who does & doesn't need coverage? — WorkSafeBCA · 2026-10-07
16. Inter-Community (Mobile) Business Licence — City of VernonA · 2026-10-07
17. Inter-Community and Non Resident business licences — City of PentictonA · 2026-10-07
18. Types of business insurance coverage — Insurance Bureau of CanadaB · 2026-10-07
19. Learn About Cleaning Products for Natural Stone (consumer care guide) — Natural Stone InstituteB · 2026-10-07
20. Technical bulletin: Countertop Sanitation (vinegar caution) — Natural Stone InstituteB · 2026-10-07
21. 5 common mistakes to avoid when cleaning natural stone surfaces — Use Natural Stone (Natural Stone Institute consumer site)B · 2026-10-07
22. Cleaning Stainless Steel (traditional stainless) — KitchenAid (Whirlpool Corp.) Product HelpA · 2026-10-07
23. Cleaning Ceramic Glass Cooktop – Electric Range — Whirlpool Product HelpA · 2026-10-07
24. SDS: Easy-Off Heavy Duty Oven Cleaner, SDS # D8362392 v4.0, 2021-01-20 (US HazCom; Reckitt Benckiser (Canada) Inc. listed) — Reckitt BenckiserA · 2026-10-07
25. CLR PRO Calcium, Lime & Rust Remover — product page (directions, dilutions, surfaces) — Jelmar (CLR Brands)A · 2026-10-07
26. SDS: CLR PRO Calcium, Lime & Rust Remover, issued 2025-01-16 — Jelmar (CLR Brands)A · 2026-10-07
27. Technical Data Sheet: Bona Professional Series Hardwood Floor Cleaner (3/2022) — Bona (distributor-hosted copy, GreenBuildingSupply)A · 2026-10-07
28. Pergo Pro Laminated Wood — Care and Repair (02/2021) — Unilin North America (Pergo), retailer-hosted copyA · 2026-10-07
29. Care & Maintenance — Kentwood engineered hardwood (FAQ: steam, vinegar, oil soaps) — Kentwood Floors (Metropolitan Hardwood Floors)A · 2026-10-07
30. SDS (Spanish): affresh cooktop cleaner (W10355051 / W11042470), issued 2015-12-11 — Whirlpool Corporation (affresh)A · 2026-10-07
31. SDS: affresh Stainless Steel Cleaning Mousse, rev. 2017-01-18 (retailer-hosted copy) — Whirlpool Corporation (copy hosted by Home Depot)A · 2026-10-07
32. Residential Tenancy Policy Guideline 1: Landlord & Tenant – Responsibility for Residential Premises (July 2025) — BC Residential Tenancy BranchA · 2026-10-07
33. Working alone or in isolation — WorkSafeBCA · 2026-10-07
34. OHS Regulation Part 4 — General Conditions (working alone ss. 4.20.1–4.23; violence ss. 4.27–4.31; MSI ss. 4.46–4.53) — WorkSafeBCA · 2026-10-07
35. OHS Regulation Part 13 — Ladders, Scaffolds and Temporary Work Platforms — WorkSafeBCA · 2026-10-07
36. Use household chemicals safely — Health CanadaA · 2026-10-07
37. BC Drug and Poison Information Centre — 24-hour poison line — BC Centre for Disease Control (DPIC)A · 2026-10-07
38. OSH Answers: Scent-free policy for the workplace — Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and SafetyA · 2026-10-07
39. RC4110 Employee or Self-employed? — Canada Revenue AgencyA · 2026-10-07
40. Contractors and subcontractors (when a contractor is your worker) — WorkSafeBCA · 2026-10-07
41. Homeowners — when hiring someone to work in your home needs coverage — WorkSafeBCA · 2026-10-07
42. Carpet for homes — cleaning and maintenance — Carpet and Rug InstituteB · 2026-10-07
43. Natural stone in the shower — Use Natural Stone (Natural Stone Institute consumer site)B · 2026-10-07
44. Drug Product Database — disinfectants sold in Canada are drugs and carry a DIN — Health CanadaA · 2026-10-09
45. Pesticide registration — antimicrobial products including disinfectants — US Environmental Protection AgencyA · 2026-10-09
46. Understanding the Biocidal Products Regulation — European Chemicals AgencyA · 2026-10-09
47. Safe Work Australia — labels and safety data sheet requirements under the model WHS laws — Safe Work AustraliaA · 2026-10-09