The UK cleaning colour code uses four colours to stop germs spreading from one area to another. Red is for toilets, urinals and washroom floors; blue is for general, low-risk areas such as offices, corridors and reception; green is for kitchens and food preparation areas; and yellow is for clinical and isolation areas, and in some schemes for washroom sinks and surfaces. Each colour applies to cloths, mops, buckets, gloves and other equipment, so a red cloth used on a toilet is never used on a desk or a kitchen worktop.
This guide explains the colour code, where it comes from, common variations and how to put it in place on your site.
UK cleaning colour code chart
| Colour | Areas | Examples | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red | Sanitary areas | Toilets, urinals, washroom floors, sanitary bins | High |
| Blue | General, low-risk areas | Offices, desks, corridors, reception, classrooms, lifts | Low |
| Green | Food areas | Kitchens, food prep surfaces, bars, canteens, tea points | Medium to high |
| Yellow | Clinical / isolation areas, or washroom basins in some schemes | Isolation rooms, first aid rooms, sinks and surfaces in washrooms | High |
Where the colour code comes from
The British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc) began developing a universal colour code in the late 1990s, and it is now widely used across UK commercial cleaning. In healthcare, the National Patient Safety Agency introduced a national colour coding scheme for hospital cleaning materials in 2007, using the same four colours, and NHS cleaning standards still follow it. There is no single law that sets the colours, but the Health and Safety at Work Act and food hygiene law require employers to control the risk of cross-contamination, and a colour code is the standard way to do it.
Common variations
- Red vs yellow in washrooms: some schemes use red for toilets and urinals only, and yellow for washroom sinks, mirrors and surfaces. Others use red for the whole washroom. Pick one and apply it consistently.
- Extra colours: some suppliers add white, black or pink for specific uses. Keep these to a minimum to avoid confusion.
- Hospitality: bars and front-of-house food service usually use green, with blue for public seating areas.
The rule that matters most: write your scheme down, display it, and train everyone on it.
What should be colour coded?
- Microfibre cloths.
- Mop heads and handles.
- Buckets and wringers.
- Gloves (where practical).
- Scrubbing pads and brushes.
- Spray bottles and labels.
- Storage hooks and shelves in the cleaning cupboard.
How to roll out a colour code on site
- Map your areas. Mark each room or zone on a floor plan as red, blue, green or yellow.
- Buy matching equipment. Replace mixed or unmarked items.
- Set up storage. Store each colour separately so red mops never touch green ones.
- Display a chart in every cleaning cupboard and on trolleys.
- Train staff during induction and refresh regularly, including agency and relief cleaners.
- Launder correctly. Wash cloths and mop heads by colour at the right temperature, or use disposable items in high-risk areas.
- Audit. Include colour coding in site inspections.
Colour coding sits alongside safe chemical use. Read our COSHH guide for cleaners for the rules on storing and using products, and our office deep cleaning guide for periodic tasks.
Common mistakes
- Using one cloth “just this once” for two areas.
- Rinsing all mops in the same sink.
- Faded or unmarked equipment that no one can identify.
- Relief cleaners who were never shown the chart.
- Different schemes on different floors of the same building.
Want a cleaning team that gets the basics right every time?Our cleaners are trained in colour coding, COSHH and site procedures.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the red colour code in cleaning?
Red is for sanitary areas: toilets, urinals, washroom floors and sanitary bins. Red equipment should never be used anywhere else.
What is blue used for in cleaning?
General, low-risk areas such as offices, corridors, reception and classrooms.
What colour is used for kitchens?
Green, for food preparation and serving areas, canteens and bars.
What is yellow used for?
Clinical and isolation areas, and in some schemes washroom sinks and surfaces.
Is colour coding a legal requirement?
There is no law that sets the colours, but employers must control cross-contamination risks, and colour coding is the accepted industry method.
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