Activity that removes dirt and other particles from people, animals and objects
Several cleaning methods
Hand washing (part of hygiene)
A dry cleaning machine
Ultrasonic parts cleaning
Carbon dioxide snow cleaning in an aerospace setting
Cleaning is the process of removing unwanted substances, such as dirt, infectious agents, and other impurities, from an object or environment. Cleaning is often performed for aesthetic, hygienic, functional, safety, or environmental protection purposes. Cleaning occurs in many different contexts, and uses many different methods. Several occupations are devoted to cleaning.
Contexts
Cleaning occurs in various commercial, domestic, personal, and environmental contexts, which differ in scale and requirements.
Commercial cleaning, in business or other commercial settings
Terminal cleaning, in healthcare settings
Housekeeping, including spring cleaning
Hygiene, including personal grooming
Environmental remediation, the removal of pollution or contaminants from the natural environment
Methods
A shop assistant washing a shop window in Jyväskylä, Finland in the 1960s.
Cleaning is broadly achieved through mechanical action and/or chemical processes (usually solvation); many methods rely on a combination of mechanical and chemical action. Methods include:
Some items and materials require specialized cleaning techniques, due to their shape, size, location, or the material properties of the object and contaminants.