Workwear for caretakers and cleaners

• Caretakers are all-rounders: in facility management, workwear must be equally suitable for repairs, grounds maintenance, winter services and building services.
• Building cleaners often work with chemicals and on wet floors – slip-resistant work shoes (SRC/SR) and hot-washable clothing are compulsory.
• The provision of PPE is an employer’s obligation under DGUV Rule 103-602 – the costs must not be passed on to employees.
• Depending on the professional field and role, the basic kit costs between 1.495 and 4.860kr. per person. Caretakers and outdoor cleaners need more robust clothing and safety shoes (2.620-4.860kr.); indoor cleaners can get by with lighter features (1.495-2.620kr.).
• As a one-stop supplier, Strauss provides everything from a single selection – with long-term availability, attractive volume discounts and a professional logo service.

The requirements for workwear for caretakers and cleaners differ significantly. Both professions have this in common: long working days, plenty of physical activity, and the need for clothing and shoes that make the working day more comfortable and ensure safety.

Caretakers often switch between tasks: fixing a ceiling light in the hallway in the morning, taking care of the grounds at lunchtime, and unblocking a drain in the afternoon. Caretakers therefore need workwear that allows the freedom to move, keeps tools within easy reach and performs well in all weathers. A plus when engaging with tenants: a well-kept appearance.

Building cleaners work with water, cleaning products and on smooth floors. Their workwear must be lightweight, quick-drying and able to withstand regular washing at high temperatures. Hygiene and safety are the top priorities – but the selection of clothing also depends on the company’s corporate identity and the area of operation:

• Routine cleaning indoors: This mainly involves typical cleaning tasks in offices, schools or residential complexes. Clothing must be breathable and allow freedom to move – for long hours of work indoors, and frequent bending and kneeling.
• Glass and façade cleaning: anyone working on the exterior of buildings needs weather protection against wind and rain, UV protection for long periods spent outdoors, and often high-vis clothing that conforms to EN ISO 20471 – particularly when working near traffic or in areas open to the public.

Caretakers are all-rounders. Hardly any two working days are the same – and workwear for facility management needs to reflect that. Anyone who clears snow in the morning, services a heating system at lunchtime and meets a tenant in the afternoon needs clothing that works in a wide range of situations, both indoors and outdoors, whilst remaining flexible, hard-wearing and professional.

This is where workwear for caretakers really comes into its own:

• plenty of well-designed pockets for keys, a mobile phone and tools, such as a folding rule
• Stretch panels or full-stretch clothing for complete freedom to move
• Durable materials and strategic polyamide reinforcements, such as CORDURA® on the knees and seat
• Reinforced seams at the points most prone to wear
• Knee pad pockets conforming to EN 14404 for work on the ground

Work trousers are the most essential item of clothing in a caretaker’s daily routine – and the demands placed on them are high. It needs to keep tools, a set of keys and a mobile phone within easy reach, provide protection when kneeling on concrete floors, and be flexible: it should work just as well on ladders doing overhead work as it does when bending down to repair the heating. Knee pad pockets conforming to EN 14404 and made from CORDURA®/Polyamide reinforcements or additional stitching at the areas most prone to wear and tear – the knees, crotch and seat – make these work trousers comfortable and durable for caretakers.

Well-thought-out details make all the difference in everyday life: a ruler pocket with a slanted cut, so the ruler doesn’t slip out when you bend down. A key ring that doesn't bulge at the waist. A mobile phone pocket that doesn’t dig in when you kneel. It’s the little things that matter at the end of a long day at work.

Three types of trousers have proven their worth in the day-to-day work of a caretaker:

• The work trousers are the all-rounder: flexible enough for physical work, smart enough for dealing with tenants. Stretch fabrics and flexible panels – such as those at the waistband – ensure that even working in confined technical spaces or on a ladder doesn’t become a struggle.
• For many caretakers, the Strauss bib & brace are a good alternative – they offer additional storage space on the bib and stay securely in place even during long periods of work in a crouched position. Whether you prefer bib & brace or overalls is ultimately a matter of personal taste.
• For summer gardening and outdoor work, the work shorts are a comfortable option to select: lightweight, breathable and yet sturdy enough. If you need additional knee protection, go for 3/4 length trousers: they offer the same benefits as shorts, but come down over the knees and often have knee pad pockets.

Caretakers work in all weathers – and often switch back and forth between working indoors and outdoors. If you’re out clearing snow in the morning and pottering about in the cellar at lunchtime, you need a versatile range of jackets and other gear. The

principle is simple: three layers that can be combined or worn separately:

• The base layer of functional underwear transports moisture away from the body – which is important during physical work, so that sweat doesn’t remain cold on the skin.
• The insulating layer – fleece jacket or a quilted waistcoat – keeps you warm without restricting your movement, and can be quickly stowed away when the temperature rises.
• The outer layer protects against wind and rain: Softshell jacket are ideal for mild, changeable days, rain jacket with taped seams for heavy rain, or winter jackets for winter maintenance work.

Practical features of caretaker jackets: an extended back that doesn’t ride up when bending over, and a detachable hood that can be used as required.
Reflective elements improve visibility at dusk and dawn – particularly in winter, when the working day begins and ends in the dark.

Class 2 is sufficient for most caretaker duties. Class 3 is mandatory for work carried out directly on the road.

If high-vis clothing conforming to EN ISO 20471 is not required, but there is still a risk of being overlooked, the EN 17353 standard closes the gap with traditional, non-certified workwear. It sets out requirements for increased visibility in medium-risk situations and enables flexible solutions to improve safety.

Caretakers are often on their feet – in all sorts of different places: basement staircases, green spaces, roof terraces, workshops. Safety shoes that conform to EN ISO 20345 must meet these requirements.

For general-purpose use, we recommend S1 safety shoes. If there is a significant risk from nails, broken glass or other sharp objects that may be lying on the floor, class S3/ S7 with toe protection, puncture protection and SRC/must be worn with SR slip-resistant soles. According to SRC,/SR-certified safety shoes offer optimum grip on a wide variety of surfaces – making them the most reliable option for those who are constantly moving between indoor and outdoor areas.

Although building cleaners work in different conditions to caretakers, their clothing must meet the same high standards. Water, cleaning products and slippery floors are part of our daily lives. And then there are the long shifts and frequent washes. The clothing has to withstand all of this – whilst remaining lightweight, breathable and comfortable.

The requirements for building cleaning vary depending on the area of application:

• Interior cleaning and hygiene areas: Here, hygiene and washability are the top priorities. Clothes must be able to withstand regular washing at high temperatures without losing their shape or fading. Tunics, polo shirts such as the Piqué-Polo e.s. industry, which is suitable for industrial washing, and lightweight service trousers are typical examples: breathable, quick-drying and easy-care. When it comes to routine cleaning and the cleaning of sensitive areas such as hospitals, laboratories or kitchens, clothing is not merely a matter of protection – it is an integral part of the hygiene protocol. To ensure professional cleaning, it is important to use a colour-coding system for cleaning equipment such as cloths, mops and buckets in order to prevent cross-contamination – for example, blue for sanitary areas, green for kitchens and red for contaminated zones.
• Outdoor cleaning and work near traffic: Anyone who cleans building façades, works with high-pressure washers or operates in depot areas needs weather protection and high visibility. Waterproof jackets, sturdy trousers and high-vis clothing with reflective elements provide protection against moisture, wind and the risk of being overlooked.

Wet floors, cleaning product residues, scaffolding or aerial work platforms – this is the everyday reality for building cleaners. In this case, the most important factor regarding shoes is not the protection class, but slip resistance. On freshly mopped tiles with cleaning product residue, SRC/SR – the highest slip resistance rating – plays a crucial role in preventing falls.

Work shoes in classes O1 and O2 are suitable for many indoor applications: they are lighter than safety shoes, more comfortable for long shifts and do not have a toe cap. O2 is particularly suitable for wet cleaning, as the outer material is waterproof for at least 60 minutes. Where heavy cleaning machinery is in use or there is an increased risk of injury, the employer’s risk assessment requires safety shoes of class S1 or S3/S7.

Other key features for everyday cleaning: removable insoles for optimal drying and ventilation, a lightweight design that doesn’t cause fatigue even after eight hours, and a closed upper that provides protection against splashes.

Tip: The O2 work shoes e.s. Minkar II impress with a rubber-/EVA sole with SRA and a BOA® Fit System for a micro-adjustable precision fit. What’s more, they are waterproof, windproof and breathable, with an outer layer made from hard-wearing textile /mesh fabric.

In many cases, workwear for caretakers and cleaners is not a voluntary benefit, but a legal requirement. DGUV Rule 103-602 requires employers to provide personal protective equipment – and to bear the full cost of doing so. Employees are not permitted to contribute towards the purchase costs.

What this means in practice:

• Obligation to provide: Employers must procure, provide and maintain PPE in good working order.
• Costs: The company will cover all costs relating to purchase, cleaning and replacement.
• Risk assessment: This determines which protection classes and equipment are required for which activities.
• Documentation requirement: It must be clearly documented who received which PPE and when – this is relevant for tax audits and in the event of a claim.

Anyone who buys supplies for a caretaker team or a cleaning service will be familiar with this: trousers from one supplier, shoes from another, disposable gloves from yet another – and in the end, the sizes, colours and quality don’t match up. Strauss supplies a full selection of workwear for caretakers and cleaners, including workwear, safety shoes and occupational safety products from Strauss.

Strauss offers the following benefits:

• 98% of items are always in stock – most items are available immediately, with no long waiting times
• Delivery within 2–4 working days – even for last-minute reorders or new staff
• Sizes from XS to 8XL – including long and short sizes, and ladies' and men’s styles
• Scale prices – volume discounts available even for smaller teams
• Logo service & CI Configurator MYDESIGN – designing and finishing workwear for large & small teams
• Long-term availability of the collection – the same products can be re-ordered over a long period