How Janitronics Stays Ahead of Evolving Cleanroom Cleaning Practices

In GMP environments, how you clean is just as critical as what you clean with. At Janitronics, that’s not just a philosophy—it’s the foundation of everything we do for our life science client partners.

GMP cleaning is a controlled, procedural, and science-based process. It needs to be performed in accordance with regulations, IEST recommended practices, and ISO standards in order to avoid compromising research or medicine.

As trusted experts in lab space services and cleanroom cleaning, we take our responsibilities very seriously. Our Life Science team is rigorously trained in the industry’s foremost techniques through a combination of instructor-led, web-based, and on-the-job training designed for real-time learning.

Our GMP cleaning program follows IEST recommended practices, which share up-to-date technical information in various fields, including contamination control.

The IEST cleanroom recommended practices guide our clients in creating industry-leading SOPs, and can apply to facilities of all sizes, from a single hood in a small lab to a large-scale facility. Professionals from all parts of a company, from quality and operations to safety and facilities, have a stake in these recommended practices and related updates. They are the foundation of our top-tier training program for GMP Cleanroom Operators.

In April, the IEST-RP-CC018.6 Cleanroom Cleaning and Sanitization: Operations and Monitoring was updated. In this blog, we explain how we incorporate this document into our GMP cleaning program and what the update means for life science companies.

Janitronics’ Approach to GMP Cleaning

Our goal is to consistently deliver superior cleaning and disinfecting under established cGMP regulations and client SOPs. We meet rigorous standards in every clean by adhering to our cleaning philosophy and the following GMP cleaning fundamentals:

• Cleanroom cleaning should follow defined operating procedures. They must be structured, documented, and repeatable. If it is not documented, it did not happen.
• Cleaning and sanitization are two distinct but connected controls. Both cleaning and disinfection are necessary, and the sequence matters because a surface cannot be properly disinfected if soil, residue, or particles remain. This definition is a key training point for employees: clean first, disinfect second.
• Cleaning technique directly impacts contamination control. In GMP environments, the cleaning team must understand that they are not just making an area look clean; they are helping maintain contamination control.

Key Updates to the Cleanroom Cleaning Recommended Practice

Connie Correia, Janitronics’ Senior Director of Quality and Compliance, is an IEST committee member and contributed to the recommended practice update. Connie represents the voice of the cleaning professional and the interests of our client partners. She ensured that real-world cleaning expertise was reflected in the recommended practice, including what techniques are practical and effective in a GMP environment.

The updated document focuses on operational procedures while remaining true to the foundation. The core techniques and test methods did not change–more specifics were added to assist users.

Among the most relevant to our work with clients were:

• The differentiation between cleaning and sanitization
• The emphasis on defined operating procedures
• Specific techniques for areas that had previously not been addressed.

A Training Center Designed to Keep Pace with Updated Recommended Practices

At this time, the techniques from the updated recommended practice are being officially rolled into our life science training onboarding modules and practical demonstrations at Janitronics’ Life Science Training Center in Waltham.

Our Life Science Training Center is designed to give real-world experience with

• logbooks
• gowning rooms and gowning materials
• technical procedures
• cleanroom equipment

and more. Recent enhancements to the Center provide a more hands-on environment, including a wash sink, a GMP closet, and a realistic cleanroom simulation. They also directly support the updated document.

The expanded sections of the recommended practice reinforce why correct chemical use, contact time, residue removal, and following the approved sequence are critical. Proper technique protects the environment, the product, and compliance programs. The updates also help employees understand the “why” behind the work: cleaning removes contamination, sanitization controls microbial risk, and procedures create consistency.

Ray Rizik, Director of Operations for the Life Science division, explains that employees will learn why SOPs, cleaning logs, initials, dates, times, and inspections matter. The training will connect documentation to compliance, client confidence, audit readiness, and proof that the cleaning process was completed as required.

New GMP Cleanroom Operators will arrive at client sites already familiar with the language, allowing them to connect the dots when they read a client’s SOP for the first time. By keeping pace with updated recommended practices and ISO Standards in our Training Center, employees can practice GMP cleaning techniques in a real-world scenario, which builds more confidence.

Janitronics Cleans So You Can Discover

At Janitronics, we clean so you can discover, and that doesn’t just mean showing up. It means staying current with cleanroom cleaning recommended practices and incorporating these techniques into training and operations. This commitment is a direct reflection of how we help you stay compliant and maintain your cleanrooms.

With any new recommended practice or regulation, our goal is to educate you before they go into effect. We never want you to find out about such changes after the fact. This proactive approach allows you to update your SOPs on your time and stay current with best practices.

By staying ahead of the curve, you elevate company operations, ultimately benefiting everyone from team members to patients. If you have questions about this recommended practice or your current SOPs don’t yet address the newly expanded areas (air showers, cold boxes, airlocks, etc.), we’re happy to help support you.

Learn more about our cleanroom cleaning services.