APPA Cleaning Levels Chart: A Printable Reference for Inspectors
A quick-reference APPA cleaning levels chart covering levels 1 to 5, what each looks like, target levels by area type, and how to use the chart during an inspection.
Inspectors do not need a theory of appearance standards. They need something they can glance at halfway through a washroom and know whether what they are looking at is a 2 or a 3. That is what a APPA cleaning levels chart is for.
This page gives you the chart in three forms: what each level looks like, the common problems that define it, and the target level by area type.
Key takeaways
- A chart is a decision aid, not decoration. Its job is to make two inspectors agree.
- Judge by worst observable condition, not average condition.
- Level 2 is the normal commercial target; Level 1 belongs to showcase and critical areas.
- Level 3 and worse should always come with a photo.
- Print the target table and post it where the team can see it.
The levels at a glance
| Level | Name | Floor | Surfaces | Waste | Touchpoints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orderly spotlessness | Spotless, edges and corners included | Dust-free, including high level | Empty, clean, freshly lined | Clean, no visible soil |
| 2 | Ordinary tidiness | Clean, light traffic marks | Dust-free at normal height | Empty, clean | Clean |
| 3 | Casual inattention | Visible dirt, corners missed, may be gritty | Visible dust | Full, or liner missing | Soiled |
| 4 | Moderate neglect | Visibly dirty, sticky or stained | Heavy, obvious dust | Overflowing, odour | Visibly soiled |
| 5 | Unkempt neglect | Heavy established soil, possibly hazardous | Heavily soiled or debris-covered | Long-term accumulation, strong odour | Soiled and possibly damaged |
Read the full definitions with examples in APPA cleanliness levels explained.
What separates each level
The line between two levels is almost always one of these four things. If you can spot which one applies, the score becomes obvious.
- Level 1 to 2: high dusting and edge detailing. Level 1 is clean everywhere; Level 2 is clean where people look.
- Level 2 to 3: whether normal-use marks have been removed on schedule, and whether corners and under-furniture have been reached.
- Level 3 to 4: whether the space has clearly been missed on multiple cycles. Level 3 is one bad clean; Level 4 is a pattern.
- Level 4 to 5: whether the space looks abandoned and whether there is odour or hazard.
Target levels by area type
This is the table worth printing. Targets should be agreed with the client in writing before inspections begin.
| Area type | Typical target | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Showcase lobby, executive floor | 1 | Client-facing and toured; highest cost to hold |
| General office, corridors | 2 | The commercial default |
| Washrooms | 2 | Health-critical items scored separately |
| Classrooms, cafeterias | 2 | Food and child-contact surfaces are critical |
| Retail sales floor | 2 | Front of house drives perception |
| Gym and change rooms | 2 | Sweat, odour and high-touch are the risks |
| Medical and dental offices | 1-2 | Follow the practice's infection-control policy |
| Warehouse, stockroom | 2-3 | Dust control and safety matter more than shine |
| Parkade, loading dock | 3 | Litter, spills and safety, not polish |
| Stairwells, service corridors | 2-3 | Handrails and treads are safety-critical |
Note the pattern: the target follows both visibility and risk. A parkade at Level 3 is fine. A washroom at Level 3 is a complaint waiting to happen, even though the parkade is bigger.
How to use the chart during an inspection
- Know the target before you walk in. Checking first and deciding the target afterwards guarantees the target drifts toward whatever you found.
- Scan the whole area once. Get the general condition, then start scoring items.
- Score the item, not the room. The room score is a summary; the item scores are the useful part.
- When torn between two levels, score the worse one and note why. This is the single most useful habit for consistency, and it is what the client would conclude on their own walkthrough.
- Photograph at Level 3 or worse. Wide shot for context, close shot for the detail. A note without a photo invites debate.
- Separate appearance from hygiene. A surface can look fine and still fail a sanitising requirement. Score them as different items.
- Compare against last time, not against perfect. The trend is the management signal; the absolute number is mostly a conversation starter.
Calibrating a team with the chart
Charts fail when two supervisors read them differently. Fix that deliberately:
- Print the chart and the target table for each inspector.
- Pick five areas and have two inspectors score them independently.
- Compare. Discuss only the disagreements, using the chart to arbitrate.
- Repeat monthly until scores land within half a level of each other.
Most disagreement comes from one of two places: one inspector scores the average and the other scores the worst thing they found, or one is stricter about corners and edges. Naming the disagreement fixes it faster than another round of training.
Frequently asked questions
What is the APPA scale for cleaning?
A five-point scale describing the appearance of a space, from Level 1, orderly spotlessness, to Level 5, unkempt neglect. Lower numbers mean cleaner and more recently serviced.
What is APPA Level 2?
Level 2, ordinary tidiness, is clean and dust-free at normal viewing height with possible light traffic marks. It is the standard target for most commercial office and client-facing space.
What is the difference between APPA Level 1 and Level 2?
Level 1 includes high dusting and full edge detailing so the space looks freshly and thoroughly cleaned. Level 2 is clean where people look, but may show dulling and light marks. Level 1 is reserved for showcase or critical areas.
Should I use one target level for the whole building?
No. Targets should follow visibility and risk, so a lobby might sit at Level 1-2 while a parkade sits at Level 3. Agree them with the client in writing and record them before inspections start.
Is APPA Level 3 a fail?
In most client-facing space, yes. Level 3, casual inattention, shows visible dust, marks and missed corners, and is the level that generates complaints. It may be acceptable in genuinely low-traffic areas if the client has agreed.
Stop scoring by memory
A chart on the wall helps. A chart built into the inspection, with the target already set and the photos already attached, helps more.
NeatScore puts the APPA scale on every checklist item, keeps the target for each area, and produces a branded report with the photos and the trend. Try it free for 7 days, or see pricing.
