In addition to time scheduled for sleep periods and meals, each crew member has housekeeping tasks that require from five to 15 minutes of his time at intervals throughout the day. These include cleaning the waste management compartment, the dining area and equipment, floors and walls (as required), the cabin air filters; trash collection and disposal; and changeout of the crew compartment carbon dioxide (lithium hydroxide) absorber canisters.

The materials and equipment available for cleaning operations are biocidal cleanser, disposable gloves, general-purpose wipes and a vacuum cleaner. The cleaning materials and vacuum are stowed in middeck lockers. The vacuum cleaner is powered by the orbiter's electrical power system.

The biocidal cleanser is a liquid detergent formulation in a container approximately 2 inches in diameter and 6 inches long. The container has a built-in bladder, dispensing valve and nozzle. The cleanser is sprayed on the surface to be cleaned and wiped off with dry general-purpose wipes. It is used for periodic cleansing of the waste collection system urinal and seat and the dining area and equipment. It is also used, as required, to clean walls and floors. Disposable plastic gloves are worn while using the biocidal cleanser.

General-purpose wipes are also used for general-purpose cleaning.

The vacuum cleaner is provided for general housekeeping and cleaning of the crew compartment air filters and Spacelab filters (on Spacelab missions). It has a normal hose, extension hose and several attachments. It is powered by the orbiter dc electrical power system.

Trash management operations include routine stowage and daily collection of wet and dry trash, such as expended wipes, tissues and food containers. Wet trash includes all items that could offgas. The equipment available for trash management includes trash bags, trash bag liners, wet trash containers and the stowable wet trash vent hose.

Three trash bags are located in the crew compartment. Each bag contains a disposable trash bag liner. Two bags are designated for dry trash and one for wet trash. At a scheduled time each day, the trash bag liner for dry trash is removed from its trash bag. The liner is closed with a strip of Velcro and stowed in an empty locker.

When more than 8 cubic feet of wet trash is expected, the trash bag liners for wet trash are removed at a scheduled time each day and placed in a wet trash container. The container is then closed with a zipper and the unit is stowed. If expansion due to offgassing is evident, the container is connected to a vent in the waste management system for overboard venting of the gas.

The wet trash container is made of airtight fabric and is closed with a seal-type slide fastener. The container has a volume of approximately 0.7 cubic foot and has an air inlet valve on one end and a quick disconnect on the other end. It is attached to the waste management vent system beneath the commode, enabling air to flow through the wet trash container and then overboard. It is attached through a 41-inch- long vent hose filter. When the container is full, it is removed and stowed in a modular locker.

An 8-cubic-foot wet trash stowage compartment is available under the middeck floor. Each day, the trash bag liners for wet trash are removed from the trash bags and stowed in the wet trash stowage compartment, which is vented overboard. If the compartment becomes full, the trash bag liners for wet trash are stowed in wet trash containers.