The goal of the cleaning standards for age care facility in Victoria is to improve the quality of healthcare provided, by ensuring that every risk associated with cleaning is determined, put in place and managed properly. Disaster planning and infection control for aged care is a guide that is effective and all-inclusive to increase the safety and satisfaction in your elderly care homes all through the board, starting from developing fall prevention programs, to being certain you are ready for even the worst situations. One of these major planning strategies is cleaning standard for aged care.

The goal of the cleaning standards for age care facility in Victoria is to improve the quality of healthcare provided, by ensuring that every risk associated with cleaning is determined, put in place and managed properly.

The question now is – what is included in this cleaning standard? Is something aged care workers or residents can do on their own? Recently, many aged care homes are continued to hire the services of the professional cleaning service to keep their environment safe against rampaging COVID-19 and for future occurrences.

Consequent upon the above, we want to highlight what should be included in the best aged care cleaning service?

Expected Cleaning Equipment and Spaces in Aged Care

Special focus is required by cleaning equipment to prevent microorganisms’ transmission and proliferation in dirty places around aged care. When handling cleaning equipment, the precautions stated below should be observed:

• Clean and dry tools and equipment such as rags, mops, and buckets used for cleaning and disinfection before another use.
• Perform daily laundry for mop-heads, and thoroughly dry all mop-heads before you store.
• Proper cleaning, maintenance, and good repair will be required for cleaning equipment, as applicable.

Cleaning carts must:

• Contain a separation between clean and dirty items.
• Not have personal clothing, beverages, or food.
• Be vigorously cleaned at the end of each use.
• Contain lock compartment for storing hazardous stuff, and individual cart shall be locked when not in use.

Cleaning equipment used to clean toilets should:

• Not go from one room to another.
• Be disposed of when residents vacate the facility and properly.
• Keep splashing to the barest.
• Stored well – there should be enough provision of housekeeping rooms across the facility to keep its environment clean and sanitary.

Mop-heads should be:

• Laundered every day.
• Thoroughly dried before storage.
• Only stored for next use when cleaned.
• Stored for laundry when dirty.

Cleaning Tasks inan Aged Care Facility

General Cleaning Procedure

Cleaning is necessary for infection control, especially in age care facility as getting dust, soil, and microbes on surfaces can spread infection. Cleaning should be performed on contaminated areas in the facility.

Here are the basic principles to follow:

• There should be written cleaning protocols, which include techniques and cleaning frequency; policies for cleaning and disinfection supplies must be included in the protocol.
• Standard precautions, such as putting on personal protective equipment (PPE) should be established when cleaning surfaces and aged care centers.
• Cleaning techniques should not generate aerosols.
• All cleaning equipment should be cleaned, and dried, or changed (as required) immediately after use and before another use. They should be changed instantaneously after cleaning the item containing blood, body fluid, or substance spills. In this regards, using single-use cleaning items such as disposable cloths is preferable.

• Do not use sprays as they can be contaminated, and touch to clean. Sprays are not active against germs because they only touch a few parts of the surface to be cleaned.
• Do not mix detergent with other chemicals.
• Entire cleaning solutions should be freshly prepared before use.

Specific Cleaning Procedures

Surface Cleaning

Aged-care facilities’ floors should be cleaned daily, or as required using a vacuum cleaner connected with a filter that has particulate-retainer. The manufacturer’s instructions should be followed when changing the filter. Exhaust air should be channelled away from the floor to avoid dispersal of dust. Using a ducted vacuum system of cleaning is also perfect, as long as you ensure safe venting of the exhaust air.

Here are the steps for routine surface cleaning:   

• Prepare all cleaning solutions freshly before use.
• Clean work surfaces using a solution of neutral detergent and warm water, rinsed and dried prior to and after each session, or when visibly dirty. Clean up spills immediately you they happen.
• Cleaners should follow the instructions from the manufacturer and health and safety department of the facility when applying a disinfectant.
• Empty buckets after use, wash using warm water and detergent, rinse using hot water, dry them and store upside down.
• Mops should be washed or cleaned in warm water and detergent solution, rinsed inside hot water, and dry before storing. Remove detachable mop heads or store with the mop with head upwardly erected.

Wet Areas

The areas listed below should be cleaned at least once a day and more often as required:

• Baths, toilets. Shower cubicles, sinks, and washbasins
• All fittings in the showers, hand basins, and baths
• Surrounding floor and surfaces.

Walls and Fittings

Clean walls, blinds, curtains, and screens quarterly or if visibly dirty. There should be daily vacuuming of carpets and daily wash on other floor surfaces as at when dirty. Change bed each week, or earlier or when visibly dirty.

General Cleaning Per Room

Cleaning requirements of each room in the age care homes varies. They are as outlined below:

The Kitchen

The following are the cleaning tasks that should be done in the kitchen:

Daily:

• washing the dishes
• cleaning down the bench and tabletop in the kitchen
• emptying and washing the kitchen waste bin
• sweeping and/or mopping the floor

Weekly:

• wiping all the shelves and cleaning the cupboards both internal and external
• cleaning of stove and oven
• removing cobwebs

Monthly:

• cleaning out the refrigerator
• cleaning of the windows, walls and brushing flyscreens

The Bathroom

The following are the cleaning jobs to be done in the bathroom:

Weekly:

• cleaning the shower recess, hand basin and maybe the bath
• sweeping and mopping the floor
• cleaning of the cupboards, mirror and maybe shelves
• changing and/or washing the towels as well as the bath mat
• cleaning of windows, walls and brushing flyscreens
• removing cobwebs

The Laundry and Toilet

Here are the cleaning tasks to be done in the laundry and toilet:

Daily/Weekly:

• washing clothes, linen (such as towels, sheets) and blankets
• sweeping and mopping the floor
• cleaning the washing machine and tub
• cleaning of windows, walls and brushing flyscreens
• cleaning the toilet
• removing cobwebs

Bedrooms

Here are the cleaning tasks to be done in bedrooms:

Daily/Weekly:

• sweeping and/or mopping the floors
• dusting of shelves and cleaning of cupboards
• cleaning of windows, walls and brushing flyscreens
• removing cobwebs
• Changing the beddings and placing the blankets and mattresses in the sun. (putting in the sun for a few hours) the blankets and mattresses

Living Rooms and Veranda

Here are the cleaning jobs to be done in the living rooms and veranda:

Daily/Weekly:

• sweeping and/or mopping the floors, as well as the veranda
• dusting of shelves and cleaning of cupboards
• cleaning of windows, walls and brushing flyscreens
• removing cobwebs

Conclusion

You should remember that some cleaning job may be required more often than suggested in the cleaning schedule above. This is because sometimes, some parts of the house get much soiled than usual. For a comprehensive list of what should be included in the best aged care cleaning service, download our eBook here.

You can make enquiry about your aged care cleaning service here.