Routine cleaning is of utmost importance in every area of a health care facility. Certain chemicals are recommended for cleaning, particularly in moderate and high-risk areas, but such chemicals keep on changing based on scientific updates. It needs to be understood that since none of the chemicals used on walls and floors provide 100% safety from various microorganisms and spores. So, behavior of staff towards routine cleaning and adherence to infection prevention protocols is the most important action which needs to be followed by health care staff and workforce.
| Cleaning frequency, level of cleaning/ Disinfection and evaluation/ auditing Frequency according to the type of functional area risk category Functional Area Risk Category | Frequency of Cleaning | Level of cleaning/ disinfection (As per Spaulding’s Classification) | Method of cleaning/ Disinfection | Evaluation/ auditing frequency |
| High risk areas Dressing room/ Injection Room/ Laboratory | Floors, walls and Surfaces: Routine cleaning once in two hours with aldehyde free high-level disinfectant (HLD) like 70% isopropyl alcohol Intensive deep cleaning: Weekly/ Holidays | Cleaning and Intermediate level disinfection | Routine Cleaning with soap detergent plus, disinfection with aldehyde free high-level disinfectant (HLD) like 70% isopropyl alcohol Spot Cleaning: As required after disinfection with 0.5% chlorine solution. All Equipment and instruments to be disinfected and cleaned with aldehyde free high level disinfectant like peracetic acid and autoclaving accept heat sensitive Equipment & instruments. | Weekly or monthly if cleanliness of high standards is maintained as certified by Officer I/C Sanitation and Infection Control Team |
| Moderate risk areas Consultation Room Counselling Room Toilets | Floors, walls and Surfaces: Routine cleaning once in four hours with aldehyde free high-level disinfectant (HLD) like 70% isopropyl alcohol Spot Cleaning: As Required Cleaning and low level Disinfection Routine Cleaning with soap and detergent plus disinfection with aldehyde free high-level disinfectant (HLD) like 70% isopropyl alcohol Spot Cleaning: As required after disinfection with 0.5% chlorine solution. Once in a month or once in two months if cleanliness of high standards is maintained as certified by Officer I/C Sanitation and Infection Control Team Intensive deep cleaning: Weekly/ Holidays | Cleaning and lowlevel disinfection | Routine Cleaning with soap and detergent plus, disinfection with aldehyde free high-level disinfectant (HLD) like 70% isopropyl alcohol Spot Cleaning: As required after disinfection with 0.5% chlorine solution. Intensive deep cleaning: Weekly/ Holidays All Equipment and instruments to be disinfected and cleaned with aldehyde free highlevel disinfectant like peracetic acid and autoclaving accept heat sensitive Equipment & instruments. | Once in a month or once in two months if cleanliness of high standards is maintained as certified by Officer I/C Sanitation and Infection Control Team |
| Low risk areas Corridors Waiting halls / Waiting Rooms/ Registration Area Stores (Medicine Store, Linen Store) Pharmacy | Floors, walls and Surfaces: Routine cleaning for areas working round the clock at least once in a shift or in areas having general shift at least twice in the shift with water and Soap/ Quaternary Ammonium Compound Spot Cleaning: As Required Intensive deep cleaning: Weekly/ Holidays | Cleaning with water and detergent | Routine physical removal of soil, dust or foreign material followed by cleaning with water and Soap/ Quaternary Ammonium Compound. Spot Cleaning: As required after disinfection with 0.5% chlorine solution | Once in three months |
| Note: For infective spills like blood, it should be first treated with 0.5% hypochlorite solution. | ||||
General Cleaning Practices for All Healthcare Settings
Before Cleaning
- Check for additional (isolation) precautions signs
- Follow precautions as indicated
- Remove clutter before cleaning
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for proper dilution and contact time for cleaning and disinfecting solutions
- Gather materials required for cleaning before entering the room
- Visibly check and ensure all cleaning equipment itself is clean
- Clean hands before entering the room
- Prepare chemical dilutions and put on gloves before beginning cleaning.
During Cleaning
- Progress from the least soiled areas to the most soiled areas and from high surfaces to low surfaces
- Remove gross soil (visible to naked eye) prior to cleaning and disinfection
- Minimize turbulence to prevent the dispersion of dust that may contain micro-organisms
- Never shake mops
- Use dust control mop prior to wet/damp mop. Do not use brooms
- Wash the mop under running water before doing wet mopping
- Do not ‘double-dip’ mops (dip the mop only once in the cleaning solution, as dipping it multiple
- times may re contaminate it)
- An area of 120 square feet to be mopped before re-dipping the mop in the solution
- Cleaning solution to be changed after cleaning an area of 240 square feet (This does not apply to
- critical areas like OT and ICU)
- Change more frequently in heavily contaminated areas, when visibly soiled and immediately after
- cleaning blood and body fluid spills
- Be alert for needles and other sharp objects. Safely handle and dispose sharps into puncture proof
- container
- Report incident to supervisor
- Collect waste, handle plastic bags from the top (do not compress bags with hands)
- Clean hands on leaving the room
After Cleaning
- Do not overstock rooms
- Tools used for cleaning and disinfecting should be cleaned and dried between uses
- Launder mop heads daily, keep the mop upright after use with cleaning surface upwards
- All washed mop heads should be dried thoroughly before re-use
- Clean sanitation cart and carts used to transport biomedical waste daily.