Cleaning the Practice
This policy is currently being reviewed to ensure compliance with AS 5369:2023 Reprocessing of reusable medical devices and other devices in health and non-health related facilities.
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Policy
We clean our practice facility safely and effectively to keep our environment free of antimicrobial-resistant organisms.
Cleaning and laundry services comply with:
- NZS 8134:2021 Ngā paerewa Health and disability services standard
Scheduled cleaning takes place at regular intervals and is documented in our practice cleaning schedule.
Q43
We have a contracted professional cleaner who cleans the practice regularly. The cleaner understands how their role contributes to infection prevention and control, and knows when and how to clean our surfaces and equipment.
The practice team also carry out opportunistic cleaning when needed, for example, if a surface becomes noticeably soiled, or a blood or body fluid spill occurs.
We assess the risk of contamination for each surface and follow best practice to determine how and when they must be cleaned.
Q44
Linen is collected and washed regularly by an external linen service.
Cleaning and laundry processes are monitored for effectiveness by the infection control lead and action taken to address cleaning quality if necessary.
We may increase cleaning and laundry frequency during an outbreak if recommended by health authorities.
See also Cleaning Specific Items.
Precautions for cleaning different surfaces
Refer to HealthPathways: Cleaning Schedule for detailed instructions for cleaning different surfaces.
Surfaces with frequent traffic or body contact are cleaned most frequently:
Carpets and soft furnishings
- Vacuum regularly or when visibly dirty.
- Spot clean if needed using a carpet/fabric cleaner, or detergent and water.
- Replace if marked or contaminated.
Hard surfaces
For bench tops, sinks, toilets, sanitary bins, floors, and other hard surfaces:
- Clean with detergent solution, detergent wipes, or combined detergent/disinfectant wipes.
- Don't leave surfaces excessively wet.
- To prevent spreading bacteria, avoid dry-dusting surfaces or sweeping floors.
High-touch surfaces
For door handles, the reception desk, chair arms, toilet basins, taps, and other frequently touched areas:
- Clean more frequently than surfaces with minimal hand contact, e.g. daily.
- Clean twice daily during an outbreak.
Items in the waiting room
Toys and magazines can be a source of cross infection if shared or re-used.
- Only provide toys with non-toxic hard surfaces (e.g. plastic), and clean them regularly.
- Restrict reading materials to items that are taken away, e.g. brochures.
Linen and laundry
- Change sheets and pillowcases at least 3 times per week.
- Change any visibly soiled linen immediately.
- Wear gloves if handling visibly soiled linen.
Walls, blinds, and curtains
Walls, blinds, and curtains generally have minimal contact:
- Clean when visibly dirty.
Use of cleaning products and equipment
Cleaning products and equipment are a potential source of cross contamination. Follow best-practice processes for using and maintaining cleaning equipment:
Buckets
- Rinse and dry after use.
- Store upside down.
Cleaning cloths
- Use microfibre cloths to increase cleaning effectiveness.
- Disposable disinfectant wipes or paper towels can also be used.
Cleaning solutions
- Replace solutions daily, or as needed throughout the day.
- Unused solution must be discarded.
- Detergents and disinfectants must be diluted in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
Mop heads
- Replace and wash each time the bucket of cleaning solution is replaced.
- Allow to air dry before re-use.
Vacuum cleaner
- Make sure the vacuum cleaner has a HEPA filter.
- Check filters monthly and wash or replace if necessary.
Cleaning blood and body fluid spills
Follow the procedure in Blood and Body Fluid Exposure if an exposure happens during cleaning of the spill.
Treat all spills as potentially infectious and clean immediately:
- Direct other people away from the spill area.
- Follow standard precautions, particularly appropriate PPE and hand washing.
- Dispose of broken glass or sharps into a yellow sharps container.
- Use disposable cloths and/or paper towels.
Consider having a designated spill kit to quickly manage blood and body fluid contamination.
A basic spill kit could contain:
- PPE
- waste bags
- absorbent material, e.g. clumping cat litter
- paper towels
- scoop/scraper (e.g. cardboard)
- detergent wipes
- disinfectant wipes
- chlorine bleach
- hazard signs
All items of a spill kit should be disposable to prevent cross contamination between uses.
Source: Royal Australian College of General Practice: Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines
The method for cleaning the spill depends on the volume and where it happens, e.g. hard surfaces or textiles:
Small spills (less than 10 cm diameter)
Small spills on hard surfaces
Either:
- Wipe clean with detergent solution and dry with a paper towel
- Use a cleaning or disinfectant wipe.
Small spills on soft surfaces that can't be removed for washing
- If needed, remove organic matter using paper towels or absorbent granules, e.g. cat litter.
- Pat with damp disposable cloth using a recommended fabric or carpet cleaner.
Large spills (more than 10 cm diameter)
Large spills on hard surfaces:
- Remove as much organic matter as possible using paper towels or absorbent granules, e.g. cat litter.
- Clean surface with hot water and detergent.
- Disinfect with chlorine solution.
- Ventilate the room well and don't mix the bleach with other chemicals.
- Mop up excess water with paper towels.
Large spills on soft surfaces that can't be removed for washing
- Remove as much organic matter as possible using paper towels or absorbent granules, e.g. cat litter.
- Pat with damp disposable cloth using a recommended fabric or carpet cleaner.
- Quarantine the area until the fabric or carpet is dry.
- Arrange steam cleaning as soon as possible.
Quarantine the spill area until surfaces are clean and dry.
Dispose of all contaminated cleaning items as controlled or infectious waste, e.g. absorbent material, cloths, paper towels, and PPE.
This page was reviewed with input from Ruth Barratt, Infection Prevention & Control and Quality Advisor (PhD, MAdvPrac (Hons), RN, CICP-E).
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