Every nursing home is already filled with people who are vulnerable to illness and fatal disorders. The immunodeficient response of such individuals can be easily noticed in the CDC’s EID journal. In its volume 7, Larry James states that 1.6-3.8 million residents of nursing homes suffer from healthcare-related disorders every year.
Cleaning such properties is the best way to minimize these infections. However, without an immaculate nursing home cleaning checklist, critical areas could stay untouched, leading to potential health risks. Thankfully, we have an easy fix! This blog will guide you through creating a practical cleaning checklist for your nursing home in a snap!
Why Do You Need A Checklist for Cleaning Nursing Homes?
Nursing homes have a high volume of incoming and outgoing visitors. Being a healthcare property, every nursing home needs appropriate cleaning protocols to reduce the spread of infectious agents. A study in Saudi Arabia found MRSA on 50% of bed-railings in a long-term care facility.
Disease-causing microbes reside in such places because they are left unnoticed during a regular cleaning routine. A nursing home cleaning checklist ensures that no such corner is overlooked. Staff can use it to address all crucial areas and systematically prevent fatal infections. Maintaining hygiene and a safe environment for visitors, staff, and residents makes it a must-have.
Daily Cleaning Checklist for a Nursing Home
Nursing homes are one of the properties that need daily cleaning. If you are related to a care home, the following tasks could be included in your daily nursing home cleaning checklist:
Cleaning High-Touch Surfaces
After COVID-19, we have seen a surging trend of cleaning high-touch surfaces with disinfectants. In 2020, a study found coronavirus on 25% of common surface areas in a nursery home. So, adding this sector to your checklist is extremely essential.
Sweep and Mop Floors
People getting in and out of nursing homes drag tons of pathogens inside the premises with their shoes. So, ensure you add consistent mopping to your checklist for nursing homes.
Sanitize Kitchen Areas
Most infections are caused by food-borne pathogens. So, disinfect your kitchenware and storage cabinets daily.
Emptying Trash Bins
Dry trash isn’t necessarily responsible for many bacterial infections. However, it has an uncomfortable odor and certain pests that cause skin infections. So, try adding it to your checklist for a better daily cleaning protocol.
Weekly Cleaning Routine Checklist For A Nursing Home
While daily cleaning manages immediate health concerns, a weekly nursing home cleaning checklist is necessary for deeper sanitation and upkeep of the facility. Here are some essential tasks to add to your checklist template:
Deep Cleaning Bathrooms
- coli is a common bacterium in unhygienic bathrooms that can cause gastrointestinal diseases. The best way to deal with it is to clean bathrooms weekly. It will include grouting, scrubbing, and changing shower curtains.
Vacuum Carpets
NIH conducted a study across hospitals, and they discovered that the air above carpets consistently contains more organisms than the air above bare flooring. Traditional cleaning methods are ineffective in eliminating such organisms, so you can add vacuum carpets to your checklist to improve cleaning protocol.
Cleaning Windows and Blinds
Windows are some rooms’ primary air intake. They can gather dust and grime with time. Clean windows and blinds improve natural light and help reduce allergic reactions.
Monthly Deep Cleaning Checklist For Nursing Homes
A monthly deep cleaning checklist helps address the areas that weekly and daily cleaning protocols might overlook. Here are the essential tasks to include in your monthly deep cleaning checklist:
Clean Air Ducts and Replace HVAC Filters
Air ducts can accumulate pollen, dust, and other allergens that impact indoor air quality. Additionally, old HVAC filters may fail to stop harmful pathogens. So, your monthly checklist should include deep cleaning air ducts and replacing HVAC filters.
Wash Walls and Ceilings
Dust, dirt, and mold are the primary factors in small air-borne infections. All three accumulate on walls if they are not cleaned properly. If you are concerned about the respiratory health of your residents, you must add this task to your checklist.
Steam Clean Upholstered Furniture
Upholstery can help pathogenic bacteria grow and spread. The best way to deal with such conditions is through steam cleaning. Monthly deep cleaning of upholstered furniture is necessary for residents with weakened immune responses.
Little-Known Tips On How To Clean Nursing Home Seamlessly
Disinfecting surfaces and emptying trash cans are just the basics of cleaning a nursing home. We will disclose some special tips that you can add to your nursing home housekeeping checklist template. Let’s start with the basic one:
- Don’t use any cloth for cleaning and disinfecting surfaces. We suggest going for microfibre cloths. According to a study published in AJIC, microfibre prevents the transfer of several deadly pathogens, including Clostridium species. Including it in your cleaning arsenal can greatly add to traditional cleaning strategies.
- Use a top-to-bottom strategy while cleaning. Try cleaning high surfaces (shelves, light fixtures) and then work your way down to lower surfaces and floors. This approach prevents recontamination during housekeeping in a care home.
- No two sections of a nursing home have the exact sanitation needs. So, always use color-coded cleaning equipment to avoid cross-contamination. For instance, you can use blue mops for kitchens and red ones for the bathroom.
- Plan cleaning activities when residents are less likely to be in common areas. It is best to deep clean the premises during low-traffic times because it reduces disruption and minimizes the risks of exposure to pathogens.
Looking Out For Cleaning Solutions In the Minneapolis Saint Paul Area? We Can Help!
If creating a nursing home cleaning checklist and cleaning every corner isn’t your forte, you can always hire an expert. At Mill City Cleaning, we specialize in professional cleaning services tailored to nursing homes. With over 25 years of experience, we have perfected our methods to make every nursing home spotless and safe. Let us handle everything with our commercial cleaning services so you can focus on caring for your residents! Get a comprehensive nursing home cleaning quote today!
FAQs: Nursing Home Cleaning Checklist
What Are The Best Practices For Cleaning In Care Homes?
Best practices for cleaning in care homes include using hospital-grade disinfectants. Also, you must follow a long-term care cleaning checklist to maintain a hygienic environment. Regular training for staff on updated cleaning protocols is also a good safety measure.
What Areas In A Nursing Home Require Frequent Cleaning?
High-touch surfaces such as handrails, door handles, light switches, and bed rails require frequent cleaning in a nursing home. To decrease the risk of consistent contamination, you can add these to your facility’s housekeeping checklist.
How Often Should Nursing Home Staff Conduct Deep Cleaning?
Nursing home staff should conduct deep cleaning at least once a month. This involves steam cleaning carpets, sanitizing all surfaces, deep cleaning kitchens and bathrooms, and checking HVAC systems. All of these help create a clean environment for residents.
