Are your cleaning practices good enough to protect your patient’s health? In a healthcare setting, it’s absolutely necessary to maintain a clean and infection-free space and that’s where terminal cleaning comes in.
This specialized, high-level cleaning method focuses on disinfecting all surfaces and equipment in patient areas, ensuring that harmful pathogens are eliminated.
In this guide, you’ll learn what terminal cleaning is and how you can do it perfectly.
Understanding Terminal Cleaning
Do you know healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) impact 1 in 31 patients daily in a hospital? And the only way to reduce it further is Terminal cleaning. Terminal cleaning aims to eliminate harmful pathogens from healthcare environments thoroughly and methodically, especially after a patient is discharged or transferred.
This deep-cleaning approach plays a crucial role in infection control by ensuring that every surface and piece of equipment is sanitized to prevent the spread of infections to future patients and staff.
Unlike regular cleaning routines, which typically involve wiping down visible surfaces, this hospital cleaning technique is a rigorous, step-by-step process that disinfects every surface, equipment and fixture within a patient care area.
Essential Terminal Cleaning Equipment and Tools
Here’s a list of essential terminal cleaning equipment that a healthcare setting needs for effective terminal cleaning:
1. Hospital-Grade Disinfectants
These disinfectants are specially designed to kill a variety of pathogens, including viruses, bacteria and fungi. If you’re the one cleaning the room, you must use these to clean the surfaces that have been in contact with patients or medical equipment.
2. Microfiber Cloths and Mops
Microfiber materials are effective at trapping dirt, dust and pathogens compared to traditional cotton cloths. They are also reusable and can be laundered, making them a sustainable choice for daily cleaning.
3. Disposable Wipes and Towels
For surfaces that require a single-use solution to prevent cross-contamination, disposable wipes and towels come in handy. These can be used with disinfectant sprays to clean high-touch areas thoroughly.
4. Electrostatic Sprayers
These sprayers evenly coat surfaces with disinfectant so that you can reach areas that might be hard to clean manually. They’re particularly useful for larger spaces or complex equipment.
5. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
PPE, such as gloves, gowns, masks and eye protection, is important for protecting healthcare workers from coming into contact with harmful pathogens during the terminal cleaning process.
6. UV Disinfection Systems
UV-C light systems are used as an additional step after physical cleaning to kill pathogens. These systems are often employed in operating rooms, ICU rooms or isolation areas to make sure they are well-protected.
7. High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) Filter Vacuum
HEPA vacuums trap 99.97% of airborne particles, making them ideal for areas that require high air quality. They are particularly effective in removing dust and pathogens from hard-to-reach areas.
8. Waste Disposal Bags
Proper disposal of waste is crucial during terminal cleaning. Medical-grade, biohazard bags are used for this purpose, which securely dispose of contaminated materials and reduce the risk of spreading any infections.
Terminal Cleaning Procedure
To understand how the terminal cleaning procedure occurs, follow these steps:
1. Preparation and Safety Measures
You need to start by preparing all necessary cleaning supplies and equipment. Wear personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves, gowns and masks to protect yourself from contamination.
Don’t forget to place the “Do Not Enter” signs around the area to alert others that cleaning is in progress. This minimizes the risk of accidental entry during the terminal cleaning process.
2. Remove Waste and Linens
Now, ensure secure containment by carefully collecting and disposing of all waste in biohazard bags. Remove and bag linens, bed sheets and curtains for laundering or disposal, as these items can harbor pathogens. Also, dispose of any single-use or disposable equipment to reduce contamination risk even further.
3. Dust and Clean High-to-Low Surfaces
For this step, start by dusting high surfaces such as ceilings, vents and light fixtures. This approach prevents dust from failing onto surfaces that have already been cleaned.
Then, wipe down walls, light switches, handles and other high-touch surfaces with a hospital-grade disinfectant. Make sure to follow a high-to-low approach so that all surfaces are disinfected without recontaminating areas below.
4. Disinfect Furniture and Medical Equipment
Clean and disinfect all furniture, including chairs, tables and other items, as well as essential medical equipment. Pay special attention to high-touch areas such as bed rails, monitors and IV poles.
5. Floor Cleaning
Next, mop the floor with a microfiber mop and hospital-grade disinfectant. Focus on high-traffic areas, corners and under furniture to ensure every part of the floor is thoroughly sanitized. Floor cleaning removes potential pathogens and contributes to maintaining a hygienic environment.
6. Bathroom Disinfection
Move to the bathroom now and disinfect all surfaces, including the toilet, sink, handles and other frequently touched areas. Bathroom deep cleaning is an essential step of terminal cleaning as they are high-risk areas for contamination.
7. Final Disinfection and Inspection
If available, apply UV-C light disinfection as an additional layer of sanitation after manual cleaning. This technology is effective for eliminating lingering pathogens on surfaces. Finally, inspect the area carefully to confirm that all surfaces and equipment are cleaned and disinfected according to standards.
3 Terminal Cleaning Examples
Here are three terminal cleaning examples in a healthcare setting:
| Scenario | Description |
| Operating Room After Surgery | After surgery, all disposable materials are removed, and high-touch surfaces are disinfected. The room is inspected and reset with fresh linens for the next procedure. |
| Patient Room After Discharge | After discharging a patient with an infectious condition, the staff removes used linens, curtains, and disposable items. High-touch surfaces like bed rails and switches are also disinfected, the bathroom is thoroughly cleaned and floors are mopped. |
| ICU Room Between Patients | ICU rooms undergo terminal cleaning when it is vacated to remove all disposable items and disinfect medical equipment, monitors and bed rails. |
Terminal Cleaning Checklist
To deep-clean a room to make it infection-free, you need to have a terminal cleaning checklist. Here’s one that you can use in case you don’t want to make one for yourself.
1. Preparation
- Gather all cleaning supplies and equipment.
- Wear personal protective equipment (PPE), including gloves, gowns, and masks.
- Place “Do Not Enter” signs to alert others that cleaning is in progress.
2. Remove Waste and Contaminated Items
- Collect and dispose of all waste in biohazard bags.
- Remove used linens, bed sheets, and curtains for laundering or disposal.
- Discard any single-use or disposable items to prevent contamination.
3. High-to-Low Surface Cleaning
- Dust and wipe ceilings, vents, and light fixtures.
- Wipe down walls, switches, handles, and other high-touch areas with disinfectant.
4. Furniture and Equipment Cleaning
- Disinfect all furniture, including chairs, tables, and bedside tables.
- Clean medical equipment like bed rails, monitors, and IV poles.
5. Floor Cleaning
- Mop the floor using a microfiber mop and hospital-grade disinfectant.
- Pay special attention to corners and areas under furniture.
6. Bathroom Disinfection
- Clean and disinfect the toilet, sink, handles, and high-touch areas.
- Wipe down bathroom walls and floors.
7. Final Disinfection and Inspection
- Apply UV-C light disinfection if available.
- Inspect the area to ensure all surfaces are thoroughly cleaned.
Get a Cleaner, Safer Medical Facility Today!
Terminal cleaning is important in healthcare settings to provide a deep and thorough level of sanitation that goes beyond standard cleaning. That’s where Mill City Cleaning comes in with its Medical Facility Cleaning Service.
Our team understands the unique needs of medical facilities and sticks to the highest standards of cleanliness. As a trusted Minneapolis Cleaning Service, we deliver high-quality Commercial Cleaning Services customized for medical settings, from small clinics to large medical centers.
Contact us today for a free commercial cleaning quote and experience the peace of mind that comes with a spotless, safe facility.
FAQs
How is the terminal cleaning process carried out?
Here are the simple steps to carry out terminal cleaning in a healthcare setting:
- Prepare and gather all supplies and wear PPE.
- Remove all waste and linens and safely dispose of used and disposable materials.
- Dust and disinfect high-to-low surfaces, furniture and medical equipment.
- Mop the floor and sanitize the bathroom.
- Do a final inspection and use UV-C light to check that all areas are clean.
Deep cleaning vs. Terminal cleaning: What’s the difference?
Deep cleaning removes visible dirt, grime and some germs from surfaces and is typically done regularly. Terminal cleaning, however, is a more thorough, hospital-grade process focussed on eliminating all pathogens, especially in healthcare settings. It’s performed after patient discharge or in high-risk areas for disinfection and safety.
