Infection prevention


l Tables l Lamps l Beside tables or cabinets.


l All carpets should be vacuumed. l All hard floors should be mopped. l Spills should be dealt with as soon as they occur.


Weekly cleaning l Mirrors should be cleaned, and all windows should be cleaned and polished inside and out.


l Kitchen appliances — including fridges, ovens, and microwaves — should be cleaned.


l All bins should be sanitised, including any lids.


l Bed sheets should be laundered and changed unless they have become dirty in between washes, in which case they should be cleaned immediately. l Skirting boards should be cleaned.


Monthly cleaning l Hard to reach areas such as window frames and shelves should be dusted and cleaned.


l Blinds and curtains should be dusted or vacuumed.


l Fabric surfaces such as furniture should be vacuumed.


l Soft furnishings should be cleaned with a steam cleaner or upholstery cleaner.


Point-of-care equipment such as combs and bath hoists should be


assigned to only one resident at a time and should be cleaned after each use using a disinfectant solution. Other care equipment, such as stethoscopes and thermometers, should also be disinfected after use.


Choose the right cleaning products To ensure that your cleaning is effective, it is important to use the right products for each purpose. This includes choosing the right disinfectant solutions, as well as investing in plenty of cloths, mops with disposable heads, and a vacuum cleaner with a high particulate filter or three-stage filtration system. To ensure that you are disinfecting


surfaces effectively, you will want to start off with a neutral detergent that does not contain any bleach. This will help get rid of any general dirt and spills. You will then want to use a hypochlorite


solution. Thick bleach contains the active ingredient sodium hypochlorite, which allows it to cling to surfaces longer to kill bacteria more effectively. Before cleaning, bleach will need to be diluted in water - 50ml of bleach to a litre of water is usually enough. However, to get the correct ratio of bleach to water for your job, it is best to follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the back of the bottle. Disinfectants that do not contain


bleach will need more time on the surface to be able to work. Look for products that have passed the European standards EN 14476 or EN 1276, which states that the disinfectant is effective at removing 99.999 per cent of harmful microorganisms within the specified contact time. As these cleaners are bleach-free, non-toxic, and non-hazardous, they are particularly good for use in the care sector, especially in living areas. Cleaners that pass EN14476 will


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need 15 minutes of contact time with the surface to be effective, while those that pass EN 1276 should only need five minutes. Before cleaning, it is always wise to check the manufacturer’s instructions to find out the best method of dilution and the appropriate contact time for each product. If the surface dries before the contact time is up, then it is a good idea to reapply the solution to ensure the surface is effectively disinfected. Soft furnishings can be cleaned with a


carpet and upholstery shampoo or can be steam cleaned but should never be cleaned with bleach. For ultimate hygiene, it is recommended


that you colour code all of your products and equipment to prevent cross contamination. If you do not already have a system in place, then you might want to adopt the British Institute Of Cleaning Science’s colour coding scheme, which includes: l Red for bathrooms, washrooms, toilets, showers, and bathroom sinks.


l Blue for lower risk and general areas, such as public and reception spaces and resident’s living areas.


l Green for food preparation and catering areas.


Cleaning staff should also be equipped with the right PPE, including disposable aprons and gloves. When working with cleaning chemicals or in settings that may contain contagious illnesses, then they should also be equipped with fluid- resistant face masks and some form of eye protection.


Wash hands before and after cleaning Although all cleaning staff should be fitted with the correct PPE - including disposable gloves - it is best practice to


www.thecarehomeenvironment.com • October 2021


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