Aged Care Infection Control and Cleaning Checklist

A well-thought out infection control routine and maintenance can keep residents, staff and visitors safe. Older people face higher risks from respiratory and gut infections. A simple checklist, grounded in Australian guidance, makes daily tasks clear and helps during audits. Use this guide to set a baseline, train your team and improve over time. Read Complete Wholesale Supplier’s guide on how you can make sure your aged care facility stays in tiptop shape!

Legal and clinical framework in Australia

In Australia, residential aged care providers must run an infection prevention and control program that meets the Aged Care Quality Standards. Every home needs an Infection Prevention and Control Lead. This person checks practice, advises management and supports training. Local procedures should follow national guidance and state health advice. Keep records for your plan, training, audits and the actions you take.

How to use this checklist

Treat the checklist as a living tool. Take it on walk rounds. Check controls where care happens. Note any gaps, give each one an owner, set a due date and follow up. Run checks on a set schedule. Increase the frequency during outbreaks or after changes to layout, cleaning products or staffing.

Core principles

The program works when the basics are consistent. Hand hygiene, appropriate personal protective equipment, environmental cleaning, waste management, and clear documentation are the foundation. The IPC Lead should review data from audits, incidents, and outbreaks to target improvements.

Daily environmental cleaning checklist

Use this section for routine cleaning in resident areas and shared spaces. Record date, time, area, product, dilution, and initials. Replace cloths and mop heads between rooms. Prepare solutions fresh for each shift.

1. Resident bedrooms: High touch points cleaned at least once per day. These include bed rails, call bells, door handles, light switches, bedside tables, chair arms, and remote controls. Spot clean spills as soon as they occur. Clean ensuite if present.

2. Bathrooms and ensuites: Clean toilets, basins, taps, shower controls, grab rails, and seats daily. Descale as needed. Dry surfaces to prevent mould. Restock soap and paper supplies.

3. Common areas: Clean tables, chair arms, door handles, handrails, lift buttons, activity surfaces, shared equipment, and hydration stations each day. Increase frequency during periods of high transmission risk.

4. Dining and servery: Clean and disinfect horizontal surfaces before food service and after each meal. Sanitise trolleys, servery handles, and fridge door seals. Separate clean and dirty workflows.

5. Medication rooms and trolleys: Clean trolley handles, drawer pulls, worktops, and barcode scanners each shift. Keep disinfectants away from medicines and food.

6. Nursing stations and offices: Clean keyboards, mice, phones, touch screens, and counters daily. Use wipes compatible with electronics.

7. Shared clinical equipment: Clean between residents. These items include blood pressure cuffs, thermometers, stethoscopes, hoists, slings, wheelchairs, and walking frames. Follow the manufacturer cleaning instructions.

8. Laundry and utility rooms: Clean benches, sinks, appliance handles, hampers, and floors daily. Keep clean and soiled workflows separate.

9. Waste collection points: Wipe lids and surrounding surfaces daily. Replace bins that are damaged or cannot be cleaned.

Frequencies and special area schedules

Set local schedules that match your facility layout and risk profile. As a guide, use the following baseline.

High touch points in resident and staff areas: clean at least once per day and more often during outbreaks.

Wet areas including toilets, showers, basins, and surrounds: clean at least once per day. Increase based on use.

Isolation rooms during transmission based precautions: clean twice daily. Clean the ensuite twice daily. Use dedicated equipment.

Floors in care areas: vacuum or damp mop daily. Avoid dry sweeping that lifts dust.

Walls, blinds, and curtains: clean quarterly or when visibly soiled. Launder privacy screens weekly and when soiled.

Kitchens and food service areas: follow food safety program requirements and log sanitiser concentrations.

Products, mixing, and storage

Use a neutral detergent for routine cleaning. Use a disinfectant only when indicated, such as for body fluid spills or during outbreaks. Follow the label for contact time, dilution, and safety advice. Never mix products. Prepare solutions fresh, label containers, and store chemicals away from food and medicines. Keep up to date safety data sheets and provide appropriate personal protective equipment.

Body fluid spill response

Train all staff in spill management. Provide spill kits in clinical and high risk areas. Manage spills promptly with the correct sequence, PPE, and disinfectant.

1. Put on gloves and any other required PPE. Prevent access to the area.

2. Absorb the spill with disposable towels. Discard into clinical waste as per policy.

3. Clean the surface with neutral detergent and warm water.

4. Disinfect if indicated. Follow the correct concentration and contact time.

5. Remove PPE, perform hand hygiene, and document the incident.

Terminal cleaning after resident discharge or transfer

When a resident on transmission based precautions leaves a room, complete a terminal clean before the room is used again. Clean and disinfect all horizontal and frequently touched surfaces, bed frame, mattress cover, bed rails, furniture, bathroom fixtures, and equipment. Launder privacy curtains. Replace any single use items. Document the terminal clean and sign off.

Waste management

Classify waste correctly. Use the right bags and containers. Keep waste rooms clean and secure. Remove waste from clinical areas several times a day. Tie bags before removal. Store waste safely until collection. Follow standards for sharps containers and disposal. Teach staff to segregate at the point of generation.

Water, air, and maintenance

Maintain ventilation and water systems to reduce risks. Keep plant and equipment serviced. Flush seldom used outlets to prevent stagnation. Follow local policies for managing legionella risk. Clean and maintain exhaust fans and filters as per manufacturer schedules. Keep maintenance logs.

Hand hygiene and PPE

Promote the five moments for hand hygiene. Place stations at entry points, outside resident rooms, and at points of care. Provide training and observe practice. PPE use should match risk. Gloves are not a substitute for hand hygiene. Wear eye protection if there is a risk of splash. Remove PPE safely and perform hand hygiene after removal.

Visitor and contractor controls

Screen visitors in line with current public health advice. Provide hand hygiene stations at entry and in common areas. Encourage vaccination and respiratory etiquette. Require contractors to follow your IPC policy, including cleaning and PPE expectations in the areas they enter.

Outbreak readiness and response

Have a clear plan that can be activated quickly. Keep template signage, line lists, cohorting plans, and communications ready. Stockpile PPE and cleaning consumables to avoid shortages.

• Identify the first case early. Start transmission based precautions. Notify the IPC Lead and management.

• Cohort residents and staff when appropriate. Limit movement between affected and unaffected areas. Use dedicated equipment.

• Increase cleaning frequency for high touch points. Keep detailed logs of what was cleaned, when, and by whom.

• Stand up an incident management team. Record decisions and outcomes.

• Debrief after the event. Update the plan and training.
  
  

Governance, training, and auditing

Policy alone does not change practice. Leaders must set expectations and follow through. The IPC Lead should run regular audits with transparent feedback to staff. Use visual reminders and quick coaching at the point of care.

Minimum governance artefacts

• IPC program plan with roles and responsibilities

• Cleaning and disinfection policy with product list and dilutions

• Waste management policy and schedules

• Staff training matrix and competency sign offs

• Audit tools, results, and action plans

• Outbreak management plan and after action reviews
  
  

Documentation templates to maintain

Keep simple, clear forms. Paper or digital is fine as long as staff can use them during a busy shift. Suggested templates include a daily cleaning log by area, a shared equipment sign off sheet, a spill response log, a terminal clean checklist, and a waste and linen movement log. Keep records for the period required by regulation and your policy.

What to look for on a floor walk

Use this short prompt list during leadership rounds or IPC audits:

• Are hand hygiene stations full and reachable at every point of care

• Are cloths and mops colour coded and used in the correct zones

• Are disinfectants in date and used at the correct concentration and contact time

• Are trolleys clean and free of clutter

• Do staff change cleaning solutions between rooms

• Are clean and dirty workflows separated in laundry and kitchen areas

• Are bins in good condition and not overfilled

• Are logs completed and legible

Roles and responsibilities

Everyone has a part to play. Care staff and cleaners keep surfaces safe. Nurses and allied health staff clean shared equipment between residents. Kitchen and laundry teams maintain hygienic workflows. Maintenance keeps systems running and supports water and ventilation management. The IPC Lead coaches, audits, and reports to management. The manager ensures resources, rostering, and accountability.

Competency and refresher training

Induction should cover hand hygiene, cleaning basics, spills, PPE, waste, and the reporting pathway for hazards. Support this with short refreshers. Add practical assessments for the use of disinfectants, dilution stations, and terminal cleaning. Keep training records current.

Choosing and reviewing products

Select products that are compatible with surfaces and equipment. Check instructions for contact time, rinsing, and residue. Use ready to use wipes for small electronics. Avoid sprays that can aerosolise contaminants. Review the product list yearly and after any change in pathogens of concern.

Auditing, metrics, and continuous improvement

Track simple, meaningful measures. Hand hygiene compliance, cleaning log completion, product stockouts, and outbreak response times are examples. Share results with staff and celebrate improvements. Investigate persistent issues and adjust schedules, tools, or training.

Quick reference lists

Final notes

Keep the checklist practical, visible, and used. Your best defence is consistent daily practice, backed by clear records and regular coaching. The aim is simple. Clean, safe surroundings that reduce infection risks and support quality of life for residents.

Sources

• Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Infection prevention and control in aged care. Updated 4 August 2025.

• Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. The Aged Care Infection Prevention and Control Guide. Chapters on cleaning schedules and governance.

• Health Victoria. Cleaning and waste disposal procedures for infection control. Reviewed 13 December 2023.

• Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. Clean and safe environment guidance and IPC governance self assessment checklist.