Complete Cleaning Guide for Aged Care

We have put together this detailed cleaning guide for aged care because we believe that facility managers, care staff, and families deserve a clear, practical resource they can refer to when setting or evaluating cleaning standards. Our aged care cleaning services in Sydney are built on the principles outlined here, and our team applies these standards daily across facilities in Condell Park, Bankstown South, and Milperra. We wrote this guide from direct experience — every recommendation reflects what we have learned from years of cleaning aged care environments and seeing what works and what does not.

For more insights, see our guide on aged care cleaners.

Establishing a Cleaning Schedule

We recommend that every aged care facility operates with a documented cleaning schedule that specifies the tasks, frequencies, and responsible parties for every area of the building. Our experience tells us that facilities without a written schedule inevitably develop gaps in coverage because verbal instructions get forgotten or misinterpreted over time. We have implemented cleaning schedules in Condell Park facilities that break the day into morning, afternoon, and evening routines, with each routine covering specific tasks in specific areas so that nothing gets overlooked.

We structure our schedules around three cleaning tiers — routine daily cleaning, periodic weekly or fortnightly tasks, and deep cleaning on a quarterly or biannual cycle. Our daily tier covers high-touch surface disinfection, bathroom cleaning, floor cleaning, waste removal, and general tidying. Our periodic tier covers tasks like window cleaning, curtain laundering, vent cleaning, and furniture extraction. Our deep cleaning tier covers hard floor stripping and resealing, carpet extraction, and full facility sanitisation. We have found that this tiered approach ensures nothing accumulates to the point where it becomes a health risk or an aesthetic problem.

Laundry Practices and Infection Control

We follow the principles of AS 4146.2, the Australian Standard covering laundry practice in infection control for health care facilities, when managing linen and textile cleaning in aged care environments. Our team separates soiled linen at the point of generation using colour-coded bags — red for contaminated items and white or clear for standard laundry — and we transport soiled linen in sealed bags to prevent cross-contamination during handling. We have seen facilities in Bankstown South where soiled linen was being carried openly through corridors, and we corrected this practice immediately because it represented a significant infection transmission risk.

We process laundry at temperatures that achieve thermal disinfection — a minimum of 65 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes or 71 degrees for 3 minutes as specified in the standard. Our team verifies wash temperatures using calibrated thermometers and we maintain records of every laundry cycle for audit purposes. We have found that many aged care facilities rely on domestic washing machines that cannot reliably achieve these temperatures, and we recommend commercial-grade laundry equipment for any facility that handles contaminated linen. Our laundry protocols protect both residents and staff from exposure to infectious material.

Aged Care Facility Cleaning Standard Comparison

Chemical Selection and Storage

Chemical Selection and Storage includes specific protocols that we tailor to each facility based on its layout, traffic, and compliance requirements. We select cleaning chemicals for aged care based on three criteria — efficacy against target pathogens, safety for vulnerable residents, and compatibility with the surfaces being cleaned. Our team uses TGA-listed hospital-grade disinfectants for all clinical and high-risk areas, and pH-neutral general-purpose cleaners for routine maintenance in low-risk zones. We have tested multiple product ranges across our Condell Park and Milperra facilities and settled on a chemical suite that delivers consistent results without creating unnecessary exposure risks for residents with respiratory conditions or chemical sensitivities.

We store all cleaning chemicals in a locked, ventilated cabinet that is inaccessible to residents. Our storage protocols comply with the requirements for hazardous substance management in healthcare settings and we maintain current Safety Data Sheets for every product on site. We have encountered facilities where cleaning chemicals were stored in unlocked cupboards within reach of residents with cognitive impairment, and we addressed this immediately because the ingestion or skin contact risk in a dementia care environment is significant and entirely preventable.

Floor Care and Falls Prevention

We approach floor cleaning in aged care with falls prevention as a primary consideration because slips and falls are the leading cause of injury among aged care residents. Our team uses flat mop systems with low-moisture cleaning solutions that dry within minutes rather than leaving standing water on the floor surface. We always deploy wet floor signage during and after mopping, and we schedule high-traffic corridor cleaning during periods when resident movement is lowest. We have implemented a staggered mopping schedule in Bankstown South facilities that cleans alternating sides of corridors so that residents always have a dry path available.

We also maintain hard floor surfaces to confirm they retain their slip-resistance properties. Our periodic floor maintenance program includes machine scrubbing, stripping, and resealing with coatings that meet the minimum slip-resistance requirements. We test floor surfaces using a pendulum slip resistance tester after every resealing job and we only hand the floor back to the facility when it meets the required coefficient of friction. Our approach to floor care balances cleanliness with safety because a spotlessly clean floor that is dangerously slippery is worse than useless in an aged care setting.

Auditing and Quality Assurance

Auditing and Quality Assurance targets specific protocols that we tailor to each facility based on its layout, traffic, and compliance requirements. We conduct monthly cleaning audits across every aged care facility we service using a standardised assessment tool that scores cleaning performance across multiple categories including surface cleanliness, bathroom hygiene, floor condition, waste management, laundry handling, and equipment maintenance. Our audit results are shared with facility management in a written report that highlights any areas below standard and includes a corrective action plan with timelines. We have found that regular auditing keeps cleaning quality consistently high and prevents the gradual decline that occurs when cleaning is not formally monitored.

We also use ATP bioluminescence testing as part of our quality assurance program. Our team swabs high-touch surfaces after cleaning and measures the residual organic contamination using a portable luminometer. We set a pass threshold of 100 RLU for general surfaces and 50 RLU for clinical areas, and any result above threshold triggers an immediate reclean. We have introduced ATP testing in Milperra aged care homes where the facility management wanted objective evidence that cleaning was meeting infection control standards, and the data we provide gives them confidence in our service quality.

Pricing for Detailed Aged Care Cleaning

We price our detailed aged care cleaning programs based on the facility size, the level of care provided, and the scope of services required. Our full-service contract for an 80-bed facility in the Condell Park area that includes daily cleaning, periodic deep cleaning, laundry management, and monthly auditing starts from approximately $3,330 per month. We provide transparent pricing with no hidden charges and our contracts include outbreak response cleaning at no additional cost because we believe facilities should never face a financial barrier to escalating cleaning during an infection event.

We encourage facility managers and families who are also exploring NDIS-funded cleaning options for residents with disability to read our guide on finding NDIS cleaners in Australia, which covers the process of accessing cleaning support through the National Disability Insurance Scheme and what to look for in a compliant provider.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should an aged care cleaning schedule include?

We recommend a three-tier schedule covering daily tasks like high-touch disinfection and bathroom cleaning, periodic tasks like window and vent cleaning, and quarterly deep cleaning including carpet extraction and hard floor restoration.

What temperature should aged care laundry be washed at?

We follow AS 4146.2 which requires thermal disinfection at a minimum of 65 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes or 71 degrees for 3 minutes. Our team verifies temperatures with calibrated thermometers and records every cycle.

How do you prevent falls during floor cleaning?

We use low-moisture flat mop systems that dry within minutes, deploy wet floor signage during all mopping, and schedule cleaning during low-traffic periods. Our staggered corridor mopping ensures residents always have a dry walking path available.

How often should aged care facilities be audited for cleaning quality?

We conduct monthly audits using a standardised scoring tool across surface cleanliness, bathroom hygiene, floor condition, and waste management. Our audit reports include corrective action plans with timelines for any areas below standard.

What is ATP testing and why do you use it?

We use ATP bioluminescence testing to measure residual organic contamination on surfaces after cleaning. Our pass threshold is 100 RLU for general surfaces and 50 RLU for clinical areas, providing objective evidence that cleaning meets infection control standards.

How much does detailed aged care cleaning cost?

We price based on facility size and service scope. Our full-service contract for an 80-bed facility starts from approximately $3,330 per month including daily cleaning, deep cleaning, laundry management, and monthly audits.

What cleaning chemicals are safe for aged care?

We use TGA-listed hospital-grade disinfectants for clinical areas and pH-neutral general-purpose cleaners for routine maintenance. Our products are selected for efficacy against target pathogens while minimising exposure risks for residents with respiratory conditions.

Do you handle laundry services for aged care facilities?

We manage laundry following AS 4146.2 infection control standards including colour-coded separation at point of generation, sealed transport, thermal disinfection washing, and documented cycle records for audit compliance.

About Clean Group

Clean Group is a Sydney-based commercial cleaning company with over 25 years of industry experience. Founded by Suji Siv, our team of 50+ trained professionals services offices, warehouses, medical centres, schools, childcare facilities, retail stores, gyms, and strata properties across Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.

We are active members of ISSA and the Building Service Contractors Association of Australia (BSCAA). Our operations align with ISO 9001 (Quality Management), ISO 14001 (Environmental Management), and ISO 45001 (Workplace Health and Safety) standards. We hold membership with the Green Building Council of Australia and use eco-friendly, TGA-registered cleaning products wherever possible.

Every Clean Group cleaner is police-checked, fully insured, and trained in safe work procedures under SafeWork NSW guidelines. We operate 7 days a week, including after-hours and weekend services, to minimise disruption to your business.