Systematic Deep Cleaning in Nursing Homes - A Healthcare Hygiene Necessity

Hygiene as a Patient Safety Issue
Deep cleaning in elderly care is a critical part of care work that directly affects:
- Infection control and prevention of healthcare-related infections
- The health and well-being of residents
- The work environment for staff
- Property maintenance

Regulations and Guidelines

Requirements of the National Board of Health and Welfare (SOSFS 2015:10)
- Requirement for documented cleaning routines
- Specific hygiene requirements for different areas
- Training requirements for staff

Classification of Areas
- High hygiene zones (toilets, rinse rooms)
- Intermediate zones (dining rooms, kitchens)
- Low hygiene zones (corridors, living rooms)

Practical Implementation

Planning and Organization

Cleaning Schedule with Intervals
- Daily basic cleaning
- Weekly supplementary cleaning
- Quarterly deep cleaning
- Annual total cleaning

Specific Routines for
- Regular cleaning
- Move-out cleaning
- Infection tracing cleaning
- Renovation cleaning

Execution and Methods

Verified Cleaning Methods
- "Top-to-bottom" principle
- "Clean-to-dirty" work order
- Color-coded cleaning materials

Control Mechanisms
- UV light for organic contamination
- ATP surface measurement (photometer test)
- If necessary, microbiological sampling

Staff and Competence

Training Requirements
- Basic hygiene training for all
- Special training for cleaning staff
- Annual repetition and follow-up

Role of the Hygiene Delegate
- Continuous quality control
- Implementation of new guidelines
- Participation in deviation management

Special Challenges and Solutions

Resistant Bacteria
- Special disinfection protocols
- Documented infection tracing
- Quarantine of equipment
- Pest control

Dementia Adaptation
- Calm and predictable cleaning order
- Respect for private belongings
- Cooperation with residents and relatives

External Cleaning Staff
- Clear handover routines
- Joint training opportunities
- Regular quality dialogues

Documentation and Quality Assurance

Supporting Systems
- Digital checklists
- Photo documentation
- Incident reporting

Improvement Work
- Regular hygiene rounds
- Benchmarking between units
- Quality indicators for cleaning

Reflection Questions - Deep Cleaning

Care Staff
- What cleaning-related risks do you see in your daily work?
- How can we better integrate cleaning into care?

Manager, Nurse, Occupational Therapist, and Physiotherapist
- How do we ensure that cleaning routines are followed when staff changes?
- What resources are needed to maintain high cleaning quality?

Residents and Relatives
- How do you experience the balance between cleaning and privacy?
- What information do you need about our cleaning policy?

Erland Olsson
Specialist nurse
Sofrosyne - Better Care Every Day