Basic cleaning procedures
Basic cleaning methods – Part 1
Basic cleaning methods are
• Dusting
• Sweeping
• Mopping
• Suction
Dusting
In health hazard as dust is a major cause for
infection. Dusting is the process of
removing this dust.
Equipments and supplies:
- Duster 2 nos
- Dry cloth, wet cloth
- Cotton
- Spirit
- Water
Methods of dusting:
• Collect all items of required for dusting
• Fold the duster so as to be able to dust a number of surfaces
• Commence work from the entrance of the room and proceed in
the clockwise direction
• Start with the highest point to be dusted and work down
towards the floor
• Prevent overlapping and skipping edges. Hold the cloth loosely
so that it can absorb dust easily
• Do not shake the dust off the cloth
• After the work is complete, wash the duster and put it back in its
place
Dusting a room
• All rooms should be dusted daily. When
dusting a room, the following things need
to be dusted
– Doors and windows
– Tables, chairs, cupboards
– Cots
– Switchboards, lights, fans
– Other articles
Sweeping
Sweeping is the process to remove dust and
dirt by using a brush or a broom
Equipments and supplies:
-
Soft broom
Dust pan
Dust bin
Selecting the equipment:
-
The brush of the broom should be long and
dense
Do not use a broken dust bin and a broken
dust pan
Method of sweeping a patient’s room
• Keep all the required materials ready
• Enter the room only after knocking and getting the patient’s permission to
clean
• Switch off the fan
• If the room is dark, switch on the light
• Handpick the solid waste lying around on the floor and put it in the dust bin
before sweeping
• Keep the windows wide open
• Latch the doors and windows to avoid them from banging
• Do not shake the dust from the doormat in front of the patient. Take it to the
corner of the room, bend and dust it thoroughly
• Bend and sweep the room thoroughly, including all the edges
and corners
• After sweeping the room, put the doormat in its place
• Do not drag the tables and chairs. The sound will disturb the
patient, and moreover, to avoid the scratches that will collect
additional dust
• Every nook of the room, including under the cupboard, under
the cot and area behind doors and dust collected from the room
should swept outside and piled against the walls
• Immediately collect the dust in dust pan and put into the dust
bin
• All the areas of the hospital should be swept in the same
manner
• Store the broom, pan and dustbin in their allotted place
Mopping
Mopping also remove any dust that remains after sweeping and
any stains on the floor
Equipments and supplies:
-
2 buckets
Water
Disinfectant
Mop
Method of mopping the patient’s room:
•
Mop only after the room has been swept thoroughly
•
Before, mopping all the required materials should be at hand
•
Fill two-thirds of one bucket with water mixed with detergent,
and two-thirds of the other bucket with plain and clean water
•
Place both the buckets on a mat to prevent staining of the
floor
• Set aside the furniture to clean the floor well.
• Rinse the mop in clean water, dip it in the bucket
containing the detergent, squeeze it well, and then mop
• Mop by drawing a figure “S” from left to right
• After mopping each small portion, rinse the mop in clean
water, and repeat the process
• If the water becomes dirty, replace it with clean water
• The dirty water should be poured directly into the
bathroom outlet, otherwise the dirty water may idle and
cause floor stains
• After completing the work, wash the mop thoroughly and
dry it in the sun. A wet mop breeds bacteria
Scrubbing
Scrubbing is done on surfaces that are extremely
dirty. This is carried out whenever necessary
Equipments and supplies
- 2 Buckets
- 2 Mops
- Brush with a long handle
- Cleaning agent
Methods of scrubbing a floor
• First, sweep the area to be scrubbed, and then
dampen it with water
• Sprinkle/spray the cleaning agent on the damp
area
• If the whole room needs to be scrubbed scrub
with the long handled brush starting from the far
corner and move towards the door
• Remove the dirty solution using a mop
• Dip the second mop in clean water and mop the
floor
• Repeat the scrubbing and mopping process until
all the dirt is removed
• Clean all the equipment and store them back in
place
Washing
• Washing of floors is done to remove the soil and dirt
brought in from the outside with the use of water.
• Walls are washed at least once a month
• Wash as often as necessary to maintain cleanliness and
hygiene
Equipments and supplies:
- 2 Containers
- Cleaning agent
- Sponge
- 2 Swabbing cloth
- A ladder to reach high places
Methods for washing
• Fill one container with a cleaning agent and the second
container with water. Place them on a mat to prevent
staining
• Wipe away loose earth from the area to be cleaned
• Dip the sponge in the cleaning solution. Squeeze out the
excess solution to prevent dripping
• Apply the solution on a small area using a circular motion
• Dip a cloth in the clean water and wash the area using an
up-down motion
• Dry the area with a dry cloth
• Repeat the process until the entire area has been cleaned
• Change the water and solution frequently
• Inspect the work. A well-washed area will have no
scratches or patches
• Clean the equipments and store them back in place
Cleaning the surroundings
• Cleaning the surroundings means maintaining the
cleanliness and hygiene at the hospital entrance, around
the hospital building and the area surrounding the hospital
compound
•
The area outside the hospital compound should be swept
daily and the waste should be removed immediately
• The parking area in front of the entrance should be
checked regularly for diesel and oil stain caused by
the vehicles
• These should be removed by scrubbing using a
scouring powder, otherwise they form stubborn
stains
• Sunshades and outer walls of the hospitals should
be swept daily and washed once a week
• Maintaining cleanliness and hygiene in the area
surrounding the hospital is as important as
maintaining the interior