Terminal Room Cleaning Checklist

Terminal room cleaning is a thorough, deep-cleaning of a patient room between occupants. Its purpose is to rid the room of infectious agents and provide the new occupant a sanitary space for recovery and healing.

Since numerous studies have proven that patients are infected as a result of a contaminated environment, conducting a thorough clean by following strict guidelines is essential.

We all know that humans are subject to error. Nevertheless, when it comes to protecting patients from harmful pathogens, flawless performance is required! Therefore, following a superpowered checklist that contains clear, comprehensive instructions on what needs to be done is an excellent way to ensure no steps are being missed, and no errors made.

This checklist is just that.

By going through this checklist, you can rest easy knowing that everything has been done to provide the next occupant with a safe and sanitary environment.

Let's get started.

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Process Street is superpowered checklists. By using our software to document your processes, you are instantly creating an actionable workflow in which tasks can be assigned to team members, automated, and monitored in real-time to ensure they are being executed as intended, each and every time.

The point is to minimize human error, increase accountability, and provide employees with all of the tools and information necessary to complete their tasks as effectively as possible.

Confirm that the patient has been discharged and the room is vacant before moving on to the following tasks.

Of course, the first essential step before even entering the room is to wash your hands thoroughly. Be sure to follow procedure when it comes to washing technique, which is likely to be the WHO technique or something similar. 

Below are a couple of resources that highlight the importance of proper handwashing and provide a step-by-step guide for doing so in accordance with the WHO.

After washing your hands, put a pair of disposable non-latex gloves.

To ensure that nobody walking past the room slips and injures themselves, or enters without knowledge that cleaning is in progress, place a safety (wet floor) sign just outside the room by the door. 

Once you've entered the room, begin by disinfecting the bed frame, rails, and controls using disinfectant wipes.

Wipe from top to bottom, always going from clean to dirty to avoid transference of microorganisms.

If the bed is still made, strip the bed all of linen and place in the linen skip before beginning cleaning. When stripping the bed, be sure to not shake the linen as this spreads bacteria.

Pay extra attention to high-touch areas like arm rails and buttons on control panels.

Take out a fresh disinfectant wipe and wipe down the entire mattress, starting from the head of the bed. Once the top of the mattress has been cleaned, flip over and repeat the process for the sides and bottom. 

Below is a 3-minute video demonstrating proper hospital bed cleaning.

Once the bed has been thoroughly cleaned, make it with fresh sheets and pillowcases.

Vacuum and wipe down all other furniture present in the room. 

This will likely include:

If you noticed any stains, damage or anything else that warrants concern during the bed and furniture cleaning, note it down in the section below and report it once you have finished. 

With a fresh disinfectant wipe, clean all screens, control panels and cables in the room.

Of course, be careful not to interfere with any medical equipment.

Next, wipe down IV poles from top to bottom.

Complete the sub checklist below to ensure you have cleaned all general high-touch surfaces in the bathroom.

Clean the mirror and all countertops with a fresh disinfectant wipe.

Wipe down the sink and faucet. Be sure to get in all the hidden, hard-to-clean spots where there is the highest chance of bacterial build-up.

Wipe down the soap and paper towel dispensers with a disinfectant wipe.

The shower is a hotbed for bacterial growth and so needs particular attention during cleaning. 

Follow and complete the sub checklist below to ensure the shower is cleaned properly.

Clean the toilet bowl and all other components of the toilet.

Follow and complete the sub checklist below

Starting from the far corner of the room, dust the room using figurine overlapping strokes. 

Be sure to sweep under the bed and furniture.

Then mop the floor with an approved cleaning solution using the same overlapping technique employed when sweeping. 

Once the floor has dried, remove the safety sign placed outside the door. 

Perform a scan of the room to make sure nothing has been missed and the room is ready to be occupied by another patient. 

This will require approval from your supervisor so be sure to conduct a thorough check to avoid unnecessary delays. 

If you spotted anything concerning during the clean that requires further attention, note it down below so it can be addressed by the relevant personnel. 

This may include:

• Stains or damage to the bed, floor, toilet, shower, or ceiling tiles
• Potentially faulty medical equipment
• Forgotten personal belongings
• Improper use of the sharps container or trash cans (e.g. overflowing)

• Safety Culture - Terminal Cleaning Checklist
• McKesson - Cleaning a Patient Room After Discharge
• Infection Control Today - Patient Room Cleaning Protocol
• EOScu - 4 Ways to Improve Terminal Cleaning

• Home Visit Checklist
• Patient Satisfaction Survey Checklist
• Hospital Housekeeping Checklist
• Mental Health Risk Assessment Checklist
• HIPAA Compliance Checklist
• Hospital Safety Inspection Checklist
• WHO Surgical Safety Checklist
• General Infection Control Checklist
• Patient Intake Checklist for a Medical Clinic
• Electrical Inspection Checklist for Hospitals