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Aged Care Facilities: Guide to Hiring the Ideal Cleaning Company

Written by Lani Johnson | April 21, 2025

Why Choosing the Right Aged Care Cleaning Partner Matters

Finding the perfect cleaning company for your aged care facility is not just about shiny floors. It’s about protecting vulnerable residents, preventing infections, and creating an environment where people feel safe and respected.

As an aged care manager, you’re responsible for ensuring exceptional personal care and maintaining consistently high hygiene standards. In an industry where even a small hygiene lapse can lead to serious health risks, the importance of rigorous, professional cleaning cannot be overstated.

 

What to Look for in an Aged Care Cleaning Company

Proven Experience in Aged Care Environments

You want a company that already understands the unique challenges of aged care, from infection control to compassion for residents.

Ask questions like:

  • How many aged care facilities have you serviced?

  • What infection control protocols do you follow?

  • Can you share case studies or testimonials?

Flexible, Tailored Cleaning Packages

Every facility is different. The ideal partner should offer:

  • Custom cleaning schedules (daily, weekly, periodic deep cleans).

  • Flexible service packages that match your budget and care standards.

  • Specialised add-ons for high-risk zones like kitchens, medical treatment areas, and shared bathrooms.

Comprehensive Range of Services

Beyond general cleaning, a great partner will provide:

  • Vacuuming and carpet shampooing.

  • Floor stripping and resealing.

  • High-touch surface disinfection.

  • Window washing and facade cleaning.

  • Pressure washing and hazardous material cleanup.

Pro tip: Choose a provider that can adapt to outbreaks or emergencies; not all companies can scale up or pivot quickly when needed.

The Importance of Skilled, Certified Cleaning Staff

Your cleaning crew should be an extension of your care staff.

What to expect from professional cleaning staff:

  • Strict adherence to local health authority standards — especially important in food prep areas and bathrooms.

  • Proper hand hygiene and use of approved disinfectants — ensuring surfaces are truly safe.

  • Immunisation compliance — staff should be fully vaccinated (flu, COVID) before working on-site.

  • Background checks and police clearances — critical for resident safety and peace of mind.

  • Professional use of PPE and infection control training — including handling biohazardous materials and preventing cross-contamination.

While on-site, you should see staff actively following checklists, using correct PPE, and reporting on progress — not just "tidying up."

Additional Safety and Quality Considerations

  • Ensure your cleaning provider can supply emergency cover for critical areas like kitchens and laundry.

  • Look for providers who include routine inspections and progress reports to maintain accountability.

  • Check that their insurance and licensing are up-to-date to protect your facility legally and financially.

Essential Questions to Ask Before Hiring

  • What types of services do you offer, and what areas of the facility do you cover?
  • Do you provide emergency or short-notice staffing?
  • What infection control protocols do you follow?
  • Are your cleaning products safe and appropriate for aged care environments?
  • How experienced and trained are your staff in working around elderly residents?

Pro tip: Conduct interviews, review past projects, and always verify references. A strong track record speaks volumes.

 

Key Differences Between Standard Cleaning Companies & Aged Care Specialists

Feature Standard Commercial Cleaners Aged Care Cleaning Specialists
Infection Control Training Basic or minimal Comprehensive & mandatory
Staff Immunisations Rarely required Required (flu, COVID)
Background Checks Not always conducted Essential for all staff
Compassionate Approach Not prioritised Integral to service delivery
Emergency Flexibility Limited High — can adapt to outbreaks

Why Choose a Partner Like Cleancorp?

At Cleancorp, we believe cleaning aged care facilities is about more than ticking boxes. It’s about genuine care and respect.

We provide:

  • Highly trained, compassionate cleaners.

  • Flexible, tailored cleaning plans.

  • Transparent reporting and proactive communication.

  • Full compliance with vaccination and safety standards.

  • Pride in creating safe, healthy, welcoming environments for elderly residents.

Testimonial

"The difference Cleancorp has made to our facility is incredible. Our residents feel safer and happier, and their families have noticed the change immediately. Cleancorp’s team feels like an extension of ours — professional, respectful, and always willing to go the extra mile."
— Facility Manager, North Sydney Aged Care

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should an aged care facility be professionally cleaned?

Professional cleaning in aged care facilities should happen daily, with additional periodic deep cleans (weekly, monthly, or quarterly) depending on high-risk areas like kitchens, bathrooms, and communal lounges. The frequency should be tailored to your specific resident needs, foot traffic, and health guidelines.

Do cleaning staff in aged care facilities need to be vaccinated?

Absolutely. Reputable cleaning providers will require their staff to be fully vaccinated against flu, COVID-19, and any other relevant illnesses to help protect vulnerable residents. Always ask for vaccination and immunisation proof before they start.

What infection control measures should a cleaning company follow?

Top-tier cleaning companies should follow strict infection control protocols, including:

  • Correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

  • Use of hospital-grade, aged-care-safe disinfectants.

  • Special training on cleaning high-touch and high-risk areas.

  • Procedures to avoid cross-contamination between different facility zones.

Can we request custom cleaning schedules?

Yes! The best providers offer flexible, tailored schedules that match your facility's unique needs and budget. This might include additional services during flu season or outbreak situations, or extra support during major events or family visitation days. Read more on Flexible Cleaning Schedules: Making Commercial Cleaning Work For You.

Are environmentally friendly products safe for aged care facilities?

Definitely, and they’re encouraged. Eco-friendly products reduce chemical exposure for residents with respiratory sensitivities and support your facility’s sustainability goals. Just make sure products used are still strong enough to meet health and safety standards. Cleancorp takes pride in our Sustainability efforts.

What should we look for in staff qualifications?

Cleaning staff in aged care should have:

  • Up-to-date police checks and working with vulnerable persons clearances.

  • Vaccination records.

  • Infection control and PPE training.

  • Evidence of compassion and experience working around elderly residents (often overlooked but crucial!).

How can I tell if my current cleaning service isn’t good enough?

Watch for these red flags:

  • Frequent resident or family complaints about cleanliness or odours.

  • High incidence of infections or flu outbreaks.

  • Staff regularly skipping tasks or appearing rushed.

  • No visible checklists or quality control audits.

  • Lack of transparent communication or reporting.

If you're still not sure, check out our article What To Look For In A Reliable Commercial Cleaning Service. 

Conclusion

You deserve to work with a professional cleaning company that's run by people who actually care. You'll see they care by being easy to communicate with at any level, they'll provide you with cleaners who are well trained, and who will show compassion and kindness to your residents, all while delivering consistent cleaning services and showing pride in a job well done in delivering a clean site at every shift.