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

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