Medical practice cleaning: 5 hygiene principles for doctors, dentists and therapists

Patients notice immediately whether a waiting room smells fresh, whether the reception counter is free of fingerprints and whether the toilet is spotless. In a doctor's, dental or therapy practice, cleanliness is part of trust. At the same time, medical practice cleaning has to fit into a hygiene concept that the practice itself is responsible for.

This article outlines five general principles for organising cleaning in a practice. It does not replace the hygiene plan, guidelines of your professional association or cantonal requirements – those always take priority.

Why practices need their own cleaning concept

An office is cleaned for comfort and cleanliness. A practice has additional requirements: many different visitors, shared surfaces, treatment rooms and, depending on the specialty, specific hygiene rules. Under Swiss labour law, workplaces and sanitary facilities must be kept clean in any case – SECO describes the general requirements in its commentary on workplace cleanliness.

What is medically required in treatment areas – for example which surfaces are disinfected with which product and how often – is defined by the practice in its hygiene plan. A cleaning company works according to those instructions.

1. Routine cleaning vs. disinfection

These two terms are often used interchangeably, but they mean different things.

Important: disinfectants only work properly on surfaces that are already clean, and they need the contact time given by the manufacturer. Medical instruments, treatment equipment and medical waste are the practice team's responsibility and are not part of a cleaning service.

2. Focus on touch points

Some surfaces are touched by almost every patient. They deserve more frequent attention than walls or high shelves:

• Door handles, push plates and light switches.
• Reception counter, card terminal and pen holders.
• Armrests of waiting room chairs.
• Lift buttons and handrails in the building.
• Toilet flush buttons, taps and soap dispensers.
• Toys and magazines in the waiting area, if still provided.

3. Waiting room, reception and toilets

These areas form the first impression and are used all day.

• Waiting room: Wipe chairs and tables, clean floors thoroughly, empty bins, remove fingerprints from glass doors.
• Reception: Clean counter and surfaces without moving documents or equipment – agree beforehand what may be touched.
• Toilets: Clean toilet, washbasin, mirror, taps and floor; refill soap, paper towels and toilet paper; check bins.
• Staff kitchen: Worktops, sink, fridge fronts, coffee machine and microwave.

Many practices opt for cleaning in the evening or early morning, so that patients never meet the cleaning team and wet floors have time to dry.

4. A written cleaning plan

A cleaning plan makes expectations clear for everyone. It typically includes:

1. Areas: Reception, waiting room, treatment rooms (as far as agreed), offices, toilets, kitchen, corridors, stairs.
2. Tasks per area: What is wiped, vacuumed, mopped or refilled.
3. Frequency: Daily, several times a week, weekly, monthly.
4. Products: Which cleaning products are used, and which disinfectants the practice specifies for which surfaces.
5. Exclusions: Instruments, medical devices, sharps containers and medical waste are not touched.
6. Contacts: Who to call if something is broken, missing or unusual.

Our office cleaning checklist is a useful starting point that you can adapt to your practice.

5. Records and quality checks

Short, simple records help both the practice and the cleaning team.

• A sign-off sheet in the toilets or cleaning cupboard showing date and time.
• A digital or paper log for periodic tasks such as window cleaning or deep cleaning floors.
• Regular short check-ins between the practice manager and the cleaning company.
• A clear channel for feedback, such as a WhatsApp group or a notebook at reception.

Common mistakes in practice cleaning

• No clear division of tasks: Everyone assumes someone else has cleaned the reception counter.
• Disinfecting dirty surfaces: Dirt reduces the effect – clean first.
• One cloth for everything: Spreads dirt from sanitary areas to other surfaces.
• Cleaning during opening hours with wet floors: Slipping risk for patients.
• No records: When a question arises, nobody knows what was done and when.

In winter, shared spaces are used even more intensively – see our tips on hygiene in the office in winter.

Priority Clean editorial teamOur cleaning team from Alberswil, Canton of Lucerne, shares hands-on experience from move-out, house, office and window cleaning across Central and Northwestern Switzerland.