Best Practices for Hospital Cleaning in Scandinavia

4-9. In September 2023, a hospital cleaning training was held under the guidance of Swedish trainer Karin Perling. Additionally, Finnish specialist Tarja Valkosalo was invited to the training with the support of the Erasmus+ consortium’s learning mobility program. Tarja supplemented the Swedish lecturer’s expertise with Finnish experience. Learning mobility project no. 2023-1-EE01-KA121-VET-000133792.

Key Takeaways from the Training:

• In healthcare facilities, the following are critically important for preventing the spread of infections: hand hygiene, clean cleaning supplies, a well-organized cleaning cart, and pre-moistened cleaning textiles stored in closed and clean containers.
• Separate cloths are used for cleaning different zones to prevent the transfer of microorganisms from one area to another. For instance, distinct cloths are used for cleaning sinks, toilets, and showers.

• In Sweden, hand-sized cloths are used, with only one side of the cloth utilized for wiping. Upon entering a room, the first step is to prepare cloths for various surfaces. Swedish experience indicates that washing cleaning textiles is more economical when using small cloths.

• A good example came from a hospital that experienced issues with stains, and quality assessments clearly highlighted this. These assessments were conducted electronically, enabling information to be automatically sent to the cleaning attendant of the specific room by photographing the stain. Once information began to flow directly and immediately, the occurrence of stains decreased by as much as 8 times in subsequent evaluations. When staff received immediate feedback, without anyone “filing a complaint,” the desired change occurred quickly and easily. In the hospital context, this was a crucial step in preventing the spread of infections.
• Regular quality assessment and providing feedback to employees are critically important for preventing the spread of infections. Utilizing standards is an effective method for quality assessment and feedback. In Estonia, the standards EVS914 Assessment and Agreement on Cleaning Work Quality and EVS944 Cleaning Requirements in Healthcare Facilities are primarily used for evaluating cleaning quality. The same standards are also applied in Scandinavian countries.