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Cleaning vs Disinfecting: Getting Infection Control Right in Aged Care and Clinics
In care settings, cleaning is a frontline infection control measure. But "cleaning" and "disinfecting" are two different steps, and skipping one is one of the most common reasons routines don't work.
Key takeaways
- Cleaning removes dirt; disinfecting kills germs. Clean first, then disinfect.
- Keep surfaces wet for the disinfectant's full contact time.
- Prioritise high-touch surfaces and shared equipment.
- Work clean to dirty and use colour-coded equipment.
Cleaning removes; disinfecting kills
- Cleaning uses detergent and friction to physically remove dirt, grease and organic matter (and many germs with it).
- Disinfecting uses a chemical to kill remaining microorganisms on a surface.
Disinfectants are much less effective on a dirty surface because organic matter shields germs. So the rule is: clean first, then disinfect, or use a combined detergent-disinfectant product that's designed to do both.
Contact time matters
Every disinfectant has a contact (dwell) time: how long the surface must stay wet to kill the organisms on the label. Wiping a surface and drying it immediately often means the product hasn't had time to work. Check the label and leave the surface wet for the stated time.
Prioritise high-touch surfaces
- Door handles, light switches and handrails
- Bed rails, bedside tables and call buttons
- Tap handles, toilet flush buttons and grab rails
- Shared equipment: wheelchairs, walkers, blood pressure cuffs
- Tables, chair arms, phones, keyboards and remotes
Using alcohol wipes well
Alcohol wipes are fast-drying and convenient for small, visibly clean, hard surfaces and equipment. They're not designed for heavily soiled areas: clean those first. Use one wipe per area, work from clean to dirty, and discard the wipe when it's no longer wet.
Avoid spreading germs
- Work from clean areas to dirty areas, and high to low.
- Use colour-coded cloths and mops so bathroom equipment isn't used in kitchens.
- Change mop water and cloths frequently.
- Wear gloves and change them between rooms.
Follow the guidelines
In Australia, the Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare (NHMRC) set the framework for healthcare cleaning, and many aged care providers build their procedures on them. During outbreaks, follow your public health unit's advice on products and frequency.
Daily high-touch cleaning schedule (example)
| Area | Frequency | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Bed rails, bedside tables, call buttons | Daily, and on discharge | Detergent clean, then disinfect |
| Bathroom taps, flush buttons, grab rails | At least daily | Detergent clean, then disinfect |
| Door handles, light switches, handrails | Daily; more often during outbreaks | Detergent and disinfectant, or wipes on clean surfaces |
| Shared equipment | Between each person | Wipe per manufacturer instructions |
Adapt this to your own risk assessment, facility procedures and public health advice.
Colour coding
Many Australian facilities colour-code cloths, mops and buckets so equipment isn't moved between areas. A common scheme is red for bathrooms and toilets, yellow for isolation or clinical areas, blue for general areas, and green for kitchens and food areas. Check your facility's policy.
Protect your cleaners
Provide gloves suited to the chemicals in use, eye protection where splashing is possible, and current safety data sheets. Never mix chemicals, especially bleach with acids or ammonia.
Infection control supplies
Surface wipes, disinfectants, mops, spray bottles and gloves, by the box or carton.
Lifecom Alcohol Surface Wipes →Surface disinfectants →Mops & brooms →All cleaning supplies →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between cleaning and disinfecting?
Cleaning uses detergent and friction to remove dirt, grease and organic matter. Disinfecting uses a chemical to kill microorganisms. Disinfectants work best on a surface that has already been cleaned.
What is disinfectant contact time?
Contact (or dwell) time is how long a surface must stay wet with disinfectant to kill the organisms listed on the label. If it dries sooner, the product may not have worked fully.
Are alcohol wipes enough to disinfect a surface?
Alcohol wipes are useful for small, visibly clean, hard surfaces and equipment, but they evaporate quickly and don't clean heavily soiled areas. Clean dirty surfaces first.
How often should high-touch surfaces be cleaned in aged care?
At least daily, and more often during outbreaks or as directed by your facility's procedures and public health unit.
Related guides
- Nitrile vs Vinyl vs Latex Gloves: How to Choose the Right Disposable Glove
- N95 vs P2 vs Surgical Masks: What's the Difference and When Do You Need Each?
- How Much PPE Do You Need? A Stock Planning Guide for Clinics and Care Providers
Sources and further reading
- National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
- Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care
- Safe Work Australia
Last reviewed: October 2026 by the Innovation Project team.