Few roles are as quietly powerful as that of a cleaner in aged care. Behind every polished handrail and disinfected bench lies a commitment to health, dignity, and emotional wellbeing—often delivered without applause. But what exactly does this role involve? And why is it one of the unsung pillars of residential care?

What do cleaners in aged care actually do?

At a glance, the job might sound straightforward: keep the place clean. But scratch beneath the surface and you’ll find a finely tuned rhythm of procedures, priorities, and people skills.

Aged care cleaners are responsible for:

• Daily sanitisation of high-touch surfaces like door handles, railings, call buttons, and meal trolleys

• Routine cleaning of residents’ rooms, including dusting, vacuuming, linen changes, and spot disinfection

• Deep cleaning tasks on a rotational schedule—like steam cleaning carpets, washing curtains, and disinfecting air vents

• Toilet and bathroom hygiene, which demands both speed and meticulous adherence to infection protocols

• Waste management, ensuring biohazard materials and general refuse are sorted and removed safely

• Monitoring cleaning stock, reporting hazards, and logging completed work to meet compliance requirements

It’s not just elbow grease—they follow infection control plans that rival hospital-grade standards.

Why is cleaning in aged care different to regular cleaning?

Think of aged care cleaning as the intersection of housekeeping and healthcare.

Unlike commercial offices or schools, aged care facilities host immunocompromised residents—many of whom have mobility issues, dementia, or respiratory vulnerabilities. This elevates the risks associated with dust, mould, and bacteria tenfold.

For example, cleaners must:

• Use TGA-approved hospital-grade disinfectants

• Follow strict colour-coded cleaning systems to avoid cross-contamination between areas like bathrooms and kitchens

• Adhere to PPE protocols during outbreaks or while cleaning isolation rooms

• Be trained in manual handling, especially when moving heavy beds or cleaning around fragile residents

Anyone who’s seen the quiet tension during a norovirus outbreak in a care home knows just how critical these measures are.

How do cleaners interact with residents?

This might surprise you: many aged care cleaners become low-key lifelines for residents.

They’re often among the most consistent faces in a facility, especially for those without regular visitors. A simple “good morning” can become a daily ritual. Some residents even wait by their door just for a friendly chat.

So while the role isn’t clinical, it’s undeniably relational. Cleaners need emotional intelligence, patience, and cultural awareness. They’re also often the first to notice if a resident seems “off”—flagging early signs of illness or distress to nursing staff.

Are there risks and challenges?

Yes, and not just physical. The emotional load of working in aged care environments is real.

Challenges include:

• Exposure to illness, especially during flu season or outbreaks

• Emotional fatigue, particularly after the passing of a resident you’ve built rapport with

• Physical strain, from hours spent bending, lifting, and walking

• Time pressures, balancing thoroughness with the need to move quickly between rooms

It’s a role that requires resilience, and that’s something training alone can’t always instil.

How is their work regulated?

Aged care cleaning is governed by both internal policy and external regulation. Most facilities operate under:

• ACQSC guidelines (Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission)

• WorkSafe regulations for manual handling and chemical safety

• Infection control protocols consistent with the Department of Health

Regular audits, both internal and external, ensure compliance. Failures aren’t just procedural—they can have fatal consequences. Which is why these teams rarely cut corners.

How do aged care facilities maintain consistent cleaning quality?

Consistency is achieved through:

• Induction and ongoing training in both general and aged care-specific cleaning techniques

• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that outline what gets cleaned, when, and how

• Audit trails and checklists, often digitally logged, to ensure accountability

• Supervisory checks, where senior staff review completed work and mentor junior team members

Some facilities even use ATP testing (a rapid hygiene monitoring method) to verify cleanliness levels—particularly in kitchens and high-risk areas.

What personal qualities make a great aged care cleaner?

You can teach someone how to clean, but certain traits are harder to instil:

• Empathy—understanding residents’ vulnerabilities and moods

• Discretion—respecting privacy, especially when entering bedrooms or personal spaces

• Consistency—delivering reliable routines that help residents feel safe

• Detail-focus—noticing the fingerprints on the bathroom mirror or the dust behind the heater

In short, it’s about treating every room as if a loved one lived there.

FAQ

Q: Do aged care cleaners need formal qualifications?
Not necessarily. Most receive in-house training or hold a Certificate III in Cleaning Operations. But more important is their willingness to learn and adapt.

Q: Are cleaners involved in infection outbreaks?
Yes—often on the frontline. During outbreaks, they follow intensified cleaning schedules and PPE requirements, helping to contain the spread.

Q: Is this a high-turnover role?
It can be. But facilities that foster strong culture and provide mental health support see better retention.

There’s a quiet kind of dignity in cleaning aged care spaces. It’s in the warm nod to a resident as you change their linen. In the careful wipe-down of a handrail. In the way the air smells faintly of eucalyptus after a thorough mop. While rarely spotlighted, this role is integral—not just to hygiene, but to humanity itself.

For a deeper dive into Aged Care Cleaning Services, including methods, surface-specific tips, and infection control advice, this breakdown explains it well.

And if you’re curious how hospital-grade cleaning methods compare to aged care, Safe Work Australia’s cleaning guide offers helpful context.