Wondering about the difference between terminal cleaning and general medical office cleaning? In a medical office or healthcare facility, proper cleaning is essential for patient safety and reducing the spread of illness.
General medical office cleaning only provides a baseline level of cleanliness. However, healthcare facility cleaning includes specific disinfection and sanitization procedures that should be used in exam rooms and surgical suites.
At Corporate Cleaning Group Greensboro, NC, we provide comprehensive medical office cleaning in Greensboro, NC, and the surrounding areas. Contact us today to learn more about our medical janitorial services.
Terminal Cleaning vs. General Medical Office Cleaning
For any medical office cleaning, a clean-looking waiting area is a baseline standard. Beyond that, exam rooms, treatment rooms, and surgical areas need to do more than just appear clean. It’s essential for these rooms to be thoroughly disinfected and sanitized between patients.
Terminal cleaning is a type of specialized cleaning that uses proper disinfection protocols. But how exactly does it differ from general medical office cleaning?
Understanding the technical differences ensures your facility is clinically safe and compliant with cleaning regulations.
General Cleaning
General cleaning is routine maintenance that removes visible dirt and dust. It maintains a hygienic and organized environment for patients and staff. General cleaning tasks include:
- Removing trash and biohazard waste
- Vacuuming and mopping in common areas
- Wiping high-touch surfaces, counters, chairs, and tables
- Sanitizing and restocking restrooms
This type of basic cleaning works well for waiting rooms, administrative offices, low-risk consultation rooms, and any room that isn’t used for invasive procedures. That’s because it reduces the number of microorganisms on a surface, but doesn’t fully eliminate dangerous pathogens.
Terminal Medical Office Cleaning
Terminal medical office cleaning is designed to be an exhaustive, complete disinfection process. It’s performed in any areas where the potential for infection transmission is high, including exam rooms, treatment rooms, and surgical suites.
Terminal cleaning follows a strict, top-to-bottom spatial protocol. It starts at the highest points of the room, usually the air vents and ceiling lights. From there, you continue cleaning until you work your way down to the floor. This method ensures particles are captured as you progress downward.
Key tasks for terminal medical office cleaning include:
- Comprehensive disinfection of walls, cabinet handles, and rolling stools.
- Cleaning mobile equipment, including wheels, casters, and IV poles.
- Sanitizing HVAC vents to prevent dust, allergens, and germs from entering airborne circulation.
In order to be effective, disinfectants used for terminal cleaning must remain visibly wet on a surface for anywhere from three to ten minutes, depending on the product. That way, the pathogens are effectively killed. General cleaning products, on the other hand, can be wiped immediately after being sprayed.
Companies that specialize in doctor’s office cleaning also use EPA-registered chemicals that are effective against hard-to-kill pathogens.
In addition, they may prefer ATP testing to ensure surfaces are clinically clean, rather than just visually clean.
Should You Combine General Cleaning with Terminal Medical Office Cleaning?
Most facilities need a mix of general cleaning and terminal medical office cleaning. General cleaning is best on a daily basis to keep lobbies, offices, and admin areas clean. Meanwhile, terminal cleaning should be done between patients to keep rooms safe.
A professional commercial cleaning company can map out your clinic to determine which zones need which level of care.
Contact Us for Expert Medical Office Cleaning in Greensboro, NC
At Corporate Cleaning Group Greensboro, NC, we’re backed by 30+ years of experience in commercial cleaning, including medical office cleaning.
Our franchise managing partner is Chuck Windham, who brings proven techniques and advanced cleaning expertise to businesses across the Greensboro area. All our cleaning services are customized to our clients, taking into account their traffic levels, industry requirements, and budget.
We work closely with you to cover all your cleaning needs. We’re fully committed to customer satisfaction, and always go above and beyond to deliver high-quality results.
Want to get started with our medical office cleaning services? Call (336) 904-1600 or contact us online for a consultation.