Clinical cleaning and disinfection at home after surgery: protocol, products, checks
At discharge the clinic says "sterile regimen", and the family is left wondering: should we clean with chlorine or alcohol, should the carpet go or not, and what does "clean thoroughly" mean when the patient's immunity is close to zero? This page answers exactly those questions: how the flat is divided into zones, which class of disinfectant goes on which surface and how long it must stay there, why HEPA filtration is essential and how the family checks the result. The visit is carried out by a team from our partner cleaning company DAVITIANI, and we draw up the protocol from the doctor's recommendations.
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A protocol based on the doctor's recommendationsstrictness set by the diagnosis, not by a template
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Three classes of product, with contact timeschlorine, quaternary ammonium, peroxide: each on its own surface
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A signed checklistat the end of the visit the family checks every zone with the team
The flat in four zones: what each one requires
We reproduce the logic of a hospital ward at home: the closer a zone is to the patient, the stricter the requirements and the later it is treated, so that it stays clean.
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Zone 1: the patient's room
Every surface, including the walls, in three stages: mechanical cleaning, disinfection with contact time, rinsing. Carpets, fabric upholstered furniture, plants and the aquarium leave the room on the doctor's advice. The mattress is treated with HEPA or replaced, and bed linen is washed at 60 degrees.
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Zone 2: bathroom and toilet
The place with the highest microbial load. A chlorine-based product on all water-resistant surfaces, treating the drains and shower head, removing mould from the grout, separate towels and a separate bowl for the patient. If the flat has two bathrooms, one is kept for the patient alone.
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Zone 3: kitchen
Emptying and treating the fridge completely, removing out-of-date food, a high-temperature dishwasher cycle, treating the sink and replacing the sponges, because the sponge is the dirtiest object in the kitchen. We explain to the family which foods are a risk during neutropenia.
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Zone 4: shared space and entrance
Handles, switches, remote controls, phones and the computer keyboard that everyone touches; ventilation grilles and air-conditioning filters; a shoe area at the entrance with its own mat. The team treats this zone last, on the way out.
Which product on which surface and for how long
A disinfectant only works if it is on the right surface and stays wet for long enough. The table shows the logic of the protocol; the team names the specific products before the visit.
| Class | Where it is used | Contact time | What we do not use it on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorine-based (hypochlorite) | Bathroom, toilet, tiles, sink, sanitary ware | 10 minutes wet, then rinse | Metal, wood, coloured fabric, electronics |
| Quaternary ammonium compounds | Furniture, doors, handles, switches, bed frame, appliance casings | 5-10 minutes depending on the product | Never mixed with chlorine on the same surface |
| Hydrogen peroxide and alcohol | Screens, remote controls, phone, medical equipment surfaces, mattress cover | 1-3 minutes, until it evaporates | Alcohol on varnished wood and acrylic |
| HEPA filtration (mechanical) | Carpet, upholstered furniture, mattress, curtains, ventilation grilles, air | Two passes over each surface, air purifier running in the background | An ordinary vacuum cleaner does not go into the patient's room |
Chlorine and ammonium compounds neutralise each other, and chlorine mixed with acid releases a toxic gas; so the team never mixes products on one surface, and we teach the family the same. After the visit the flat is aired for 2-4 hours.
How the visit goes and who does the work
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A protocol based on the doctor's recommendations
We ask for the discharge sheet or the doctor's verbal recommendations and turn them into a concrete list: what leaves the room, what is treated with which class, how often it is repeated. The family approves the list before the visit.
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A team from DAVITIANI
The visit is carried out by our partner cleaning company DAVITIANI, whose teams are trained in this protocol and work with disposable protective gear and zone-separated equipment. Solidaroba.ge is answerable to you for the protocol, the schedule and the result.
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From clean to dirty, from top to bottom
The patient's room first, the bathroom and entrance last; in each room the ceiling and light fittings first, the floor last. Wipes are colour-coded and never move from one zone to another.
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Checklist and instructions
The team leader goes through the list zone by zone with the family, the family signs it and keeps a copy for the doctor. The written instructions set out the daily and weekly tasks until the doctor lifts the regimen.
Frequently asked questions about clinical cleaning
What disinfectants does the team use and are they safe for the patient?
The protocol combines three classes, and each has its own place. Chlorine-based solutions (sodium hypochlorite at the appropriate dilution) on hard, water-resistant surfaces in the bathroom and kitchen, where the broadest spectrum is needed; quaternary ammonium compounds on furniture, doors, handles and appliance surfaces that chlorine would damage; hydrogen peroxide and alcohol-based products on electronics and textiles. Every product has a contact time during which the surface must stay wet, and the team observes it, because a surface that dries quickly has not been disinfected. After the visit the flat is aired for 2-4 hours so that there is no chemical smell or residue when the patient returns; that is why we schedule the visit a day or two before the return.
In what order does the team work and why does it matter?
From clean to dirty and from top to bottom. First the rooms where the patient will spend the most time, and last the bathroom and entrance, so the team does not carry contamination into a clean zone. In each room first the ceiling, light fittings and curtain rails, then the walls and furniture, and the floor last, so that dust falling from above does not settle on a surface already treated. Wipes and cloths are colour-coded by zone and never move from one zone to another, and in the patient's room the team puts on fresh disposable protective gear. These rules are taken from hospital sanitary practice, and they are exactly what sets clinical cleaning apart from a thorough deep clean.
What does HEPA filtration mean and why is an ordinary vacuum cleaner not enough?
An ordinary vacuum cleaner collects coarse dust, but blows fine particles, mould spores and bacteria back into the air through its exhaust, so it actually makes the room dirtier. A HEPA-class filter traps 99.97% of particles of 0.3 microns and returns clean air. The team uses a HEPA vacuum on carpets, upholstered furniture, the mattress, curtains and ventilation grilles, and at the end of the work leaves a HEPA air purifier in the room if the family hires or buys one. On the doctor's advice, carpets and leather or fabric upholstered furniture are temporarily removed from the patient's room, because they cannot be fully disinfected at home.
Who does the cleaning and how do I check the result?
The service is carried out by our partner cleaning company DAVITIANI, whose teams are trained in this protocol; Solidaroba.ge turns the doctor's recommendations into a protocol, organises the visit and is answerable to you for the result. At the end of the visit the team leader goes through the checklist with the family: every zone, every surface, which product it was treated with and what was removed from the room. The family signs the checklist and keeps a copy to show the doctor. If anything was missed, it is done during the same visit, not the next one. The written instructions set out what needs to be done every day and what once a week until the doctor lifts the regimen.
What a clean room needs next
- Medical equipment hire A HEPA air purifier, a hospital bed and an oxygen concentrator in an already disinfected room.
- Caregiver and rehabilitation Someone to carry out the daily instructions while the family is at work.
- Importing medicines A medicine the clinic prescribed that cannot be found in Georgia, with a permit and a cold chain.
The flat should be ready a day before the patient
Tell us the return date and the doctor's recommendations. You will receive the protocol, the team's time and the price in writing, and the visit will be planned so that the flat is aired and the patient is not met by a chemical smell.