Infection Control in Childcare: Cleaning Best Practices & FAQs for Victoria Providers

This guide is written for Victorian early childhood education and care (ECEC) providers and focuses on practical, evidence-informed infection control and childcare cleaning practices for 2025. It summarises current guidance from the Victorian Department of Health, the NHMRC Staying Healthy guidelines, AHPPC advice, and the National Quality Framework (ACECQA) requirements. Use this as a working reference to update policies, staff training and daily cleaning routines.

Why robust infection control matters in childcare services

Childcare settings are high-contact environments where young children—who often have developing hygiene habits and immature immune systems—interact closely. Effective infection control reduces illness, minimises exclusions, protects vulnerable children and staff, and supports continuity of care. It also helps services meet the National Quality Standard (Quality Area 2) and state public health requirements.

Core principles: cleaning vs disinfecting

Understanding the difference between cleaning and disinfecting is essential:

1. Cleaning removes dirt, organic material and many germs using detergent and water. It reduces contamination and is the first step before disinfection when required.
2. Disinfecting uses a chemical agent to kill or inactivate pathogens on surfaces. Disinfection is targeted—used after visible contamination (blood, vomit, faeces) or on high-risk surfaces during outbreaks.

Routine cleaning should be the backbone of any program, with disinfection applied where assessed risk warrants it (e.g. after bodily fluid spills, during influenza or gastroenteritis seasons, or when notified of specific outbreaks).

Cleaning frequency and routines

Recommended minimum frequencies for most Victorian childcare services (adapt to size, layout and risk level):

1. Daily: general cleaning of floors, tables, high-touch surfaces (door handles, light switches, handrails), kitchen and food-preparation surfaces.
2. Twice daily: high-touch surfaces during periods of increased respiratory illness in the community (e.g. winter peak) or during an outbreak.
3. After each use: nappy-change surfaces, potties, and toileting areas must be cleaned and disinfected after every use.
4. As required: immediate cleaning and disinfection of spills involving blood, vomit or faeces.
5. Weekly / scheduled: soft toys rotation and laundering, mattress checks and laundering of bedding where used, deep cleaning of play equipment.

Approved products and safe use

Choose disinfectants that are effective but safe for use around children, following product labels and manufacturer contact time requirements. The NHMRC advises using products suitable for childcare settings and stored securely out of reach of children.

Key points:

1. Follow dilution instructions exactly for concentrates. Incorrect dilution reduces efficacy or increases toxicity risk.
2. Observe recommended contact times: many disinfectants require surfaces to remain wet for a specified period to be effective.
3. Use low-toxicity, non-bleach products where prolonged contact with children is likely; but bleach (sodium hypochlorite) at correct dilutions is still recommended for heavy contamination when suitable.
4. Label prepared solutions with time prepared and discard times to avoid using expired dilutions.

Area-specific guidance

Nappy change areas

These are high-risk zones for pathogen transmission. Requirements include:

1. Clean and disinfect the nappy-change surface after every nappy change. Use gloves and dispose of nappies and wipes appropriately.
2. Hand hygiene for staff before and after each nappy change; encourage children’s handwashing after toileting where developmentally appropriate.
3. Keep nappy change areas separate from food-preparation areas and ensure appropriate waste bins with lids.

Toilets and handwashing

Toilets and handwashing stations are central to infection control:

1. Clean and disinfect toilet seats, flush handles, taps and door handles at least daily and more frequently during outbreaks.
2. Ensure child-height sinks or step stools and teach effective handwashing (soap, 20 seconds, dry).
3. Provide accessible paper towels or hand-dryers and ensure rubbish removal.

Food preparation and eating areas

Follow food safety regulations alongside infection control measures:

1. Maintain a dedicated, cleanable food-prep area; never use nappy-change surfaces for food.
2. Sanitise surfaces between meal services and ensure staff practise proper hand hygiene before handling food.
3. Follow local council and Safe Food Australia guidance for storage, preparation and temperature control.

Toys, bedding and linen

Toys and soft furnishings require a practical schedule:

1. Wash mouthed toys daily; rotate toys so an entire set can be deep cleaned periodically.
2. Soft toys used for comfort should be laundered regularly and after being mouthed.
3. Bedding and linen should be washed between each child’s use or immediately if soiled. Use hot water cycles and a detergent suitable for childcare laundry standards.

Ventilation and physical environment

Improved ventilation reduces airborne risk for respiratory pathogens:

1. Maximise natural ventilation when possible (open windows/doors where safe).
2. Consider mechanical ventilation or HEPA filtration in high-use indoor rooms, especially if outbreaks or poor outdoor air quality limit opening windows.
3. Design activities to include outdoor play where practicable.

Staff training, policies and record keeping

Comprehensive staff training and documentation are essential to compliance and effective infection control:

1. Train staff on hand hygiene, appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE), correct cleaning and disinfection procedures, and recognising symptoms that require exclusion.
2. Maintain cleaning logs, incident reports for contamination events, training records, and immunisation records for staff and children as required.
3. Review and update the infection control section of your service’s policies annually or when public health guidance changes.

Outbreak preparedness and response

A clear outbreak plan will help minimise disruption:

1. Follow Victorian Department of Health exclusion periods for illnesses (e.g. measles, gastroenteritis, pertussis) and notify parents immediately of an outbreak or increased cases.
2. Increase cleaning frequency—especially high-touch surfaces—and focus on areas used by symptomatic children.
3. Cohort children where possible, reduce mixing between groups, and consider temporary suspension of certain activities if advised by public health authorities.
4. Contact your local public health unit for advice and notifications requirements; follow AHPPC or Chief Health Officer directions during larger public health events.

Practical daily checklist for Victorian childcare services

Use this checklist as a template to adapt to your service size and layout.

1. Morning: ventilate rooms, clean and sanitise food areas, check toilets and nappy-change stock (gloves, wipes, disinfectant).
2. Midday: clean and sanitise high-touch areas and mealtime surfaces, launder any soiled linen.
3. Afternoon: clean toys used throughout the day (rotate sets), sanitise nappy-change areas and toilets, prepare diluted disinfectant solutions and label them.
4. End of day: deep clean food-prep areas, mop floors with detergent, store cleaning chemicals securely, complete cleaning log entries.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: When should we disinfect instead of just cleaning?

A: Clean first. Disinfect high-touch surfaces during periods of increased illness, after any body fluid spill (blood, vomit, faeces) or when advised by public health. Use products with appropriate contact times and label prepared solutions.

Q: What are safe disinfectants to use in childcare?

A: Choose products listed for healthcare or childcare use that specify efficacy claims on the label. Commonly used options include diluted sodium hypochlorite for heavy contamination and low-toxicity quaternary ammonium compounds or other childcare-safe disinfectants for routine use. Always follow product guidance and state advice.

Q: How long should a child be excluded for common infections?

A: Follow the Victorian Department of Health exclusion table. Examples include exclusion for confirmed measles until at least 4 days after rash onset, or gastroenteritis until 24–48 hours after symptoms resolve. Always check the latest official exclusion guidance.

Q: How do we manage toys that children put in their mouths?

A: Remove mouthed toys immediately and place in a designated container for cleaning. Wash and disinfect before returning to play rotation. Consider having two sets of frequently mouthed toys to allow for timely cleaning.

Q: Do we need to keep cleaning logs?

A: Yes. Logs support regulatory compliance, help during public health investigations and show families your commitment to safety. Include date/time, area cleaned, product used, staff initials and any incidents.

Useful resources and further reading

Refer regularly to official sources to ensure your policies reflect current public health advice. Key sources include:

• Victorian Department of Health infection control guidance and exclusion periods
• NHMRC Staying Healthy in Childcare guidelines
• ACECQA/National Quality Framework resources on health and safety
• Local council food safety and environmental health advice

If you require specialist, scheduled or deep-clean services tailored for childcare environments, consider providers experienced with early childhood settings for compliance and safety. For example, professional childcare cleaning services can support daily and outbreak cleaning plans while ensuring safe product use and detailed logs.

For broader facility management and operational insights that may complement your infection control program (including building maintenance and HVAC considerations), see industry resources such as facility management blogs and guidance for large organisations.

https://www.citywidefacilitysolutions.com/blog/

Quick action plan to update your service policy this week

1. Review your current infection control and dealing-with-infectious-diseases policy against the Victorian Department of Health exclusion table and NHMRC guidance.
2. Update cleaning schedules and ensure appropriate disinfectants and dilution records are in place.
3. Run a staff briefing on changes: hand hygiene, nappy-change procedures, toy rotation and outbreak reporting.
4. Check ventilation and consider simple improvements (open windows, move high-contact activities outdoors where safe).
5. Communicate changes to families: explain measures, exclusion requirements and how you will notify them during an outbreak.

Conclusion

Strong infection control and consistent childcare cleaning practices protect children, staff and families and keep services operating safely. Prioritise routine cleaning, targeted disinfection, staff training, good ventilation and robust record-keeping. Regularly review policies against Victorian Department of Health and NHMRC guidance and involve families in understanding your approach.

If you would like a printable checklist or policy template tailored to a Victorian childcare service size (centre-based, family day care or outside school hours care), consider requesting a customised resource from your local health unit or a specialist cleaning consultant experienced in early childhood settings.