Disclosure – this is a collaborative post.
Most families visit a care home and focus on the big things: the staff, the atmosphere, the activities on offer. That’s all important. But hygiene standards can tell you just as much about how a place is run, and they’re surprisingly easy to overlook if you don’t know where to look.
A spotless reception doesn’t always mean the rest of the building is held to the same standard. Here’s what to actually check when you’re walking around a care facility, and why some of the smallest details will give you the clearest answers.
Start With the Walls and Floors
It might sound odd, but the condition of walls and floors will tell you a lot about a care home’s approach to hygiene. Look for staining, peeling paint, cracked tiles or damaged skirting boards. These aren’t just cosmetic problems. Damaged surfaces create places where bacteria can build up and become very difficult to clean properly.
Well-maintained care homes will often use smooth, non-porous wall coverings that can be wiped down with hospital-grade disinfectants. Many care homes now fit hygienic PVC wall panels in these areas because they don’t absorb moisture and won’t harbour mould. If you see this kind of surface in bathrooms, kitchens and corridors, it’s a good sign that the home has invested in materials designed for clinical-level cleanliness.
Floors should be free of cracks, lifting edges and visible grime in the corners. Pay attention to the areas around doorframes and along the edges of corridors, as these spots are often missed during routine cleaning.
Check the Bathrooms Closely
Bathrooms are one of the most telling areas. Run your hand along the edge of a sink or the base of a shower screen. Is it clean? Are there any signs of mould or limescale build-up around sealant and grout lines?
Look at the condition of handrails and grab bars too. They should be firmly fixed and free from any sticky residue or discolouration. If the bathrooms smell strongly of air freshener, that’s not always reassuring. Sometimes it’s used to cover up odours that proper cleaning would eliminate.
A well-run home will have a visible cleaning schedule posted somewhere in or near the bathroom. If you can’t see one, ask the staff about their cleaning routine. How often are bathrooms deep cleaned? What products do they use? The answers will give you a sense of how seriously the home takes day-to-day hygiene.
Ask About Cleaning Schedules and Infection Control
Don’t be shy about asking to see a cleaning rota or infection control policy. Any reputable care home will have these documented and should be happy to share them. You’re looking for evidence of routine cleaning across all areas, not just the communal rooms.
A few things to ask about:
- How often are high-touch surfaces like door handles, light switches and lift buttons cleaned?
- What’s the protocol when a resident has a communicable illness?
- Are cleaning products medical-grade, and are they stored properly?
- Is there hand sanitiser available at entry points and in communal areas?
Good infection control goes beyond mopping floors. It’s about the systems the home has in place and whether the staff follow them consistently.
Look at the Kitchen and Dining Areas
If the care home will let you see the kitchen, take the opportunity. You’re not inspecting it like an environmental health officer, but you can still pick up useful clues. Are surfaces clear and clean? Is food stored properly, with raw and cooked items kept separate? Do staff wear gloves and aprons during food preparation?
Even if you can’t enter the kitchen, the dining area will give you hints. Tables should be clean and free of crumbs or sticky residue between meals. Check the Food Hygiene Rating as well, as most care homes will display this near the entrance. A rating of five is ideal, but anything below three should raise questions.
Look for Signage and PPE
Infection control signage is a small detail that says a lot. Posters reminding staff to wash their hands, notices about isolation procedures and clear labelling of clinical waste bins all suggest a home that takes hygiene protocols seriously.
You’ll also want to see whether staff have easy access to personal protective equipment like gloves and aprons. If they’re tucked away in a cupboard somewhere, that’s less encouraging than if they’re available at multiple points throughout the building.
What Hygiene Tells You About Overall Care
A care home’s hygiene standards are rarely an isolated issue. If a facility keeps its environment consistently clean, it usually means management is organised, staff are well trained and protocols are being followed. The reverse is also true. A home that cuts corners on cleaning may well be cutting corners elsewhere.
Trust what you see, and don’t dismiss the small things. A cracked tile, a missing soap dispenser, or a bin that hasn’t been emptied can all point towards wider problems. The families who ask the right questions during a visit are the ones who end up making the most informed decisions.
Disclosure – this is a collaborative post.
