Clean · Sanitise · Disinfect — In That Order

Our Cleaning Process — Clean, Sanitise, Disinfect

The three-step childcare cleaning process applied correctly — Clean, Sanitise, Disinfect — in the right sequence, with the right products for each surface. Why the order matters, how the process maps to every facility area, and what NQS Quality Area 2 and NHMRC guidelines require at each step.

GECA-Certified Products TGA-Listed Disinfectants NQS QA2 Compliant WWCC-Verified Staff
Overview

The 3-Step Cleaning Process in Childcare

The terms "cleaning", "sanitising", and "disinfecting" are often used interchangeably in everyday language — but in a regulated childcare facility, they are three distinct steps that must be applied in the correct sequence, using the correct products, to achieve the hygiene outcome that NQS Quality Area 2 and NHMRC guidelines require. Applying a disinfectant without cleaning first is less effective than applying a sanitiser after cleaning. Sanitising without prior cleaning is similarly compromised. The sequence is not a preference — it is a functional requirement.

Step One

Clean

Physically remove visible dirt, food residue, organic matter, and biological soiling using detergent and water. Cleaning does not kill pathogens — it removes the organic load that would block sanitiser and disinfectant from reaching the surface.

Detergent + water · All surfaces first
Step Two

Sanitise

Reduce microorganism levels on a clean surface to a safe threshold using a GECA-certified sanitiser. Applied to general contact surfaces in playrooms, activity areas, and corridors. A step above cleaning alone — not the highest standard, but appropriate for lower-risk surfaces.

GECA-certified · General surfaces
Step Three

Disinfect

Eliminate or inactivate specific pathogens to a defined standard using a TGA-listed disinfectant. Applied to high-risk surfaces — nappy change areas after every change, bathroom fixtures, and any surface involved in a biohazard incident. The highest hygiene standard, required by Section 77.

TGA-listed · High-risk surfaces only

Why the Sequence Is Non-Negotiable

Organic matter — dirt, food residue, faeces, vomit — physically blocks disinfectant from reaching the surface and chemically neutralises many disinfectant active ingredients. A TGA-listed disinfectant applied to a soiled surface may achieve a fraction of its registered kill efficacy. The NHMRC Staying Healthy guidelines and TGA product registration requirements both specify that surfaces must be cleaned before disinfectant is applied. This is why the two-stage protocol for biohazard events is remove → clean → disinfect, not apply-disinfectant-directly.

Standards

Product Standards at Each Step

The correct product for each step is specified by NQS Quality Area 2 and the NHMRC Staying Healthy guidelines. Using the wrong product at any step — or using a product at the wrong step — produces a less effective outcome and may create a Quality Area 2 compliance gap.

Step Product Required Standard Where Applied Frequency
1 — Clean GECA-certified neutral pH detergent; food-safe detergent (kitchen) GECA · AS/NZS 4146 (kitchen) All surfaces — every area After every session
2 — Sanitise GECA-certified, VOC-free surface sanitiser; enzyme-based toy sanitiser GECA · NQS QA2 General contact surfaces, toys, equipment Daily; toy schedule by age group
3 — Disinfect TGA-listed disinfectant (pathogen-specific where required) TGA-listed · Section 77 · NHMRC Nappy areas, bathrooms, biohazard incidents After every nappy change; daily bathrooms; per incident

ACECQA assessors examining a centre under NQS Quality Area 2 may request to see the product register — a record of every product used in the facility with its GECA certification reference and TGA registration number where applicable. Golden Star maintains a current product register for every client facility and provides it as part of the compliance documentation package.

Our Approach

How We Apply the Three Steps Across Every Facility Area

The Clean → Sanitise → Disinfect sequence is the same in every facility area — but the products, frequencies, and which steps apply at what intensity vary by area risk level. Below is how Golden Star applies the three-step process to each major area of a Melbourne childcare or daycare centre.

Playrooms & Activity Areas

  • Clean: HEPA vacuum floors; damp mop with GECA neutral pH cleaner
  • Sanitise: GECA-certified sanitiser on all high-touch surfaces — tables, chairs, door handles, light switches
  • Sanitise toys: GECA enzyme sanitiser — daily for under-2, weekly for 2+
  • Disinfect: full floor disinfection in under-2 rooms — child-contact safe TGA-listed sanitiser at disinfection concentration

Nappy Change Area

  • Clean: wipe change mat and all touched surfaces with damp cloth to remove visible soiling
  • Disinfect: TGA-listed disinfectant at correct concentration on mat and all handled surfaces
  • Contact time: observed per TGA registration — surface not accessible until dry
  • Frequency: after every nappy change — National Regulations Section 77

Bathrooms & Toilets

  • Clean: high-to-low sequence — tap handles, flush buttons, basins, toilets, floor
  • Disinfect: TGA-listed product on all surfaces after cleaning
  • Contact time: observed per TGA registration
  • Frequency: daily minimum; additional after any illness event

Kitchen & Food Preparation

  • Clean: food-safe detergent on all food-contact surfaces (benchtops, cutting boards)
  • Sanitise/disinfect: AS/NZS 4146-compliant, GECA-certified food-safe sanitiser on all food-contact surfaces after cleaning
  • Sanitise: GECA cleaner on appliance exteriors, cupboard doors, and non-food surfaces
  • Frequency: after every food preparation and service event

Sleep & Rest Rooms

  • Clean: fragrance-free GECA neutral pH floor mop; cot frame surface wipe
  • Sanitise: GECA-certified, fragrance-free, VOC-free sanitiser on cot frames and all surfaces
  • Bedding: changed between children; laundered at 60°C fragrance-free
  • Ventilate: room aired before children return — VOC-free products only in sleep rooms

Outdoor Play Areas

  • Clean: pressure wash hard surfaces with biodegradable detergent at term break
  • Sanitise: GECA-certified product on all play equipment surfaces — weekly
  • Sandpit: daily inspection and rake; full-depth clean and replacement on schedule
  • No bleach, industrial degreasers, or petrochemical products near children's play surfaces

Every Step Is Documented

After every Golden Star service, a signed compliance log records what was cleaned in every room, what products were used at each step, and the time and staff details. The log is formatted for NQS Quality Area 2 ACECQA assessment submission and retained for 12+ months. A complete product register with GECA and TGA references is maintained separately for every facility. All Golden Star cleaning staff hold current Victorian Working With Children Checks under the Working with Children Act 2005 (Vic). Chemical handling complies with WorkSafe Victoria OHS Regulations. View our full childcare cleaning services or NQS compliance page.

FAQ

Childcare Cleaning Process — Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the three-step cleaning process, sanitising and disinfecting in childcare settings, and daycare cleaning procedures.

The 3-step cleaning process in daycare is Clean → Sanitise → Disinfect, applied in that sequence. Step 1 — Clean: physically remove visible dirt, food residue, and organic matter with detergent and water — this removes the load that would otherwise block steps 2 and 3 from working. Step 2 — Sanitise: apply a GECA-certified sanitiser to reduce microorganism levels on general contact surfaces (tables, chairs, door handles). Step 3 — Disinfect: apply a TGA-listed disinfectant to high-risk surfaces — nappy change areas after every change, bathroom fixtures — where pathogen elimination to a defined standard is required by Section 77 and NHMRC guidelines. The sequence is mandatory: disinfection applied to a dirty surface is significantly less effective.
Cleaning removes visible dirt and organic matter using detergent and water — it reduces pathogen levels but does not eliminate them. Sanitising reduces microorganism levels on a pre-cleaned surface to levels considered safe under childcare standards, using a GECA-certified product. Disinfecting eliminates or inactivates specific pathogens to a defined standard using a TGA-listed product — a higher standard than sanitising, required for nappy change areas and bathrooms. All three are needed in childcare: cleaning first on all surfaces, sanitising on general contact surfaces, and disinfecting on high-risk surfaces. Using a disinfectant on an uncleaned surface is less effective than using a sanitiser on a pre-cleaned surface.
Yes — always. Cleaning before disinfecting is not optional; it is required for the disinfectant to achieve its registered efficacy. Organic matter physically blocks the disinfectant from reaching the surface and chemically neutralises many active ingredients. A TGA-listed disinfectant applied to a soiled surface may achieve only a fraction of its registered kill rate. NHMRC Staying Healthy guidelines and TGA product registration requirements both specify that surfaces must be cleaned before disinfectant is applied. For biohazard events, the correct protocol is three stages: remove bulk material first, clean, then disinfect — not apply disinfectant directly to soiled material.
A full daycare cleaning procedure includes: HEPA vacuuming all carpeted areas and vacuuming hard floors before mopping; damp mopping hard floors with a GECA-certified neutral pH floor cleaner; disinfecting nappy change areas after every change with a TGA-listed product (Section 77); cleaning and disinfecting all bathrooms; cleaning kitchen surfaces with AS/NZS 4146 food-safe products; wiping all high-touch surfaces with a GECA-certified sanitiser; sanitising toys on a material and age-group specific schedule; emptying and relining bins; checking and replenishing consumables; and completing and signing the compliance log. The procedure is adapted to each area's specific risk level and surface type.
Golden Star's Clean → Sanitise → Disinfect process meets NQS Quality Area 2 by applying the correct standard to each surface type using GECA-certified products for sanitising and TGA-listed products for disinfection, following NHMRC Staying Healthy frequency and protocol requirements for every facility area, and producing a signed compliance log after every visit. The current product register maintained for each facility — with GECA certification references and TGA registration numbers — provides the specific product evidence ACECQA assessors look for during quality assessment visits. For detailed compliance information, see our NQS & ACECQA compliance page.

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