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Hospital cleaning checklist

A hospital cleaning checklist for technical cleaning audits of a ward, theatre suite, clinic or department. Set the functional risk (FR) category and the target score, then add each room you audit and score each element in it pass or fail: bed, bed rails, call bell, locker, over-bed table, commode, basin and dispensers, floor, low, middle and high surfaces. Record the staff group responsible, the reason for each fail, a photo and what was done. The form works out each room's score and the area score against the target, gives a star rating and shows the time allowed to put fails right. For hand hygiene and IPC practice, use the infection control audit checklist.

For cleaning contractors, domestic services and facilities managers, and ward or department leads who audit cleanliness in hospitals and clinics.

Written for NHS England's 2025 cleanliness standards. In the US choose the CDC option on page 1 and set your own target; the room and element scoring works the same.

  • Functional risk category with the NHS England target filled in, or your own target
  • Rooms as spaces and each element as an item, scored pass or fail with the responsible group, reason and photo
  • Room and area scores (elements passed over elements scored) against the target, and rooms below target counted
  • Star rating from the NHS England 2025 bands or your own, with the maximum rectification time for the FR category
  • Optional observed-clean (efficacy) checks, displays, actions and sign-off with the ward
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What score does a hospital ward need on a cleaning audit?

It is useful when every room audited is named, each element has a pass or fail with the staff group responsible, and each fail has a reason, a photo and what was done about it. The ward can then see exactly which elements let the score down and who puts them right, not just a percentage.

Last updated . Facts checked by the SiteSurvey team on 27 October 2026 against NHS England: National standards of healthcare cleanliness 2025, CDC and ICAN: Best Practices for Environmental Cleaning in Healthcare Facilities in Resource-Limited Settings (PDF) and CDC: Environmental cleaning in global healthcare settings.

How to audit hospital cleaning

Agree with the ward or department what counts as a pass and a fail before you start, and audit as soon after cleaning as you can.

  1. Set up the audit

    Enter the area, the cleaning provider, the type of audit and the FR category. The form fills in the NHS England target, or enter your own.

  2. Add rooms

    Add each room you audit, its type and whether it had a routine or terminal clean. NHS England good practice is at least half the rooms in an area each session.

  3. Score each element

    Add the elements in the room and score each pass or fail. Mark an element you could not reach as not accessible; it does not count.

  4. Record fails

    For each fail, record the reason, the staff group responsible, a photo, and whether it was put right during the audit or passed on.

  5. Rate and sign off

    Check the area score and star rating, add actions and an improvement plan where needed, and sign with the ward or department lead.

What makes a hospital cleaning audit useful

Each room: elements scored pass or fail, responsible group, reason and rectification for every fail

Ward 6, acute medicine (FR2, target 95%), 14 October. Four of eight rooms audited, 41 elements scored, 39 passed: 95.1%, 5 stars. Bathroom 2 at 77.8%: soap dispenser empty (refilled at 10:52) and staining behind the toilet pan (passed to the domestic supervisor, recleaned by 11:40). Star rating display at the entrance still showed August.

Fictional example. Record the actual evidence and approved arrangements for your job.

A common recording mistake

Scoring a whole bay as a fail because one occupied bed space could not be reached, instead of marking that element not accessible and recording why.

What happens next

Close each fail within the rectification time for the FR category, record it done with a photo, and audit the other half of the rooms next time.

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Want to see one filled in? See a completed hospital cleaning checklist report (PDF), made by SiteSurvey from a fictional site visit.

Every question in the hospital cleaning checklist template

A technical cleaning audit for a hospital ward, theatre suite, clinic or department. Set the functional risk (FR) category and target, add each room as a space and score each element in it (bed, rails, call bell, locker, commode, basin, floor, low, middle and high surfaces) pass or fail with the responsible group, reason and photo. Room and area scores against the target, NHS England 2025 star rating or your own bands, rectification times, an optional observed-clean (efficacy) check, actions and sign-off with the ward. 5 sections and 97 questions. Follow-up questions and guidance appear only when an answer calls for them, so the person on site never sees the ones that do not apply.

Make it your own: every question is editable

This is a starting point, not a fixed form. Once it is in your SiteSurvey account you can reword any question, add or remove questions, sections and answer options, and add your own logo, so it fits the way your team works and the jobs you do.

Details you only enter once

Add this form to a project in SiteSurvey and it fills in what the project already knows, so nobody on site retypes it and every form on the job uses the same names. Anything filled in can still be changed.

  • Project: the project name
  • Hospital or site address: the site address, from the space or the project
  • Client (trust, hospital or practice): the project's customer

Area and audit

  • ProjectShort answer

    Filled in from the project in SiteSurvey.

    Fills in from the project name
  • Hospital or site addressShort answer
    Fills in from the site address, from the space or the project
  • Client (trust, hospital or practice)Short answer
    Fills in from the project's customer
  • Location (GPS)Short answer
  • Audit date*Date
  • Auditor*Short answer
  • Functional area audited*Short answer

    For example: Ward 6 (acute medicine); Day surgery unit.

  • Cleaning providerShort answer

    In-house team or contractor.

  • Standard you audit to*Choose one
    • England: NHS National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness 2025
    • United States: CDC environmental cleaning guidance and local policy
    • Other: local policy
  • Type of audit*Choose one
    • Routine technical audit
    • Check after a terminal clean
    • Joint (multidisciplinary) audit
    • Re-audit after rectification
    • External or peer audit
  • Functional risk (FR) category of the area*Choose one
    • FR1
    • FR2
    • FR3
    • FR4
    • FR5
    • FR6
    • Blended (FRB)
    • Not using FR categories
  • fr_targetWorked out by the form
  • Target score you use (%)Number

    Leave blank to use the NHS England target for the FR category. For a blended area or local policy, enter your own.

  • Target score used (%)Worked out by the form
  • CheckNo target yet. Enter the target score you use for this area.
    Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
  • Rooms in the areaNumber

    So the report shows how much of the area was audited.

  • When the area was last cleanedShort answer

    For example: routine clean finished 10:30.

  • Ward or department representative on the auditShort answer
  • Cleaner or supervisor on dutyShort answer
  • GuidanceWhat this is. A technical audit of visible cleanliness: each element in each room is scored pass or fail on the day. It does not show that a room is free of infection or microorganisms, and it does not certify compliance with any standard.
  • GuidanceNHS England, National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness 2025. They replace the 2021 standards. Each functional area has an FR category with an audit target and frequency: FR1 98% weekly, FR2 95% monthly, FR3 90% every 2 months, FR4 85% every 3 months, FR5 80% every 6 months, FR6 75% every 12 months. Elements are scored 1 (pass) or 0 (fail) room by room, with the reason for each fail recorded. Good practice is to audit at least half the rooms in an area in one session (all of them where there are 10 or fewer) and to have the audit signed off by the ward or department.
    Shown when “Standard you audit to” is “England: NHS National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness 2025”
  • GuidanceCDC best practices. CDC and ICAN describe routine cleaning while the patient is admitted, and terminal (discharge) cleaning after discharge or transfer, covering the patient zone and the wider patient care area. They advise a standard monitoring method used routinely, with prompt feedback, reported by area and by type of clean. The guide is written for resource-limited settings; follow your own facility policy and infection prevention team.
    Shown only when the answers above make it relevant

Rooms and elements

  • GuidanceAdd each room you audit, then each element in it. Score an element Pass or Fail; use Not accessible for an element you could not reach (for example an occupied bed area) and Not applicable where it is not there. Only Pass and Fail count in the score. Record the reason and the responsible group for every fail.
  • GuidanceNHS England: one or two scuff marks, an isolated smudge or a dropped tissue in an otherwise clean area should not be scored as a fail. Agree pass and fail rules with your team before you audit.
    Shown when “Standard you audit to” is “England: NHS National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness 2025”
  • Maximum time to rectify a fail (NHS England, Table 5)Worked out by the form
    Shown when “Standard you audit to” is “England: NHS National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness 2025”
  • CheckRapid response items (a health and safety, patient safety or infection prevention issue, in any FR category): assess within 20 minutes and complete within 1 hour.
    Shown when “Standard you audit to” is “England: NHS National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness 2025”
  • Walk-round videoWalk Cam video with voice-to-text

    Optional. Film a guided walk-round on the SiteSurvey app.

  • Rooms audited
    Repeat for each entry. Each one asks:
    • Room*Short answer

      For example: Bay A; Side room 4; Bathroom 2.

    • Type of roomChoose one
      • Bed bay
      • Single room
      • Isolation room
      • Bathroom, shower or toilet
      • Sluice or dirty utility
      • Clean utility or treatment room
      • Ward kitchen
      • Theatre or procedure room
      • Corridor, entrance or waiting area
      • Office or staff room
      • Other
    • Last cleanChoose one
      • Routine clean
      • Terminal (discharge) clean
      • Not known
    • Room target if different (%)Number

      Blended areas: the target for this room's own FR category. Leave blank to use the area target.

    • How it was checkedChoose one
      • Visual assessment
      • Visual plus fluorescent marker
      • Visual plus ATP reading
    • Marker or ATP resultNotes

      Against the limit your facility sets.

      Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
    • Elements in this room
      Repeat for each entry. Each one asks:
      • Element*Short answer

        For example: bed rails, call bell, bedside locker, commode, basin and taps, floor, high surfaces.

      • Result*Choose one
        • Pass
        • Fail
        • Not accessible
        • Not applicable
      • Responsible staff groupChoose one
        • Cleaning team
        • Nursing or ward staff
        • Estates
        • Other staff group
      • Reason for the fail*Notes
        Shown when “Result” is “Fail”
      • What was doneChoose one
        • Rectified during the audit
        • Passed to the responsible team
        • Rapid response: health and safety, patient safety or IPC issue
        • Not yet passed on
        Shown when “Result” is “Fail”
      • Rectified atTime
        Shown when “What was done” is “Rectified during the audit”
      • PhotoPhotos
        Shown when “Result” is “Fail”
      • el_pWorked out by the form
      • el_fWorked out by the form
      • el_rrWorked out by the form
    • r_passWorked out by the form
    • r_failWorked out by the form
    • r_rrWorked out by the form
    • r_scoredWorked out by the form
    • r_tgtWorked out by the form
    • Room score (%)Worked out by the form
    • Room resultWorked out by the form
    • r_belowWorked out by the form
    • Notes on this roomNotes
  • Rooms auditedWorked out by the form
  • Rooms below targetWorked out by the form
  • Elements scoredWorked out by the form
  • Elements passedWorked out by the form
  • Elements failedWorked out by the form
  • Rapid response itemsWorked out by the form
  • Area score (%)Worked out by the form
  • Points below targetWorked out by the form
  • Share of the area audited (%)Worked out by the form
    Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
  • CheckFewer than half the rooms were audited. NHS England good practice is at least 50% of an area in one session, and the other half next time.
    Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
  • Area resultWorked out by the form

Star rating

  • Star rating bands*Choose one
    • NHS England 2025 bands
    • Our own bands
    • No star rating
  • GuidanceNHS England 2025 bands: 5 stars at or above the target; 4 stars 1 to 3 points below; 3 stars 4 to 6 below; 2 stars 7 to 9 below; 1 star 10 or more below. The form puts a part point in the higher band (3.5 points below is 4 stars); check this against your own rounding rule.
    Shown when “Star rating bands” is “NHS England 2025 bands”
  • 4 stars: up to how many points below targetNumber
    Shown when “Star rating bands” is “Our own bands”
  • 3 stars: up toNumber
    Shown when “Star rating bands” is “Our own bands”
  • 2 stars: up toNumber
    Shown when “Star rating bands” is “Our own bands”
  • Star ratingWorked out by the form
    Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
  • WarningRated 3 stars or fewer. NHS England: the area needs an improvement plan with agreed timescales, and is reported to the board representative.
    Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
  • GuidanceNHS England: the star rating comes from the score at the time of the audit. Rectification does not change it; only the next full re-audit does. In a blended area the rating is capped at the rating of the highest risk rooms.
    Shown when “Star rating bands” is “NHS England 2025 bands”

Cleaning observed and displays

  • Did you watch cleaning being done (efficacy check)?*Yes or No
  • GuidanceNHS England: the efficacy audit checks the cleaning process (colour coding, equipment, materials and method). Its score does not count towards the technical score or the star rating.
    Shown when “Did you watch cleaning being done (efficacy check)?” is Yes
  • Colour-coded cloths, mops and equipment used for the right areasChoose one

    NHS England: the efficacy audit checks correct use of colour coding.

    • Acceptable
    • Action needed
    • Not checked
    • Not applicable
    Shown when “Did you watch cleaning being done (efficacy check)?” is Yes
  • What needs doing, or why not checkedNotes
    Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
  • Cleaning method followed, from clean to dirty and high to lowChoose one

    Against your cleaning procedure.

    • Acceptable
    • Action needed
    • Not checked
    • Not applicable
    Shown when “Did you watch cleaning being done (efficacy check)?” is Yes
  • What needs doing, or why not checkedNotes
    Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
  • Uniform and PPE right for the task and the roomChoose one
    • Acceptable
    • Action needed
    • Not checked
    • Not applicable
    Shown when “Did you watch cleaning being done (efficacy check)?” is Yes
  • What needs doing, or why not checkedNotes
    Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
  • Cleaning products used as directed, right product and dilutionChoose one
    • Acceptable
    • Action needed
    • Not checked
    • Not applicable
    Shown when “Did you watch cleaning being done (efficacy check)?” is Yes
  • What needs doing, or why not checkedNotes
    Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
  • Equipment clean, in good repair and stored correctlyChoose one
    • Acceptable
    • Action needed
    • Not checked
    • Not applicable
    Shown when “Did you watch cleaning being done (efficacy check)?” is Yes
  • What needs doing, or why not checkedNotes
    Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
  • Safe working: wet floor signs, cables, waste and sharps handled safelyChoose one
    • Acceptable
    • Action needed
    • Not checked
    • Not applicable
    Shown when “Did you watch cleaning being done (efficacy check)?” is Yes
  • What needs doing, or why not checkedNotes
    Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
  • Process items needing actionWorked out by the form
    Shown when “Did you watch cleaning being done (efficacy check)?” is Yes
  • Commitment to Cleanliness Charter displayed at the area entranceChoose one

    NHS England: displayed in or near ward and department entrances.

    • Acceptable
    • Action needed
    • Not checked
    • Not applicable
    Shown when “Standard you audit to” is “England: NHS National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness 2025”
  • What needs doing, or why not checkedNotes
    Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
  • Star rating displayed and in dateChoose one

    NHS England: displayed where patients and visitors will see it.

    • Acceptable
    • Action needed
    • Not checked
    • Not applicable
    Shown when “Standard you audit to” is “England: NHS National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness 2025”
  • What needs doing, or why not checkedNotes
    Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
  • Cleaning responsibilities clear for every element (who cleans what)Choose one
    • Acceptable
    • Action needed
    • Not checked
    • Not applicable
  • What needs doing, or why not checkedNotes
    Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
  • Display and responsibility items needing actionWorked out by the form

Result, actions and sign-off

  • Items needing actionWorked out by the form
  • ResultWorked out by the form
  • Actions
    Repeat for each action. Each one asks:
    • Action*Notes
    • PriorityChoose one
      • Rapid response: within 1 hour
      • Within the FR rectification time
      • At the next scheduled clean
      • Improvement plan
    • Who will do it*Short answer
    • Due byDate
    • Status*Choose one
      • Open
      • In progress
      • Done, checked
    • Photo when donePhotos
      Shown when “Status” is “Done, checked”
  • Actions still openWorked out by the form
  • Decision*Choose one
    • At or above target: routine rectifications only
    • Below target: improvement plan agreed
    • Re-audit needed
  • Next audit dateDate
  • Summary for the clientNotes
  • Auditor nameShort answer
  • Auditor signature*Signature
  • Ward or department representative nameShort answer
  • Ward or department representative signatureSignature

See it filled in

A completed hospital cleaning checklist report, made by SiteSurvey from a fictional site visit: every answer, the photos, the guidance that applied and the sign-off, ready to send as a PDF.

See completed form (PDF) ↗

Hospital cleaning checklist FAQs

What are the NHS functional risk categories?

NHS England's 2025 standards put each functional area in one of six functional risk (FR) categories, which set the cleaning, audit frequency and target score: FR1 98% weekly, FR2 95% monthly, FR3 90% every 2 months, FR4 85% every 3 months, FR5 80% every 6 months and FR6 75% every 12 months. Rooms in an area can carry their own FR (a blended area).

Source: NHS England: National standards of healthcare cleanliness 2025.

How is a cleaning audit score worked out?

Each element is scored 1 for a pass or 0 for a fail, room by room, and the reason for each fail is recorded. A room's score is its passes as a percentage of the elements scored; the area score is all passes over all elements scored. The form leaves out elements you mark not accessible or not applicable.

Source: NHS England: National standards of healthcare cleanliness 2025.

How quickly must a failed element be put right?

NHS England's Table 5 sets maximum times by FR category. For example FR1: assess within 20 minutes and complete at the next scheduled clean or within 2 hours, whichever is sooner; FR2 within 4 hours; FR4 within 72 hours. Rapid response items, such as a patient safety or infection prevention issue, are completed within 1 hour in any area.

Source: NHS England: National standards of healthcare cleanliness 2025.

Can I use it for terminal cleaning?

Yes. Mark the room's last clean as a terminal (discharge) clean and audit it before the next patient. CDC's best practices describe terminal cleaning as the clean after discharge or transfer, covering the patient zone and the wider patient care area, including the mattress, bed frame, high and low surfaces, floor and basin. The form records what you saw; it is not a cleaning procedure.

Sources: CDC and ICAN: Best Practices for Environmental Cleaning in Healthcare Facilities in Resource-Limited Settings (PDF) and CDC: Environmental cleaning in global healthcare settings.

What is the difference between a technical and an efficacy audit?

NHS England describes the technical audit as checking and scoring cleanliness outcomes, and the efficacy audit as checking the cleaning process at the point of delivery: colour coding, equipment, materials and method. Efficacy scores do not count towards the technical score or the star rating. The form records both, separately.

Source: NHS England: National standards of healthcare cleanliness 2025.

Does a passed audit mean a room is free of infection?

No. The form records visible cleanliness on the day of the audit. It does not show that a room is free of infection or microorganisms, and it does not certify compliance with any standard. Fluorescent marker or ATP results can be noted against the limits your facility sets.

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