Criterion HS101
# Premises, furniture, furnishings, fittings, equipment, materials, and sleeping items (such as mattresses, and bedding) are kept safe, clean, well-maintained, and hygienically stored when not in use.
Guidance
How to show you are complying
To make sure that the premises, furniture, fittings, equipment, materials, and sleeping items (like mattresses and bedding) are safe, clean, in good condition, and stored hygienically when not being used, you need to follow a few key steps.
Safe equipment
Check regularly for damage or wear across all areas and items, including furniture, fittings, equipment, materials, and sleeping items like mattresses and bedding. Look for anything that may be broken, unsafe, or no longer fit for use.
Take action when needed by removing damaged items from use. Arrange for repairs or replacements to keep everything in good working condition and safe for everyone.
Cleaning and hygiene
Make sure everything is cleaned regularly using the right products. Dirt and grime reduce how well sanitisers work. It’s important to follow the product’s instructions, including how long the sanitiser should stay in contact with the surface before rinsing or wiping dry.
The National Public Health Service (NPHS) advise cleaning and sanitising are 2 separate steps that work together to keep surfaces clean and hygienic.
Cleaning means wiping away dirt, food, and other visible debris using detergent and water. This helps remove most germs and is always the first step before sanitising. Sanitising means using heat or chemicals (such as bleach) to kill any germs left behind after cleaning. To work properly, bleach needs to be strong enough and stay on the clean surface for 10 to 30 minutes.
Keep hard surfaces clean. Surfaces that are damaged, worn, or no longer non-porous can trap dirt and bacteria, making them impossible to clean correctly and maintain hygiene.
Every day you should clean toys and materials that children may put in their mouths.
Clean and sanitise nappy changing areas after each use.
Use cleaning products, including disinfectants and sanitisers, containing hypochlorite and use them in line with the manufacturer's specifications and safety guidelines.
Many ‘green’, ‘eco’, ‘organic’ or ‘natural’ cleaning products are unsuitable for cleaning and sanitising surfaces. They do not adequately remove dirt, grease and grime, and do not sanitise surfaces effectively.
Storage requirements
Hygienically store items, furniture, furnishings such as cots, beds, stretchers, mattresses, bedding and equipment when not in use. For example, you could use wall hooks for linen bags, cupboards or designated areas inaccessible to children.
Clean furniture and bedding before storing it away.
Remove linen from mattresses before storage. Do not stack linen between mattresses.
When you use bedding for the same child throughout the week, you must clearly label it with the child’s name, and store it in a clean, labelled bag.
Make sure that storage is:
safe for children
easily accessible to adults
Not located in toilet or nappy changing areas.
When assessing whether you comply with HS101
Questions we are likely to ask
Can you tell me what steps you would take if you noticed that equipment, furniture or fittings were damaged or no longer suitable?
What steps do you take to clean and sanitise toys and materials that children may put into their mouths?
What cleaning products and sanitisers do you use?
How do you store bedding that only one child uses throughout the week?
We are likely to look at, measure or count
Premises, equipment, furnishings or fittings.
Storage areas for equipment, cleaning products, cots, beds, stretchers, mattresses, and bedding
Nappy changing areas.
Cleaning products and sanitisers.
We are likely to request
The hash symbol # indicates that we might ask for a report from the National Public Health Service, under Regulation 55 of the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008.
The tools below are here to support you. You do not have to use them. You can use other tools or methods that work better for your service.
The information below has been developed with Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, National Public Health Service, to help you:
choose the right cleaning and sanitising products
use cleaning and sanitising products effectively
maintain safe, hygienic environments.
The National Public Health Service recommends using a sanitiser that contains hypochlorite. This is the most effective in killing the most extensive range of pathogens (bugs) that are commonly found in early learning services. On occasion, the National Public Health Service may recommend a different sanitiser during an outbreak, depending on the pathogen.
All cleaning and sanitising products are used strictly in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Consult with the National Public Health Service if you wish to consider alternative sanitisers.
Contact public health services – Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora
Health New Zealand encourages all centres to have a documented cleaning schedule.
Health New Zealand’s Cleaning and Sanitising Guidelines pamphlet provides a template and example of a cleaning schedule.
Cleaning and sanitising guidelines
Health New Zealand provides guidance and health assessments, including cleaning and sanitising information.
Cleaning and sanitising guidelines – HealthEd
Early learning service health assessments – Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora
Keeping premises, furniture, fittings, equipment and materials clean, safe, and well-stored supports children’s health and safety.