Criterion HS201
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 are safe, hygienic, in good condition 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. 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 two 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, clean and sanitise toys and materials that children may put in their mouths.
Clean and sanitise nappy changing areas after each use.
Use cleaning products and sanitisers containing hypochlorite and use 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 to kill disease-causing germs.
Storage requirements
Hygienically store items, furniture, furnishings such as cots, beds, stretchers, mattresses, bedding and equipment when not in use. For example, 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 for the educator
not located in toilet or nappy changing areas.
When assessing whether you comply with HS201
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?
How do you hygienically store sleeping items when not in use?
What cleaning products and sanitisers do you use?
We are likely to look at, measure or count
Premises, equipment, furnishings, fittings and sleeping items (such as mattresses and bedding).
Cleaning products and sanitisers.
We are likely to request
No documentation is required.
The tools below are here to support you, but you do not have to use them. You can use other tools or methods that work better for your service.
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
The information below has been developed with Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, National Public Health Service, Greater Wellington Region
Health NZ encourages all centres to have a documented cleaning schedule.
Health NZ’s Cleaning and Sanitising Guidelines pamphlet provides a template and example of a cleaning schedule. These will help you:
choose the right cleaning and disinfecting products
use cleaning and disinfecting products effectively
maintain safe, hygienic environments.
Cleaning and sanitising guidelines – HealthEd
Public Health recommends that only disinfectants/sanitisers containing the chemical “hypochlorite” are used in childcare settings (that is, bleach solutions). Hypochlorite has long been recognised as having outstanding disinfection properties, being effective against most common disease-causing organisms.
When choosing a disinfectant/sanitiser, it is important to be aware that not all disinfectants are effective against the broad spectrum of germs which can cause illness.
The micro-organisms least likely to be killed by bleach or any other disinfectant are giardia and cryptosporidium. These organisms produce microscopic cysts that can stick onto surfaces. The best way to deal with these organisms is to use a good detergent. This means that frequent cleaning with detergent is best for toys, tables and other non-toilet surfaces rather than bleach.
Some service operators find bleach unpleasant to work with and seek out alternative products. If you or your cleaning provider wish to use an alternative disinfectant, you must have scientific evidence (from the manufacturer) that it is effective for its intended purpose.
Before purchasing, request evidence from the manufacturer/supplier that the product is effective against:
protozoa, such as giardia and cryptosporidium
bacteria, such as salmonella and campylobacter
viruses, such as rotavirus, norovirus/Norwalk-like viruses.
Alternative disinfectants/products are to be used strictly in accordance with the manufacturer instructions.
Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand) provides guidance and health assessments, including cleaning and sanitising information.
Early childhood centre health assessments – Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora
Keeping premises, furniture, fittings, equipment, materials and sleeping items clean supports children’s health and safety.