Maintaining CQC-compliant cleanliness is essential for every GP and dental practice in the UK. As healthcare settings responsible for patient safety, infection prevention and regulatory excellence, your cleaning standards must align with Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulations, NHS cleaning guidelines, and HTM 01-05 (for dental decontamination).
At Intercounty, we help GP surgeries and dental practices across Kettering, Milton Keynes, and the wider regions maintain spotless, safe and compliant environments through our accredited commercial cleaning services, structured workflows, healthcare-trained operatives and tailored cleaning schedules.
Below is the ultimate CQC Cleaning Compliance Checklist, written specifically for managers, practice owners and compliance leads who must meet, and exceed, regulatory expectations.
Understanding CQC Cleaning Standards for Healthcare Practices
The Care Quality Commission evaluates healthcare facilities against five key questions, with cleanliness and infection control sitting at the heart of the “Safe” domain. For both GP surgeries and dental practices, demonstrating compliance requires meticulous attention to environmental hygiene, proper waste segregation, and documented cleaning schedules that leave no room for ambiguity.
CQC inspectors assess whether your practice maintains appropriate standards to prevent and control infections. This encompasses everything from daily cleaning routines to deep cleaning protocols, surface disinfection methods, and the competency of staff responsible for hygiene maintenance. The regulatory expectations extend beyond visible cleanliness to include microbiological safety, proper ventilation, and the elimination of potential cross-contamination risks.
Healthcare-associated infections remain a significant concern across the UK. The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Code of Practice on the prevention and control of infections) provides the legal framework that CQC uses during assessments. Your practice must demonstrate compliance not only through cleanliness but also through documented procedures, staff training records, and regular auditing mechanisms.
Why CQC Cleaning Compliance Matters
A clean practice is not only about aesthetics — it is fundamental to:
- Preventing cross-contamination
- Reducing infection outbreaks
- Ensuring safe patient care
- Protecting staff health
- Meeting CQC’s “Safe” and “Well-Led” standards
- Demonstrating robust governance during inspections
Non-compliance can lead to CQC warnings, enforcement action, or a downgraded rating.
CQC Cleaning Compliance Checklist for GP Surgeries & Dental Practices
1. Clear Cleaning Responsibilities & Governance
CQC expects practices to show evidence that cleaning is:
- Planned
- Monitored
- Documented
- Carried out by trained and competent staff
What you must have:
- A written Cleaning Policy
- Up-to-date cleaning schedules for all clinical and non-clinical areas
- Defined cleaning responsibilities (internal staff vs external provider)
- A nominated infection control lead
How Intercounty supports this:
We create bespoke cleaning schedules, provide full documentation, and ensure all staff follow CQC, NHS and HTM standards. Our Accreditations demonstrate competence, safety, and regulatory alignment.
2. Colour-Coded Cleaning Equipment
CQC follows NHS colour-coding standards to prevent cross-contamination.
Required colour coding:
- Red – Toilets & washrooms
- Blue – General areas (waiting rooms, offices)
- Green – Kitchens
- Yellow – Clinical & treatment areas
All mop heads, buckets and cloths must follow this system.
Intercounty strictly adheres to colour-coded systems across office and commercial cleaning, ensuring full compliance.
3. Daily Cleaning Requirements for GP & Dental Practices
| Area | Daily Cleaning Tasks |
| Clinical Rooms & Treatment Areas |
|
| Dental Surgeries (Aligned with HTM 01-05) |
|
| Waiting Areas & Reception |
|
| Washrooms & Toilets |
|
Intercounty ensures daily cleaning is completed consistently, with trained healthcare cleaners following exacting clinical standards.
4. Scheduled Deep Cleaning & Periodic Tasks
CQC expects practices to have proof of deeper cleaning cycles, including:
- Monthly high-level dusting
- Quarterly deep cleaning of clinical rooms
- Annual cleaning of carpets, upholstery & blinds
- Deep cleaning of dental surgeries
- Steam cleaning where infection risk is higher
Intercounty provides:
- Commercial carpet cleaning
- Commercial window cleaning
- Washroom deep cleaning services
- Full decontamination cleans
We help you prove compliance through audit-ready documentation.
5. Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) Cleaning
CQC inspectors will assess:
- Hand hygiene facilities
- Availability of PPE
- Use of clinical-grade disinfectants
- Correct disposal of clinical waste
IPC Essentials
- Cleaning agents must meet EN1276 & EN14476 standards
- Disposable mop heads must be changed daily
- Cloths must be single-use or hygienically laundered
- Sharps must be handled safely
- Clinical bins must be labelled and locked
Our team is trained in infection-control cleaning, including COVID-19 specialist cleaning for outbreak management.
6. Waste Management & Disposal
Every GP and dental practice must demonstrate:
- Segregation of general vs clinical waste
- Correct colour-coded bags
- Locked external waste storage areas
- Regular waste collection
Intercounty’s waste management service ensures every site adheres to:
- HTM 07-01
- Environmental compliance
- Safe disposal of hazardous materials
We supply the documentation required for the CQC inspection.
7. Cleaning Documentation Needed for CQC Inspections
To pass a CQC inspection confidently, you must keep:
- Cleaning schedules
- COSHH assessments
- Material safety data sheets
- Staff training records
- Daily & weekly cleaning logs
- Deep cleaning reports
- Cleaning audits
Intercounty ensures all records are maintained, organised and inspection-ready.
Why GP & Dental Practices Choose Intercounty
- Healthcare-trained cleaning teams
- Accredited, insured, and fully compliant services
- Tailored schedules for GP surgeries & dental clinics
- Expertise across Kettering, Milton Keynes and the surrounding regions
- Trusted by healthcare providers nationwide
- Full support with waste management, commercial carpets, windows, and washroom hygiene
- Guaranteed CQC compliance support
We understand the unique pressures healthcare settings face — and we are here to safeguard your environment and your compliance rating.
Work With a Trusted CQC-Compliant Cleaning Partner
Maintaining CQC cleaning compliance requires systematic approaches, committed staff, and often the support of specialist healthcare cleaning providers who understand the unique demands of medical environments. By implementing comprehensive protocols, maintaining meticulous documentation, and fostering a culture where patient safety through cleanliness is paramount, your GP surgery or dental practice positions itself for inspection success whilst delivering the safe, hygienic environment your patients deserve.
Take the Stress Out of CQC Compliance — Partner with Intercounty Today
Ready to create a safer, cleaner and fully CQC-compliant practice without the daily worry? At Intercounty, we specialise in delivering healthcare-grade cleaning, infection control, waste management, commercial carpet cleaning, window cleaning, and washroom hygiene services tailored specifically for GP surgeries and dental practices. Our accredited teams understand the exact standards required by the CQC, NHS, and HTM guidelines — and we ensure your environment is always inspection-ready, spotless and safe for both patients and staff.
Whether you need daily clinical cleaning, scheduled deep cleaning, outbreak response, or complete facility hygiene support, we provide seamless, reliable services across Kettering, Milton Keynes, and surrounding areas.
Let us take care of your compliance, so you can focus on providing exceptional care.
Speak to our healthcare cleaning experts today — contact Intercounty now to schedule your tailored cleaning consultation.
Most Asked Questions
1. What type of cleaning products meet CQC standards?
Any product used must be EN1276 and EN14476 compliant, meaning they kill bacteria and viruses to NHS-approved levels.
2. How often should GP surgeries be cleaned?
Clinical areas require daily cleaning, with certain touchpoints requiring cleaning between patients. Deep cleaning is recommended quarterly.
3. Do dental practices have different cleaning requirements?
Yes. Dental practices must also follow HTM 01-05, focusing heavily on decontamination, sterilisation, cross-infection control and the dental instrument pathway.
4. Can an external provider help us prepare for a CQC inspection?
Absolutely. Intercounty prepares practices with audit-ready cleaning documentation, deep cleaning, waste management and structured schedules aligned with CQC requirements.