One of the most common questions we receive from nursing home managers and directors of care is: how often should curtains actually be cleaned? The answer depends on the type of ward, risk level, and current HSE and HPSC guidelines — and getting it right matters more than many facilities realise.
What the HSE and HPSC Say
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) guidelines on infection prevention in healthcare settings classify curtains as a high-risk surface in clinical areas. Soft furnishings including curtains and bed drapes are identified as potential reservoirs for pathogenic organisms including MRSA and C. difficile.
The HPSC recommends that curtains in nursing home environments should be cleaned:
- Every 3–4 months as a minimum in standard residential areas
- Monthly or more frequently in high-risk areas (isolation rooms, post-infectious areas)
- Immediately following any known contamination incident
- After an infectious outbreak affecting the unit where the curtains are located
What HIQA Inspectors Look For
During a HIQA inspection, inspectors assess compliance with infection control standards under Regulation 27 of the Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents). While curtain cleaning frequency is not specified in a single line of legislation, inspectors review your infection control programme as a whole — and curtains that are visibly soiled, have not been cleaned within a reasonable timeframe, or for which you have no cleaning records are a clear negative indicator.
The safest position for any nursing home is to have a documented curtain cleaning schedule showing that curtains are cleaned at least every 3–4 months, with records retained for inspection. A compliance certificate from a specialist contractor is ideal documentation.
Different Rooms, Different Standards
Not all areas of a nursing home carry equal infection risk. When setting your curtain cleaning programme, consider:
- Resident bedrooms: minimum every 3–4 months
- Communal areas (dining, sitting rooms): minimum every 4–6 months
- Isolation/barrier nursing rooms: after each use, or monthly
- Bathrooms and en-suites: every 1–3 months depending on use
- Clinical rooms (treatment, nursing stations): every 3 months
Why In-Situ Cleaning Matters for Frequency
One reason nursing homes struggle to meet recommended frequencies is the disruption involved in traditional curtain laundering — removing curtains, sending to laundry, waiting days for return, and reinstalling. In-situ cleaning eliminates this barrier. Curtains are cleaned in place, dry in under 20 minutes, and never leave the building. This makes achieving a 3–4 month schedule genuinely practical.
Setting Up a Rolling Programme
The most efficient approach is a rolling programme: divide your facility into zones and schedule each zone to be cleaned on a regular cycle. Your cleaning contractor should provide a service schedule and compliance documentation after each visit. Download our free HIQA Curtain Hygiene Checklist for a template you can use to set up your programme.
To discuss a curtain cleaning programme for your nursing home, call Curtain Care Ireland on 01 254 8000 or request a free consultation.