The Complete Aquatic Facility Cleaning Checklist
A practical daily, weekly and monthly cleaning guide for New Zealand swimming pools and aquatic centres
Aquatic facilities require consistent cleaning to manage moisture, prevent slips, control bacteria and mould, and provide a safe, welcoming environment for swimmers, staff and visitors.
This checklist can be adapted for public pools, school pools, hydrotherapy pools, learn-to-swim centres, leisure centres and gym facilities with swimming pools.
Daily Aquatic Facility Cleaning Checklist
Reception and entrance
☐ Vacuum or mop entrance floors
☐ Clean entrance doors and glass
☐ Wipe reception counters
☐ Clean EFTPOS terminals and touchscreens
☐ Sanitise frequently touched surfaces
☐ Empty rubbish and recycling bins
☐ Restock hand sanitiser
☐ Remove fingerprints from glass and doors
☐ Check entrance mats for excess moisture
☐ Display wet-floor signs where required
Pool surrounds
☐ Sweep or wet-vacuum poolside areas
☐ Mop and clean non-slip flooring
☐ Remove standing water
☐ Clean visible marks and spills immediately
☐ Sanitise handrails and grab rails
☐ Wipe starting blocks and pool ladders
☐ Clean poolside seating
☐ Empty poolside rubbish bins
☐ Check drains and channels for blockages
☐ Remove hair and debris from drainage grates
☐ Check for slippery or damaged surfaces
Pool surrounds should be checked regularly throughout the day, particularly during busy periods.
Changing rooms
☐ Clean benches
☐ Wipe lockers and handles
☐ Mop floors with a suitable cleaner
☐ Remove standing water
☐ Clean mirrors
☐ Empty rubbish bins
☐ Restock soap
☐ Restock paper towels or check hand dryers
☐ Restock toilet paper
☐ Sanitise door handles and touchpoints
☐ Check for unpleasant odours
☐ Remove abandoned items according to facility procedures
Showers
☐ Clean shower walls and partitions
☐ Remove soap and body-oil residue
☐ Disinfect taps, handles and shower controls
☐ Clean shower floors
☐ Remove hair from drains
☐ Check drains for blockages
☐ Inspect grout and sealant
☐ Remove mould where required
☐ Clean shower seats and accessibility rails
☐ Check soap and shampoo dispensers
Toilets and washrooms
☐ Clean and disinfect toilets and urinals
☐ Clean basins and taps
☐ Polish mirrors
☐ Sanitise door handles and touchpoints
☐ Empty sanitary and rubbish bins
☐ Refill soap dispensers
☐ Refill paper towel dispensers
☐ Refill toilet paper dispensers
☐ Mop floors
☐ Check for leaks or blockages
☐ Record cleaning checks where required
Family and accessible changing rooms
☐ Clean changing benches
☐ Sanitise baby-change tables
☐ Clean accessible toilets and showers
☐ Disinfect grab rails and support handles
☐ Mop floors
☐ Remove standing water
☐ Restock soap, paper towels and toilet paper
☐ Empty sanitary and nappy bins
☐ Check emergency call buttons where fitted
Pool equipment
☐ Rinse and clean kickboards
☐ Clean pool noodles and flotation devices
☐ Sanitise learn-to-swim equipment
☐ Clean lifejackets and buoyancy aids as required
☐ Wipe storage racks and equipment cages
☐ Allow equipment to dry before storage
☐ Remove damaged or contaminated equipment from use
☐ Store chemicals and cleaning products securely away from pool equipment
Spectator areas
☐ Sweep or vacuum floors
☐ Mop spills immediately
☐ Clean seating and handrails
☐ Wipe tables and ledges
☐ Empty rubbish bins
☐ Clean viewing glass
☐ Sanitise frequently touched surfaces
☐ Check stairs and walkways for slip hazards
Staff and lifeguard areas
☐ Wipe lifeguard chairs and stations
☐ Sanitise radios and shared equipment
☐ Clean staff desks and counters
☐ Empty rubbish bins
☐ Clean staff-room surfaces
☐ Restock handwashing supplies
☐ Clean first-aid room surfaces
☐ Check that first-aid areas remain uncluttered and accessible
Cleaning Tasks Throughout the Day
Aquatic facilities should not rely on one clean at opening or closing. High-use areas should be monitored and serviced throughout operating hours.
☐ Check poolside floors for standing water
☐ Spot-clean changing rooms and showers
☐ Empty bins before they overflow
☐ Refill soap, paper towels and toilet paper
☐ Remove hair and debris from drains
☐ Clean spills immediately
☐ Check toilets and family rooms
☐ Wipe high-touch surfaces
☐ Record completed inspections
☐ Place warning signs around wet or recently cleaned areas
Weekly Cleaning Tasks
☐ Deep-clean poolside flooring
☐ Machine-scrub suitable hard-floor areas
☐ Clean floor drains and drainage channels
☐ Scrub grout and tiled surfaces
☐ Descale taps, showers and fittings
☐ Deep-clean changing-room benches and lockers
☐ Wash rubbish, sanitary and nappy bins
☐ Clean walls, partitions and doors
☐ Dust vents, ledges and high surfaces
☐ Clean skirting boards
☐ Clean windows and viewing glass
☐ Deep-clean spectator seating
☐ Clean storage rooms and equipment cages
☐ Wash and sanitise pool toys and teaching equipment
☐ Inspect dispensers for damage or leaks
☐ Check cleaning tools for contamination or wear
☐ Clean staff rooms and offices thoroughly
☐ Remove mould and mildew before it spreads
Monthly Cleaning Tasks
☐ Deep-clean carpets and entrance mats
☐ Pressure-clean suitable exterior areas
☐ Deep-clean poolside tiles and grout
☐ Inspect walls, ceilings and corners for mould
☐ Check sealant around showers and wet areas
☐ Inspect flooring for damage or loss of slip resistance
☐ Review chemical stock and expiry dates
☐ Check cleaning-equipment condition
☐ Inspect floor scrubbers, vacuums and wet vacuums
☐ Service dispensers where required
☐ Review cleaning procedures with staff
☐ Check safety signs and wet-floor signs
☐ Review cleaning records and inspection sheets
☐ Inspect storage areas for leaks or incorrect chemical storage
☐ Check ventilation grilles for dust and moisture buildup
☐ Review peak-time cleaning schedules
Aquatic Facility Cleaning and Safety Tips
✔ Use cleaning chemicals suitable for wet areas and the surfaces being cleaned.
✔ Never mix cleaning chemicals.
✔ Store chemicals securely and follow the product label and safety data sheet.
✔ Use colour-coded cleaning equipment to reduce cross-contamination.
✔ Keep toilet-cleaning tools separate from poolside and changing-room equipment.
✔ Use non-slip footwear and display warning signs during cleaning.
✔ Remove standing water promptly.
✔ Ventilate changing rooms and showers to help control mould and odours.
✔ Clean from higher surfaces down towards the floor.
✔ Work from cleaner areas towards more contaminated areas.
✔ Allow reusable pool equipment to dry fully before storage.
✔ Train staff to report damaged floors, blocked drains, leaks and mould immediately.
✔ Schedule deeper cleaning outside busy operating periods wherever possible.
Suggested Colour-Coding System
A colour-coded system can help prevent equipment used in toilets from being used around pools, showers or food areas.
- Red: toilets, urinals and sanitary areas
- Yellow: washroom fixtures, basins and showers
- Blue: general areas, reception and spectator spaces
- Green: kitchens, cafés and food-service areas
Keep separate cloths, mop heads, buckets and brushes for each area.
Recommended Cleaning Equipment
An aquatic facility may require:
- Microfibre cloths
- Colour-coded cleaning cloths and buckets
- Wet-floor signs
- Mops
- Wet and dry vacuum cleaners
- Floor-scrubbing machines
- Grout and deck brushes
- Squeegees
- Mop handles and poles
- Chemical-resistant spray bottles
- Disposable gloves
- Soap and paper dispensers
- Rubbish bin liners
- Mould and mildew cleaner
- Washroom cleaner
- Glass cleaner
- Neutral floor cleaner
- Suitable disinfectant
- Sweepers