The Complete Veterinary Clinic Cleaning Checklist
A practical daily, weekly and monthly cleaning guide for New Zealand veterinary clinics and animal hospitals
A clean veterinary clinic helps protect patients, pet owners and staff while reducing the risk of disease transmission between animals. Consistent environmental cleaning also creates a professional, welcoming environment that gives clients confidence in the care their pets receive.
This checklist is suitable for veterinary clinics, animal hospitals, companion animal practices and mixed veterinary practices.
Daily Veterinary Clinic Cleaning Checklist
Reception & Waiting Area
☐ Vacuum or mop entrance floors
☐ Clean entrance doors and glass
☐ Wipe reception desk and counters
☐ Sanitise EFTPOS terminals
☐ Clean reception seating
☐ Remove pet hair from chairs and floors
☐ Clean children's play area (where applicable)
☐ Empty rubbish and recycling bins
☐ Restock hand sanitiser stations
☐ Remove fingerprints from doors and glass
☐ Check entrance mats
☐ Remove pet accidents immediately
Consultation Rooms
☐ Clean examination tables after every patient
☐ Sanitise examination tables
☐ Wipe consultation benches
☐ Clean scales
☐ Clean sinks and taps
☐ Wipe cupboards externally
☐ Sanitise computer keyboards and mice
☐ Clean telephones
☐ Empty rubbish bins
☐ Mop floors
☐ Restock consumables
Treatment Areas
☐ Clean treatment benches
☐ Sanitise work surfaces
☐ Clean treatment trolleys
☐ Wipe equipment
☐ Clean sinks
☐ Mop floors
☐ Empty rubbish bins
☐ Restock cleaning supplies
☐ Check sharps containers are not overfilled
Surgical Preparation Areas
☐ Clean benches
☐ Sanitise preparation areas
☐ Clean sinks
☐ Mop floors
☐ Wipe storage cupboards externally
☐ Restock consumables
☐ Inspect cleanliness before procedures begin
Kennels & Animal Holding Areas
☐ Remove bedding as required
☐ Clean and disinfect kennels
☐ Clean cages
☐ Remove animal hair
☐ Remove waste immediately
☐ Clean food and water bowls
☐ Mop floors
☐ Empty rubbish bins
☐ Replace clean bedding
☐ Check ventilation
Pharmacy & Storage Areas
☐ Dust shelving
☐ Wipe benches
☐ Mop floors
☐ Organise supplies
☐ Remove empty cartons
☐ Empty rubbish bins
Staff Areas
☐ Clean kitchen benches
☐ Sanitise tables
☐ Clean sinks
☐ Empty rubbish bins
☐ Vacuum or mop floors
☐ Clean microwave
☐ Clean refrigerator handles
☐ Restock paper towels
Public Toilets
☐ Clean toilets
☐ Sanitise toilet seats
☐ Clean basins
☐ Clean taps
☐ Polish mirrors
☐ Refill soap dispensers
☐ Restock toilet paper
☐ Refill paper towel dispensers
☐ Empty sanitary bins
☐ Mop floors
☐ Check odours
Corridors & Common Areas
☐ Vacuum or sweep floors
☐ Mop hard floors
☐ Remove pet hair
☐ Clean door handles
☐ Wipe light switches
☐ Clean handrails
☐ Spot clean glass
☐ Empty rubbish bins
Throughout the Day
☐ Clean examination tables after each patient
☐ Respond immediately to urine, faeces, vomit and other spills
☐ Remove pet hair regularly
☐ Empty bins before they overflow
☐ Restock soap and paper products
☐ Maintain hand sanitiser stations
☐ Patrol public toilets
☐ Clean high-touch surfaces regularly
☐ Record completed cleaning inspections
Weekly Cleaning Tasks
☐ Machine scrub hard floors
☐ Deep clean consultation rooms
☐ Deep clean treatment rooms
☐ Wash waiting room chairs
☐ Dust high surfaces
☐ Clean skirting boards
☐ Wash internal glass
☐ Clean ventilation grilles
☐ Wash rubbish bins
☐ Remove marks from walls
☐ Deep clean staff kitchen
☐ Clean storage cupboards
☐ Clean kennel walls and doors
☐ Inspect dispensers
Monthly Cleaning Tasks
☐ Deep clean carpets
☐ Pressure wash external entrances where appropriate
☐ Machine scrub foyers
☐ Deep clean washrooms
☐ Deep clean kennel areas
☐ Inspect flooring
☐ Review chemical stock
☐ Inspect cleaning equipment
☐ Service vacuum cleaners
☐ Service floor scrubbers
☐ Review cleaning procedures
☐ Audit hygiene consumables
☐ Inspect emergency exits
☐ Clean ceilings and ventilation grilles
High-Touch Surface Checklist
These surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected regularly throughout the day.
☐ Examination tables
☐ Kennel latches
☐ Cage doors
☐ Door handles
☐ Reception counter
☐ EFTPOS terminals
☐ Computer keyboards
☐ Computer mice
☐ Telephones
☐ Light switches
☐ Tap handles
☐ Flush buttons
☐ Waiting room chairs
☐ Animal scales
☐ Treatment trolleys
☐ Handrails
Veterinary Clinic Cleaning & Infection Prevention Tips
✔ Clean and disinfect examination tables between every animal.
✔ Isolate animals with suspected infectious diseases and follow your clinic's infection prevention procedures.
✔ Use veterinary-approved cleaning and disinfecting products suitable for the surfaces being cleaned.
✔ Follow the manufacturer's recommended contact time for disinfectants.
✔ Remove animal hair regularly to maintain a clean and professional environment.
✔ Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when cleaning contaminated areas.
✔ Clean up urine, faeces, vomit and blood immediately using your clinic's approved procedures.
✔ Wash food and water bowls thoroughly between patients.
✔ Keep waiting areas clean and odour-free to create a welcoming experience for pet owners.
✔ Maintain cleaning records where required by your clinic's quality procedures.
Recommended Colour-Coding System
Red – Toilets and sanitary areas
Yellow – Consultation rooms, treatment rooms, surgical preparation areas and animal care areas
Blue – Reception, waiting rooms, offices and general public areas
Green – Staff kitchens, food preparation and staff dining areas
Separate cloths, mops and buckets should always be used for each area to minimise the risk of cross-contamination.
Recommended Cleaning Equipment
- Microfibre cleaning cloths
- Colour-coded cleaning cloths
- Colour-coded flat mops
- Commercial vacuum cleaners
- Wet & dry vacuum cleaners
- Walk-behind floor scrubber (for larger clinics)
- Neutral floor cleaner
- Veterinary-appropriate disinfectant
- Glass cleaner
- Washroom cleaner
- Food-safe sanitiser (staff kitchen only)
- Hand soap
- Alcohol hand sanitiser
- Paper towels
- Toilet paper
- Bin liners
- Bio Hazard Bags
- Disposable gloves
- PPE as required
- Wet floor signs
- Lint rollers or pet hair removal tools
- Dedicated brushes and cleaning tools for kennels and cages