Family Day Care Cleaning Checklist: Daily, Weekly & Safety Tips
Quick answer
Family day care educators should check and clean the care area before children arrive, clean nappy, toilet and food surfaces during care as they are used, and do a full end-of-day clean of play surfaces, toys, floors, bathroom and kitchen after pick-up. Weekly, wash all toys, linen and soft furnishings. Keep chemicals locked away — homes have more hidden hazards than centres.
Family day care brings the same hygiene expectations as a centre into a home — but with one educator doing everything, a household sharing the space, and the family kitchen doubling as the care kitchen. A simple routine keeps it manageable.
In this guide
Before children arrive
- Check the care area for hazards, household items and pet mess
- Wipe tables, high chairs and change mat
- Stock soap, paper towel, gloves, nappy bags and spill kit
- Ensure chemicals, medications and sharp items are locked away
- Check outdoor area and cover/uncover sandpit
During care
- Clean the change mat after every nappy change; handwashing every time
- Wipe tables and high chairs before and after meals
- Remove mouthed toys into a “to wash” tub
- Clean toilet seats and taps when soiled
- Clean body-fluid spills immediately with gloves, detergent then disinfectant
After pick-up
- Wash toys from the “to wash” tub and any used that day
- Clean and dry play tables, chairs and high chairs
- Clean the bathroom used for care: toilet, basin, taps, step stool
- Clean kitchen benches, sink and food prep areas
- Vacuum and mop the care area floors
- Empty nappy and general bins
- Record cleaning in your log
Want this cleaning done for your centre?
WWCC-verified, police-checked teams cleaning after hours across Melbourne. A typical 3-hour visit is around $180 + GST, with one fixed price per visit after a free walk-through.
Weekly
- Wash every shared toy
- Launder cot linen (or after each use if shared), cushions and dress-ups
- Wipe skirting boards, door frames, windowsills and light switches
- Clean fridge and wipe out cupboards used for children’s food
- Wash outdoor toys and check equipment
Home-specific tips
- Separate spaces: keep care toys and equipment separate from your family’s where you can.
- Pets: keep pets out of care and food areas during care hours, and clean pet areas daily.
- Chemicals: the laundry and under-sink cupboards are common hazards — use child locks.
- Your scheme: follow your family day care service’s policies; they will audit hygiene during visits.
For full detail on frequencies, see how often a childcare service should be cleaned. Family day care schemes and larger services can contact our childcare cleaning team for periodic deep cleans.
Frequently asked questions
Do family day care educators have to follow Staying Healthy?
Family day care is part of the National Quality Framework, and Staying Healthy is the key infection-control guideline for all education and care services, including family day care.
Can I use my normal household cleaning products?
Detergent is fine for most cleaning. Have a suitable disinfectant for body fluids and outbreaks, avoid vinegar as a disinfectant, and store everything out of reach.
How often should toys be cleaned in family day care?
Mouthed toys before another child uses them, toys used that day after care, and all shared toys weekly.
This guide is part of
How Often Should a Childcare Centre Be Cleaned? Frequency Guide by Area & Centre TypeRelated deep dives
Want this cleaning done for your centre?
WWCC-verified, police-checked teams cleaning after hours across Melbourne. A typical 3-hour visit is around $180 + GST, with one fixed price per visit after a free walk-through.
Sources and further reading
- NHMRC — Staying healthy: Preventing infectious diseases in early childhood education and care services (6th ed.)
- NHMRC — Staying healthy, Part 3: A healthy environment (cleaning, disinfection, body-fluid spills)
- ACECQA — National Quality Standard (Quality Areas 2 and 3)
This guide is general information for early childhood services. Always follow your service's policies, product labels and safety data sheets, and current advice from your regulatory authority and local health department. Prices are guide estimates only; your fixed price is confirmed after a free walk-through.
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