Clayburn Figredo: How clean is your loved one’s aged care facility really?

Families checking their loved ones into aged care facilities are being urged to look beyond glossy brochures and spotless foyers, with Australia’s leading cleaning expert warning that many facilities are far dirtier and far more dangerous than they appear.

According to Clayburn Figredo, Managing director of Cleaning Edge Solutions and the Andy Andersons Group, many aged care homes unknowingly harbour dangerous levels of bacteria, viruses and cross-contamination risks that put vulnerable residents at serious risk of avoidable illness.

“People assume aged care facilities are cleaned properly, but most do not understand how quickly germs spread in these environments,” Figredo said.

“A surface can look sparkling, but that doesn’t mean it’s safe. In aged care, invisible risks are the real threat and they’re everywhere.

“Unfortunately, not all facilities prioritise cleaning in the same way.  Some allocate appropriate resources and focus and others do not.  The question is how do you know who does and doesn’t.”

Illness spreads fast and families rarely see it happening

Aged care residents are among the most susceptible people in the community. A single missed cleaning protocol, an un-sanitised handrail, a contaminated bathroom tap or a rushed wipe-down can result in facility-wide outbreaks of gastro, respiratory illness and viral infections.

Figredo warned that many families would be horrified if they knew what was lingering on clean-looking surfaces.

“We’ve seen facilities with beautifully polished floors but the nurse stations, dining tables and bathroom touchpoints are covered in harmful microorganisms,” he said.

“Most infections don’t start in the places people notice, they start in the places cleaners miss.”

The cleaning no one talks about

Aged care facilities operate 24/7. Residents move between rooms, staff rotate through shifts, visitors come and go and medical equipment is shared. High-touch points are everywhere.

When cleaning is not clinical, consistent and informed by infection control science, contamination becomes inevitable.

The real risks include:

• bacteria surviving on cleaned surfaces because disinfectants weren’t left long enough,
• cross-contamination between dirty and clean areas,
• poorly trained cleaners wiping germs from one resident area into another,
• high-risk areas such as dining rooms, bathrooms and handrails not sanitised frequently enough; and 
• ineffective products being used because they are cheaper or faster

“Families need to understand this: in aged care, cleaning isn’t about appearance. It’s about preventing sickness, suffering and unnecessary hospitalisations,” Figredo said.

“A facility can look immaculate and still be unsafe.”

Why families should start asking harder questions

Most families assume that if a facility looks clean, it must be safe. Figredo said this is a dangerous misconception.

“When you entrust your parents or grandparents to a facility, you’re trusting that every surface they touch won’t make them sick,” he said.

“But unless the facility is using clinical-grade systems and properly trained staff, that trust is misplaced.”

He said families should feel empowered to ask what cleaning practices their chosen facility actually uses because the answer could determine their loved one’s health.

“You are allowed to ask. You should ask and if the facility can’t clearly explain its infection prevention procedures, that’s a red flag,” he said.  

Andy Andersons

For more than 45 years, Andy Andersons has supported Australian organisations with reliable, high-quality cleaning and facility services. A long-standing family business with deep industry roots, Andy Andersons became an entity of the Cleaning Edge Group in 2021, combining decades of legacy experience with the group’s national scale and innovation. Today, the company draws on more than 100 years of combined expertise to deliver industrial cleaning, commercial cleaning, aged care cleaning and facility maintenance services. Andy Andersons remains committed to safety, integrity and exceptional service.

Cleaning Edge Solutions

Cleaning Edge Solutions is one of Australia’s leading commercial cleaning and facility management providers, specialising in large-scale, high-risk and clinical environments. Founded in 2008 by Managing Director Clayburn Figredo and headquartered in Mulgrave, Victoria, the company has built a national reputation for innovation, strict compliance and advanced infection-control standards.

With ISO certifications across quality, safety, environment and food safety, Cleaning Edge Solutions delivers services to major organisations across health, government, education, transport, retail and aged care sectors. Its operations span commercial and industrial cleaning, facilities maintenance, waste management and property development.

Known for its commitment to excellence and social impact, Cleaning Edge Solutions is dedicated to elevating national cleaning standards and creating safer, healthier environments for all Australians.

Visit: www.cleaningedge.com.au