Describe your Spotless Space.

Our Spotless Space is located at Iru Care Home, a long-term care facility in Estonia dedicated to providing daily care and support to elderly residents. The core mission of the facility is to protect residents’ health, dignity, and quality of life by maintaining a safe, supportive, and trustworthy living environment. The Spotless Space concept extends throughout resident rooms, shared living areas, sanitary facilities, and frequently used common areas. In a care home environment, cleanliness is not only essential for visual presentation but is also a critical component of infection prevention, health protection, and overall quality of care. Maintaining spotless spaces ensures residents feel secure, comfortable, and respected in their home.

What specific measures do you or your team implement to ensure this space meets the highest standards of cleanliness and embodies the value of clean?

Iru Care Home follows a needs-based and risk-based cleaning system, with special attention given to residents’ immediate surroundings and high-touch surfaces. Cleaning priorities are continuously adjusted based on residents’ health conditions and potential infection risks. A major advancement was the implementation of an eight-month digital competence and cleaning quality training program conducted in partnership with Puhastusekspert, an independent cleaning training and consulting company. Through this initiative, cleaning quality assessments were performed using the Optiqo digital system, mobile applications, and the INSTA cleaning standard. All areas, surfaces, cleaning methods, and frequencies were carefully mapped and standardized. Staff received targeted feedback and additional training, and cleaning agents and tools were optimized for effectiveness and safety. Today, all cleaning responsibilities are clearly defined, and cleaning performance is continuously monitored and digitally documented, ensuring consistent quality and rapid response to any identified issues.

What does having a spotless space mean to you and your team and how does it contribute to the organization’s business outcomes?

For the team at Iru Care Home, a spotless space represents a direct commitment to protecting residents’ health, wellbeing, and dignity. Cleanliness is an essential part of delivering high-quality care and helps create a calm, safe, and reassuring environment for residents, their families, and staff. Maintaining high cleaning standards helps reduce infection risks and associated healthcare costs while improving operational efficiency. It also contributes to higher satisfaction among residents and their families, strengthening trust in the care home’s services. For staff, a clean and hygienic environment supports safe working conditions, reinforces professional pride, and promotes confidence in the care being provided.

How does your facility promote sustainability and/or green cleaning?

Sustainability is integrated into Iru Care Home’s cleaning and procurement practices. In collaboration with Puhastusekspert, the facility reviewed and standardized its selection of cleaning agents and tools to ensure efficient and responsible use of resources. Only task-specific and necessary cleaning chemicals are used, reducing waste and minimizing environmental impact. Cleaning tools and materials are standardized to improve efficiency and prevent overuse. Procurement decisions are guided by sustainability principles, ensuring that products and methods align with environmental responsibility and long-term operational efficiency. By combining evidence-based cleaning practices, digital monitoring, and environmentally conscious product selection, Iru Care Home supports both resident health and sustainability goals.

Give any examples of how you aim to create an inclusive and accessible experience in your facility for users and cleaners.

Inclusivity and accessibility are fundamental priorities in a care home environment. Iru Care Home ensures that sanitary facilities, resident rooms, and shared spaces are maintained to support safe and accessible use by elderly residents and individuals with limited mobility. Cleaning and facility practices are designed to promote dignity, comfort, and independence for all residents. Ergonomic cleaning tools and standardized procedures help ensure that cleaning staff can work safely and efficiently. Close collaboration between cleaning personnel, caregivers, and nursing staff allows cleaning practices to be adapted to individual resident needs. This coordinated approach ensures that all residents benefit from a clean, safe, and inclusive living environment that supports their health, wellbeing, and quality of life.