A nervous dog pulls on its lead as it walks into your waiting room. Its nose goes straight to the floor, picking up every scent left by every animal that came in before it. Its owner notices something too: a faint smell of urine near the door and pet hair gathered along the skirting boards.

Vet clinics are some of the hardest workplaces to keep clean and fresh. Animals shed, drool, have accidents and bring in mud from outside. Clients notice smells straight away. And the clinic must stay hygienic for both animals and people.

This guide shows Adelaide vet clinics and animal hospitals how to keep waiting rooms, consult rooms and staff areas clean, how to manage odours, and how to divide cleaning between clinic staff and a professional cleaner.

Quick answer: Vet clinics need consult tables and high touch points cleaned between patients by clinic staff, plus a full professional clean after hours covering waiting rooms, consult rooms, reception, bathrooms, staff areas and floors. Control odours by cleaning urine and accidents at the source with suitable enzyme products, not air fresheners. Clinical waste, sharps and surgery areas should follow the clinic’s own procedures and specialist waste contractors.

Why Vet Clinics Are Different

• Animal accidents. Urine, vomit and faeces happen in waiting rooms and consult rooms.
• Odours. Smells build up quickly and clients notice them at the door.
• Hair and dander. Pet hair spreads everywhere, including into vents and corners.
• Mud and grit. Dogs bring in dirt from footpaths and car parks.
• Mixed spaces. Reception, retail, consult rooms, surgery, kennels and offices all need different care.
• Animal safety. Products must be used carefully around animals.

Who Cleans What?

Splitting responsibilities clearly avoids gaps.

Write this into your scope of works so everyone knows where their job starts and ends.

Vet Clinic Cleaning Checklist (After Hours)

Waiting room and reception

• Vacuum pet hair from floors, corners and under chairs
• Mop hard floors with a suitable cleaner
• Wipe chairs, benches and armrests
• Wipe the reception counter, EFTPOS terminal and pens
• Clean glass entry doors, especially nose prints at dog height
• Clean the entry mat
• Wipe scales and their surrounds
• Empty bins

Retail area

• Dust shelves and product displays
• Wipe shelf edges and price holders
• Mop floors

Consult rooms

• Mop floors, including corners and under tables
• Wipe sinks, taps and benches as agreed
• Wipe door handles, light switches and cupboard handles
• Wipe walls at animal height for splashes and marks
• Empty general waste bins (not clinical waste)

Staff areas, offices and bathrooms

• Kitchen benches, sink and appliances
• Office desks, phones and floors
• Toilets, basins, mirrors and floors
• Restock supplies

Periodic

• High dusting of vents and light fittings, where pet hair collects
• Spot clean walls and skirting boards
• Window cleaning every 1 to 3 months
• Upholstery or bench cleaning in the waiting room
• Full deep clean every 3 to 6 months

Controlling Odours

Odour is the number one complaint in many vet clinics. The fix is cleaning the source, not covering it.

• Clean accidents straight away. Urine soaks into grout, floor joints and porous surfaces quickly.
• Use enzyme cleaners for urine. They break down the compounds that cause lingering smells.
• Scrub grout and floor joints regularly. Odours often hide there.
• Choose hard, sealed flooring in waiting and consult areas where possible, rather than carpet.
• Keep drains clean and pour water into floor drains to keep traps full.
• Check ventilation and keep vents free of pet hair.
• Avoid heavy fragrances. Strong scents can stress animals and suggest you’re covering something up.

Products and Animal Safety

• Follow product labels for use around animals, including dilution and contact time
• Rinse or dry surfaces as the label directs before animals return
• Store chemicals securely and away from animal areas
• Use separate colour coded cloths for consult rooms, bathrooms and kitchens
• Keep safety data sheets for every product on site

Your clinic’s veterinary team should approve the products used in clinical areas.

Separate Cat and Dog Areas

Many clinics separate cat and dog waiting areas to reduce stress. Clean each area with its own cloths and mops where possible, and pay attention to scent markings on lower walls and furniture in the dog area.

Pet Hair Everywhere

Pet hair builds up in corners, under chairs, along skirting boards and inside vents.

• Use a strong vacuum with a HEPA filter
• Vacuum edges and corners with the crevice tool
• Dust vents monthly
• Brush hair from upholstered benches or choose wipeable seating

What It Costs

Commercial cleaning in Adelaide usually costs $32 to $56 per hour, or about $1.76 to $3.44 per square metre per clean, set as a fixed monthly price. Vet clinics may need more time than a standard office because of pet hair, odour control and clinical areas.

Choosing a Cleaner for Your Vet Clinic

Look for a cleaner who:

1. Has experience in clinics or healthcare settings
2. Understands odour control and enzyme cleaning
3. Uses colour coded systems
4. Follows your rules for clinical areas and waste
5. Works after hours around surgery and late appointments
6. Carries public liability insurance
7. Provides written schedules and safety data sheets

An experienced commercial cleaning Adelaide team will respect the line between general cleaning and clinical procedures.

Don’t Forget the Back Office

Vet clinics also have admin offices, staff rooms and practice manager offices. Regular office cleaning Adelaide for these spaces can be included in the same contract.

Why Adelaide Vet Clinics Choose Ms Clean AU

Ms Clean AU provides commercial cleaning Adelaide SA healthcare businesses rely on, from our base at 71 Alexandra Street, Prospect. We already clean medical centres, GP clinics and dental practices across Adelaide.

• Clinic cleaning experience across medical, GP and dental practices
• Colour coded cleaning to prevent cross contamination
• GECA certified, low toxicity products, with fragrance free options
• After hours cleaning around surgery and late appointments
• Written records and safety data sheets
• $20 million public liability insurance
• Free on site assessment and fixed written pricing
• Quality inspections and reporting after every visit

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should a vet clinic be cleaned?
Consult tables and accidents should be cleaned straight away by staff, with a full professional clean after hours every working day.

How do I get rid of urine smell in a vet clinic?
Clean accidents immediately with an enzyme cleaner, scrub grout and floor joints regularly and keep drains and vents clean.

Do cleaners handle clinical waste?
No. Clinical waste and sharps should be handled by clinic staff and collected by a specialist waste contractor.

Who cleans the surgery?
Usually clinic staff, following the clinic’s clinical procedures. Cleaners may handle floors or general areas if agreed.

Are cleaning products safe around animals?
Many are when used as the label directs. Follow dilution, contact time and rinsing instructions, and have your vet team approve products for clinical areas.

What flooring is easiest to keep clean in a vet clinic?
Hard, sealed flooring is usually easier to clean and keep odour free than carpet.

Keep Your Clinic Fresh for Every Patient

Ms Clean AU helps Adelaide vet clinics stay clean, fresh and welcoming for pets and their owners. We start with a free site assessment and give you a fixed written price.

Call 0480 321 027 or email service@msclean.au for your free quote.
Ms Clean AU, 71 Alexandra Street, Prospect SA 5082