Many people assume that once a cleanroom is built, the job is done. In reality, what determines success or failure over time is what happens afterward. Cleanroom maintenance is not basic housekeeping—it is a long-term, risk-driven management system built around standards, engineering controls, and operational discipline.
As a professional cleanroom engineering provider, Wonclean uses this guide to explain what cleanroom maintenance really means and why it matters.

What Is Cleanroom Maintenance—and Why Is It Different from Regular Cleaning?

The goal of regular cleaning is simple: make a space look clean.
The goal of cleanroom maintenance is very different: maintain continuous environmental control.

Key differences include:

• Different control targets: focus on airborne particles and microorganisms, not visible dirt
• Standards-driven execution: all actions follow ISO 14644, GMP, USP, and related regulations
• Higher risk level: improper cleaning can lead to contamination, batch rejection, or regulatory penalties

In real-world facilities, cleanroom maintenance functions as an ongoing clean room process, not a one-time task.

Where Does Contamination Come From?

Based on Wonclean’s project experience, contamination sources fall into four main categories:

Primary Contamination Sources

• Personnel (>80%): skin flakes, hair, oils, respiratory aerosols
• External introduction: materials, tools, unclean equipment
• Internal generation: equipment wear, material aging
• Cleaning itself: shedding wipes, incompatible chemicals

This is why training, procedure control, and proper tools are essential parts of any cleanroom program.

Core Principles of a Standardized Cleaning SOP

A compliant cleanroom maintenance program always starts with a clear and enforceable SOP.

Four Golden Rules of Cleanroom Cleaning

• Top to bottom, clean to dirty
• Unidirectional movement—no backtracking
• Clean first, then disinfect (observe required contact time)
• Dedicated tools by area, with color coding to prevent cross-contamination

These principles apply to all cleanroom classes, with increasing strictness at higher grades.

A Step-by-Step Cleanroom Cleaning Example

Many facility managers ask questions similar to how to clean your room step by step. Below is a typical workflow:

Three-Stage Cleaning Process

Stage 1: Preparation

Personnel complete gowning procedures

Approved wipes, disinfectants, and HEPA vacuums are prepared

Non-fixed items are removed

Stage 2: Execution

Ceiling and air diffusers → walls → equipment → work surfaces → floors

Overlapping “S-pattern” wiping with frequent wipe folding

Floors cleaned dry first, then wet-disinfected

Stage 3: Recovery

Visual inspection under proper lighting

Used materials sealed and removed

HVAC recovery time observed and documented

This structured approach defines true cleanroom cleaning, not casual sanitation.

Beyond Daily Cleaning: How to Plan Maintenance Frequency

Effective cleanroom maintenance is layered, not repetitive.

This structured schedule supports long-term compliance and system stability.

The Human Factor: How Far Can Your Cleanroom Really Go?

In nearly every investigation, human behavior plays a critical role.

Wonclean’s Three Key Focus Areas

• Mandatory training: onboarding plus annual refreshers
• Clear documentation: SOPs, logs, audit trails
• Quality culture: encourage reporting issues rather than hiding them

Stable cleanroom performance is built on shared discipline, not individual experience.

Conclusion

In summary, cleanroom maintenance is a system-level discipline spanning design, operation, training, and management.
It determines whether a cleanroom remains compliant over time and directly impacts product quality and corporate credibility.

Wonclean’s role is not simply to help you “clean better,” but to help you build a sustainable, auditable, and repeatable cleanroom maintenance system.
If you are optimizing operations or preparing for stricter audits, we are ready to support you with a structured, engineering-driven approach.