Funeral Home Prep Room Checklist: A Daily, Weekly & Monthly Guide to a Ready Embalming Room

Hilton Funeral Supply has worked with funeral professionals nationwide since 1992. This checklist is built around the daily, weekly, and monthly rhythm most prep rooms follow — organized against Hilton's Prep Room Readiness Standard (Hilton's own internal quality framework, not an industry or regulatory standard), which weighs four factors:

• Load Integrity — Tables, lifts, racks, and coolers can safely handle the current case load.

• Sanitation Access — Disinfectants, sharps handling, and cleaning supplies stay within reach and current.

• Workflow Fit — Instruments and machines match how the room is actually used each day.

• Service Continuity — Stock levels and equipment condition support back-to-back cases without delay.

Prep Room Checklist at a Glance

Each case day starts with a PPE and embalming-chemical check, instrument inspection, machine verification, sanitation supply confirmation, and identification/authorization review. Each week adds deeper maintenance. Each month closes the loop with a full inventory count so reordering happens before anything runs low.

Daily Prep Room Checklist

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Confirm adequate PPE stock before every case. Hilton's Prep Room Protection category carries PPE selected for mortuary use:

• Microflex SafeGrip gloves and Diamond Grip latex gloves (also available through Hilton's full gloves category)

• Disposable gowns and disposable aprons

• Sleeve protectors

• Face shields and safety glasses

• Formaldehyde respirator masks fitted with organic-vapor cartridges per the facility's respiratory protection program

• Disposable shoe covers

• Bouffant Caps (hair covers)

Embalming Chemicals

Check chemical inventory before the day's first case. Hilton carries the full Champion product line:

• Primary arterial fluids — Champion arterial fluids including Adibalm CPF 25 and LEX CPF 21

• Cavity fluids — Champion cavity fluids including Cavity-N CPF 28

• Reduced-exposure fluids — Champion's PK CPF-20 and the broader Reduced Exposure Fluids line cut formaldehyde exposure by up to 65% arterially

• Formaldehyde-free options — Champion's Millenium New Era line uses zero formaldehyde

• Green embalming — Champion's ENIGMA Ecobalming line is the only full Green Burial Council–approved embalming system

• Co-injection chemicals, humectants, and Ph-A water conditioner — available through Hilton's Champion Accessory Additives category

• Cosmetic dyes and coloring additives

• Derma Bild Tissue Builder and Derma Bild Solvent  

• Autopsy chemicals — Champion's autopsy kits are available through Hilton's Champion Kits category

• Surface packs and gels (New Era Gel)

• Odor control products (Omega Decomp Factor and similar products available through Hilton's Prep Room category)

For a deeper look at how Champion's four generations of chemistry compare, see: Choosing the Best Embalming Fluid: Why Hilton Funeral Supply Recommends Champion.

Embalming Instruments

Inspect all instruments for cleanliness and proper function before use:

• Arterial tubes and drain tubes

• Aneurysm hooks

• Forceps

• Disposable scalpels, scalpel blades (#22), and scalpel handles (#4)

• Scissors

• Trocars, trocar buttons (Snip Tip), and trocar buttons (Multi-Closure)

• Needle injectors and injector needles

• Magnetic hose holder or suction cup hose holder

• Suture needles

• Aspirator tubing

Replace damaged or worn instruments immediately. Hilton's full Prep Room Products category carries replacement instruments and accessories.

Machine & Equipment Inspection

Verify all major equipment is functioning properly each day:

• Embalming machine (check pressure, flow, and hose integrity)

• Hydro aspirator / water control unit — Hilton carries the Mobi Water Control Unit through its Mobi Medical category

• Sink sprayer and water supply

• Hot water heater

• Drainage system and prep table drainage

• Ventilation system (OSHA recommends 10–12 air changes per hour in preparation rooms)

• Overhead lighting and electrical outlets

• Air compressor (if applicable)

• Embalming station or MOBI Flushing Embalming Station

Hilton supplies the MOBI Oversized Hydraulic Embalming Table, the MOBI HD Stainless Steel Multi-Height Embalming Table, and MOBI roller racks in 3-tier multi-directional, 4-tier multi-directional, 3-tier side-loading, and 3-tier end-loading configurations.

Sanitation Supplies

Sanitation protects staff and every case that follows. Confirm adequate stock daily:

• Surface disinfectant and Instrument Cleaner — Wavicide-01 (high-level disinfectant for instruments and hard surfaces)

• Floor cleaner — Spill Guard (floor cleaner and deodorizer formulated for preparation rooms)

• Surgical Soap

• Biohazard bags

• Puncture-resistant sharps containers

• Paper towels and hand sanitizer

Cavity Treatment Supplies

Cavity work draws on its own supply line. Check it separately from arterial stock:

• Trocars, trocar buttons (Snip Tip), and trocar buttons (Multi-Closure)

• Cavity injectors 

• Cavity fluid (standard and reduced-exposure options)

• Aspiration tubing

• Cavity packs

Cosmetics & Restoration Supplies

For restorative and feature-setting work, verify availability of:

• Feature-setting supplies — available through Hilton's Mortuary Cosmetics category (cosmetic brushes, cover cremes, tints, and applicators)

• Oculist Eye Caps and Clear Perfection Eye Caps

• Expression Mouth Formers

• Cotton Rolls

• Plastic Surgery Restorative Wax

• Airbrush supplies

• Aron Alpha adhesive

• Feature Tissue Builder and Feature Builder Solvent

• Coloring agents and cosmetic dyes

• Skin Seal, Seal-O-Tite, Restore Skin, and Sta-Seal Sealing Powder

• Lanolin Spray and Velva Massage Cream for skin conditioning

• Dry Hair Cleaner

Removal & Handling Equipment

Check all transportation equipment before it's needed for a call:

• Mortuary Stretchers and Cots (MOBI F650 PRO)

• Church trucks (multiple styles and finishes available)

• Electric Body Casket Lift

• Stainless steel body trays and transfer boards

• Body pouches — Standard Body Bag, Medium Density Body Bag, and Disaster Pouch

• Mortuary Plastics — unionalls, mortuary stockings, and garment covers

• Disposable sheets

• Stretcher straps

Inspect wheels and locking mechanisms on every piece of rolling equipment.

Identification & Documentation

Before beginning every case:

• Verify ID Bands

• Confirm authorization paperwork

• Review embalming instructions

• Record chemical usage

• Complete the prep room log

Documentation protects the funeral home as much as the family. It is often the first category reviewed during a state inspection.

Weekly Prep Room Inspection

Once each week, go beyond the daily check:

• Deep clean prep tables and work surfaces

• Flush aspirator lines

• Clean ventilation grilles

• Test the eyewash station (placement and testing frequency are guided by ANSI Z358.1)

• Inspect plumbing for leaks

• Lubricate moving equipment

• Sharpen reusable instruments

• Review inventory levels across all supply categories

• Dispose of expired chemicals per the product's safety data sheet

Monthly Inventory Checklist

Perform a complete inventory count once a month:

• Embalming fluids (arterial, cavity, reduced-exposure, and formaldehyde-free)

• PPE (gloves, gowns, respirators, face shields, shoe covers)

• Disposable supplies

• Restoration products and mortuary cosmetics

• Instruments (needle injectors, scalpels, trocar buttons)

• Sanitation, Neutralization, and Embalming products: (Wavicide, Spill Guard, Hexaphene)

Hilton's full Champion catalog and prep room equipment catalog are organized by category to simplify restocking.

Why Every Funeral Home Needs a Standardized Prep Room Checklist

A written checklist helps a funeral home:

• Reduce forgotten supplies

• Improve staff consistency across shifts

• Speed up case preparation

• Stay organized between cases

• Prepare for state inspections

• Control inventory costs

• Improve workplace safety

Whether a funeral home performs one embalming a week or several a day, consistency leads to better outcomes.

Where OSHA Standards Fit Into a Prep Room Routine

• Bloodborne Pathogens (29 CFR 1910.1030) — Governs PPE selection, sharps handling, and biohazard waste disposal.

• Formaldehyde (29 CFR 1910.1048) — Sets the PEL of 0.75 ppm (8-hour TWA) and STEL of 2 ppm over 15 minutes. Informs ventilation planning and respirator selection.

State rules vary by jurisdiction. For funeral homes looking to reduce formaldehyde exposure through chemistry, Hilton carries Champion's PK CPF-20, the Reduced Exposure Fluids line, and the Formaldehyde-Free Millenium New Era line.

Hilton Funeral Supply Can Help

Hilton Funeral Supply carries everything needed to stock a modern prep room:

• Champion arterial fluids — traditional, reduced-exposure, formaldehyde-free, and Green Burial Council–approved Ecobalming

• Champion cavity fluids

• Accessory additives (co-injection chemicals, humectants, water conditioners), cosmetic dyes, prep supplies, and kits

• PPE and prep room protection — gloves, gowns, respirators, shoe covers, and more

• Prep room products — instruments, liquids, sealants, and supplies

• Mortuary cosmetics — cover cremes, tints, and restorative products

• Mortuary equipment — MOBI embalming tables, stations, roller racks, stretchers, and church trucks

• Mortuary plastics — body pouches, unionalls, and garment covers

Call 800-433-8878 or browse the full prep room and mortuary equipment catalog.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should a funeral home restock its prep room?

Most prep rooms check consumables like PPE, gloves, and cotton daily. Chemical and cavity supply levels are reviewed weekly. A full inventory count once a month catches anything that fell through.

What PPE does a prep room need for embalming?

Disposable nitrile or latex gloves, a protective gown or apron, sleeve protectors, a face shield or safety glasses, shoe covers, bouffant caps, and a formaldehyde respirator with organic-vapor cartridges.

What are reduced-exposure embalming fluids?

Reduced-exposure fluids like Champion's PK CPF-20 cut formaldehyde exposure by up to 65% arterially. Hilton carries the full Reduced Exposure Fluids line and the Formaldehyde-Free Millenium New Era line for zero-formaldehyde options.

Does following this checklist satisfy state inspection requirements?

Not on its own. This checklist helps funeral homes audit readiness against common categories. Specific requirements vary by state.

How should expired embalming chemicals be handled?

Flag them during the weekly or monthly review. Dispose of them per the product's safety data sheet and the funeral home's hazardous waste procedures.

What is the difference between arterial and cavity fluids on a checklist?

Arterial fluid supports vascular embalming. Cavity fluid treats internal organs and cavities separately. Both categories are worth checking independently.

What disinfectants and safety chemicals should a prep room have?

Wavicide-01 is a high-level disinfectant carried by Hilton. Spill Guard neutralizes formaldehyde spills. 

Where can a funeral home source prep room supplies?

Hilton Funeral Supply carries Champion embalming chemicals, PPE, instruments and prep room products, mortuary equipment, mortuary cosmetics, and mortuary plastics. Browse the full catalog or call 800-433-8878.

About the authors: 

Written by Conner Patten, Customer Outreach at Hilton Funeral Supply. Hilton Funeral Supply has served funeral professionals since 1992, and this article is based on industry best practices, manufacturer documentation, and publicly available regulatory resources to help funeral homes make informed purchasing and operational decisions.

About Jason Weir: Jason Weir is Vice President of Hilton Funeral Supply and a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer. He has extensive experience working with funeral homes on embalming supplies, preparation room equipment, and operational solutions. His expertise helps Hilton Funeral Supply provide practical guidance and products that support funeral professionals across the United States.