With the warm summer months flying by, schools will soon be filling up again with teachers, students and staff. That’s why these quiet Summer months are the perfect time for educational facilities to conduct a thorough back to school cleaning. Get your educational facility ready for the school year with these cleaning tips from the experts at Janitors Supply.
Ensure Janitors Have Routine Checklists.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), regular cleaning and disinfecting can help prevent infectious diseases like the flu from spreading throughout the school. If your janitorial crew can help students and staff members from getting sick by following strict cleaning regimens, you may even see an increase in attendance.
If you use your own janitorial staff, consider using the months leading into a new school year to plan and develop a cleaning schedule for the crew to follow. If you outsource a janitorial staff, it’s likely that their regimens already include the necessary steps to eliminating germs, dirt and debris from all classroom surfaces.
Clean And Disinfect High-Touch Items Within A Classroom.
Desks, chairs and other classroom materials that will be used most often should be disinfected before the students arrive to help reduce the spread of germs. Wipe down tabletops, doorknobs, whiteboards and other items that will be regularly used by the staff and students.
Clean And Disinfect Other Areas Of The School.
Certain areas of a school are more conducive to the spread of germs and bacteria. High-touch areas like restrooms, gyms, changing rooms and cafeterias should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before school begins.
Identify Safe Cleaning Products.
When cleaning schools, it is important to remember that the facility is going to be used by many people, some of which may be sensitive to strong products. Make sure that when you buy cleaning products for your back-to-school cleaning, you only choose products that are safe for people of all ages. Then, ensure that all staff members who will be using these cleaning products read and understand all instruction labels and safety precautions before use.
SCHOOL CLASSROOM CLEANING CHECKLIST
As a teacher, you do your best to create a healthy, friendly learning environment for your students. Part of your unwritten responsibilities includes keeping your classroom clean to reduce the risk of germs and bacteria from spreading, especially during flu season. According to the CDC, there are some things you can do to stop the spread of illnesses in your classroom. With their tips in mind, we've put together a classroom cleaning checklist to help you keep your space tidy, organized and healthy for your students.
Tips For An Everyday Clean Classroom
While it can seem like the work of keeping a classroom fully cleaned and disinfected is never finished, there are some quick and simple tasks you can do throughout the day to reduce the spread of germs. Some preventative measures you can take every day to limit your and your kids' exposure to germs include the following:
- Wipe down high-touch surfaces with a combination cleaner and disinfectant regularly. Some areas may include desks, doorknobs, community school supplies and more.
- Keep hand sanitizer, tissues and cleaning wipes handy for you and your students to use throughout the day.
- Utilize no-touch trash cans in your classroom to minimize exposure to bacteria and germs.
- If you feel sick, stay home.
- If a student looks or feels sick, encourage them to see the school nurse and stay home until all contagious germs are gone.
Weekly Classroom Cleaning Checklist
Several areas in a classroom can become breeding grounds for germs. Books, desks, whiteboards, shared supplies and even toys can become infected within seconds. To help keep germs to a minimum, use this classroom cleaning checklist in your room at least weekly:
- Disinfect high-touch areas. Desks, chairs, door handles and play areas should be cleaned first.
- Use cleaning wipes for electronics. Computer keyboards, phones and items like iPads used in classrooms require regular cleaning to minimize germs.
- Clean the floors. Carpets and hard surfaces like linoleum are magnets for germs, especially in high-traffic areas like rooms, gymnasiums and cafeterias. Find out if your janitorial crew already does this step during their regular cleaning regimen.
- Dispose of waste in a timely manner. Cloths or towels used for cleaning should be washed or disposed of immediately. When emptying trash cans, avoid touching used tissues or other waste that can transfer germs onto your skin. Wash your hands immediately after disposing of waste to avoid the spread of pathogens.