As students prepare to return to school, ensuring that classrooms and common areas are clean and safe becomes a top priority. Schools should be places where children and staff feel secure, and achieving this requires special attention to cleaning practices.
School cleaning services play a crucial role in maintaining hygienic environments. During the COVID-19 pandemic, specific cleaning standards and guidelines were introduced, which remain valuable for ensuring health and safety in educational spaces.
Let’s explore the tools and techniques necessary to create a safe and clean learning environment.
School Cleaning: Key Considerations
Educational facilities, from elementary schools to colleges, can quickly become messy. Understanding the distinction between cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing is essential:
Cleaning: Physically removes germs, dirt, and impurities using soap and water. While it doesn't kill germs, it lowers their numbers.
Disinfecting: Uses chemicals to kill germs on surfaces and objects, effectively reducing the risk of infection.
Sanitising: Lowers the number of germs on surfaces or objects by cleaning or disinfecting.
Each of these steps is critical for breaking the chain of infection and promoting health in schools.
Essential Tools for School Cleaning
To effectively clean schools, custodial staff need high-quality tools. Here are the basics:
Waste and recycling receptacles: Durable containers for daily trash collection and recycling.
Microfiber cloths: Ideal for removing dust and 99.9% of microbes from desks, tables, and other surfaces.
Dust and wet mops: For thorough cleaning of floors, starting with a dust mop and finishing with a wet mop for a polished look.
"Closed for cleaning" signs: Essential for restroom safety during and after cleaning to prevent accidents on wet floors.
With the right equipment, cleaning teams can ensure a thorough and effective cleaning process.
Cleaning Techniques for Different School Areas
Floors
For carpets, use an industrial-strength vacuum with overlapping strokes. Treat stains with spot cleaner as needed.
For tiled floors, sweep debris, then use a dust mop to pick up finer particles. Follow with a wet mop using diluted cleaning solution, moving in a figure-8 motion to avoid cross-contamination.
Surfaces
Disinfect desks, chairs, and other high-touch areas like door handles and light switches with a microfiber cloth and disinfectant spray. Clean in a figure-8 motion to maintain hygiene and polish metal fixtures for a finishing touch.
Waste Disposal
Empty trash and recycling bins daily, replacing liners and disinfecting the bins and surrounding areas to maintain cleanliness.
The Importance of a Clean School Environment
A clean school does more than improve hygiene—it enhances student success. Fewer germs mean fewer sick days, which leads to better attendance, improved academic performance, and higher graduation rates. Additionally, clean environments can improve focus and reduce distractions, contributing to better mental health for students and staff alike.
By prioritising enhanced cleaning practices, schools can create an environment where students thrive academically and emotionally.