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As schools across the nation begin to reopen, disinfecting and keeping them safe for students and staff is a top priority. Whether your school is headed back in person or you’re continuing with remote learning, it’s essential to ensure that the environment in which you are teaching and learning remains disinfected at all times.
This guide will provide critical insights into disinfecting strategies, resources from experts, and tips on how to keep your educational environment as safe as possible.
Keeping schools clean and safe is no small task. The average school has more than 200 different locations, each with its own set of challenges. Keeping the common areas tidy and sanitized requires substantial time, money, and effort — but it’s worth it to protect students and staff from potential pathogens.
Understandably, many people might assume that disinfecting a school is an easy task. After all, most people associate sterilization with hospitals, not educational facilities. But as we’ll explain in this article, several factors make keeping schools tidy challenging and quite different from other commercial or residential buildings.
In this article, you’ll learn about the most important things you need to know about disinfecting a school. From the benefits of hiring a professional cleaning company to tips on how to integrate green solutions into your everyday routine so that you don’t burn out from all the cleaning— this article has something for everyone!
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of disinfecting practices in a school, let’s refresh our memories about what disinfection is! Disinfection is the process of eliminating pathogens from something. It’s different from sterilization, which is getting rid of all microbes. In short, disinfection is to kill germs while sterilization is to destroy all life forms.
Although disinfecting a school can seem overwhelming, keeping students and staff healthy is essential. By decreasing the risk of contracting a disease, you can keep everyone focused on their studies — and out of the doctor’s office!
Routine cleaning imposed by school administrators should focus on disinfecting high-touch surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, and desktops. This should be done regularly — ideally daily — to maintain a healthy environment. Regular disinfection also prevents the build-up of bacteria over time.
This is a crucial question and one that many people might not even think about. Why is it essential to disinfect a school? After all, people who go to school are likely healthy. Well, yes and no. Most people who attend school are healthy — but that doesn’t mean they all stay that way!
For example, a prevalent way that germs spread is through coughing, sneezing, or touching surfaces that other people then touch. This is very common among children and can often result in things like colds and the flu. Schools bring together lots of people — and lots of germs!
Everyone contributes to the spread of germs, from the students to the teachers and staff, the cafeteria workers and the janitors, and even the books and materials inside the classroom. Disinfecting a school daily helps keep these germs at bay.
By disinfecting surfaces that people have touched, you can decrease the risk of contracting an illness and will necessarily kill germs. You may not be able to prevent all diseases, but you can certainly lower the risk!
Professional cleaning refers to cleaning services provided by a cleaning company rather than an employee of the organization. Professional cleaning companies have trained, knowledgeable staff members who specialize in cleaning.
Many companies provide additional cleaning-related services, such as safety and disinfection, pest control, and janitorial services. Professional cleaning services can help improve the quality of a school’s cleaning efforts, as well as the health and well-being of students.
Professional cleaning services can be tailored to meet the specific needs of each school, including the cleaning hours, type of cleaning chemicals used, number of cleaning staff members, and frequency of cleaning.
Disinfecting a school isn’t just about ensuring that every surface is clean enough to eat off. It’s about protecting the health of both students and staff. While it’s true that many people have their own cleaning regimens at home, cleaning schools isn’t quite like cleaning your living room.
Most schools have several common areas, each of which has unique challenges. Cleaning a cafeteria is different from cleaning a classroom, and both of these are different from cleaning an office or a hallway.
Cleaning a school involves so many different parts and rooms that it’s no wonder many people outsource the cleaning to a professional company.
By hiring a commercial cleaning company, you not only get a professional clean, but you also get the assurance that the people who work in your school have been appropriately trained to handle potentially infectious materials without posing a risk to others.
A clean, safe, and healthy environment are essential for students to learn and thrive. Professional cleaning services can play a significant role in providing this environment for students in schools.
Not only can professional cleaning help maintain a hygienic environment, but it can also improve students' overall health and well-being. Professional cleaning services can help reduce the spread of germs and illnesses, enhance the quality of air, and provide a more pleasant learning environment.
Additionally, professional cleaning services can help reduce the time and resources spent on cleaning, allowing schools to focus on providing the best educational experience possible.
A lack of hygiene and sanitary practices can adversely affect students' health. Poor hygiene can spread germs and illnesses such as the common cold, influenza, and the flu.
The flu is especially dangerous for students, as it can harm younger children. A flu infection can last up to 10 days, and students who are sick are less likely to perform well in school. When it comes to hygiene practices, schools can help reduce the spread of germs and illnesses by implementing a clean-as-you-go policy.
Additionally, schools can encourage their students to practice good hygiene, such as frequent hand washing, sneezing and coughing into sanitary tissues, and covering coughs and sneezes.
Schools can also benefit from professional cleaning services as they can reduce the spread of germs and illnesses by thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting surfaces, floors, and other items in the school.
Air quality plays a vital role in students' overall health and well-being. Poor air quality can adversely affect children’s health, such as respiratory problems, allergies, and asthma.
Schools should encourage students to keep windows and doors closed to improve air quality. Schools can also reduce the amount of indoor air pollution from household items, such as cleaning chemicals, dust, and odors.
Cleanliness is essential for a school’s success, but it can be time-consuming. There are daily cleaning tasks and special cleaning needs that arise from time to time, such as student projects, sports events, and other activities.
Schools can reduce the time and resources spent on cleaning by hiring a professional cleaning service. This allows schools to focus on their primary mission of educating students, rather than spending time on cleaning.
The amount of time spent on cleaning and maintaining a school can vary, depending on the size and condition of the school, the type of building, and the cleaning methods used.
Killing germs and bacteria is not the only benefit of having a clean school. A clean and well-maintained school is also more pleasant for students, staff, and visitors. A clean school can improve the morale of students and staff, as it shows that the school cares about its appearance and its people.
Students who attend schools with clean, hygienic environments are likely to be healthier and happier, which can benefit their learning experience. By hiring a professional cleaning service, schools can help create a more pleasant learning environment for their students.
Schools can also improve their indoor air quality and create a more pleasant learning environment by reducing indoor air pollution from household items, such as cleaning chemicals and dust.
Teachers are likely to be more productive and enthusiastic if they work in a clean, hygienic environment. Teachers and staff members can risk contracting the same illnesses as students if proper cleaning methods are not implemented.
Teachers who are sick are likely to be less productive, which can affect the students. Schools can help ensure that their teachers and staff members are healthy and productive by hiring a professional cleaning service.
Professional cleaning services can effectively kill germs, help reduce the spread of germs and illnesses and provide a more pleasant cleaning environment.
Schools can create a better learning experience for their students by hiring a professional cleaning service. Teaching environments with clean, hygienic conditions can help students focus on the lesson. This can be especially beneficial for younger students who may not be able to clean up after themselves.
Body fluids, food, and other debris can be quickly and easily removed with the help of a professional cleaning service. This allows students to have an enjoyable learning experience without worrying about germs or bacteria. Washing hands is one of the most critical steps for preventing illnesses and maintaining good hygiene, so having access to disinfectants will benefit students.
Teaching environments with a lower risk of contracting illnesses can also help students feel comfortable, benefiting younger students and those with allergies, asthma, or other illnesses.
Parents often worry about their children attending school. They may be concerned about germs, illnesses, and the quality of the school environment. Teaching environments with poor hygiene often result in parents having to take their sick children to the doctor.
This can be inconvenient and expensive, as parents may need to take time off work to drive their children to the doctor. By hiring a professional cleaning service, schools can help eliminate parents’ concerns about the cleanliness of their children’s schools.
Schools can benefit from professional cleaning services in many ways. Professional cleaning services can help improve hygiene, reduce the spread of germs and illnesses, improve air quality, reduce the time and resources spent on cleaning, create a more pleasant learning environment, and provide a healthier and more productive teaching staff.
Additionally, hiring a professional cleaning service can help schools create a more pleasant learning environment for students and parents and reduce their worry about the cleanliness of the school.
As you can see, disinfecting a school has many benefits. But what are the best ways to do it? The best way to keep a school clean is to do it daily. Yes, every single day! You might be thinking: “How is it even possible to keep everything clean enough on a daily basis?”
Well, it’s not easy, but it’s definitely doable. Creating a checklist is the best way to start your daily cleaning regimen. On the checklist, list the essential tasks that you need to do on a daily basis. Make sure to include cleaning tasks from all the different areas in your school — from the classroom to the cafeteria!
Cleaning can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to school cleaning. With hundreds of children coming in and out of the building every day, it can be hard to track all the messes being made. But the truth is that having a great school cleaning routine can make the job much easier.
With these tips, school cleaning can be a breeze. From daily and weekly routines to helpful tools and supplies, these tips will have your school spic and span in no time. So please read on, and let us show you how to make school cleaning a breeze!
When it comes to school cleaning, the right tools are essential. Cleaning is easier when you have the right supplies at hand. Choose cleaning supplies that are appropriate for the areas you need to clean. Different materials make up various cleaning supplies, so it’s important to choose the suitable material for the job.
- Rubber - Rubber bristles are great for removing tough stains on tile, grout, and other porous surfaces.
- Sponge - A sponge is great for general-purpose cleaning. Look for sponges that are durable and easy to clean.
- Microfiber - Microfiber cloths are great for dusting and cleaning delicate items.
- Cotton - For delicate surfaces, like wood and painted walls, choose cotton. It’s also great for cleaning windows since it doesn’t leave any streaks.
- Wool - Wool mops are great for hardwood floors. They’re very absorbent, so they’re perfect for cleaning up spills.
- Natural Materials - Natural materials, like bamboo and hemp, are an excellent choice for eco-friendly cleaning. Disinfecting products should also be chosen carefully. Choose disinfectants that are approved by the EPA, and make sure they’re appropriate for the type of surfaces you’re disinfecting.
First, you’ll want to identify high-traffic areas in your school building. You can do this by looking for frequently touched or dirtied areas, such as door handles and desks.
There are many ways to reduce germs and bacteria in your school, but one of the best is to clean those high-traffic areas. To clean those areas, you’ll want to use a disinfecting solution, like a bleach and water mix, to kill germs and bacteria. You can also use a specialized disinfectant spray or wipes, which are great for cleaning a wide variety of surfaces.
You can also use these tools to clean above-the-head areas, like light fixtures and ceiling fans. These are areas that are often neglected, but they can accumulate germs and bacteria just like any other surface in the classroom!
Schools often have a lot of trash, especially lunch boxes and paper bags. This can create a lot of clutter and make it challenging to keep the school clean and organized. To combat this, you should implement a no-trash policy.
This means that you don’t allow students to throw away any trash. Instead, they should put it in a designated area, like a big box or a tray. This way, you can quickly and easily clean up any messes that are made without getting overwhelmed by trash.
Your disinfecting plans should also include a no-touch policy. Ensure students and staff are using disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizers after touching surfaces. And provide disinfectant spray for quick disinfection of high-traffic areas.
Teachers often take on all the cleaning duties in the classroom. This can be extremely time-consuming and sometimes lead to stress and other health issues.
Instead, please encourage students to do their part regarding school cleaning. This can range from picking up their trash to cleaning the desks and other surfaces in the classroom. This helps students learn responsibility while giving them more time to focus on other tasks.
It’s important to pick the right cleaning roles for your class. Students should clean the areas they make messes in so that desks and chairs stay clean. This differs from a janitorial service, a professional service used to clean large commercial or industrial buildings.
If your school is large enough, consider hiring a janitorial service. This helps you manage your cleaning responsibilities while getting your school spic and span.
One easy way to encourage student participation in school cleaning is to assign cleaning as part of their homework. This way, you get your classroom spic and span at the end of the day, and students get some extra practice with their cleaning skills.
This is a great way to get your students involved in the daily cleaning. You can assign specific areas to different students or let them choose where they want to help. This gives students more responsibility and ownership over their classroom. It’s also a great way to get them excited about cleaning.
Traditional cleaning products can harm humans and animals and pollute the environment. Using green cleaning products can make your school cleaning practices more environmentally friendly.
You can find eco-friendly cleaning products in almost any store, including online stores like Amazon. These products are made with less harmful ingredients, like plant-based cleaners, natural oils, and plant extracts.
These products are safe for humans and animals and can help reduce your carbon footprint. You can use them in the classroom and the rest of the building. This way, you can reduce your environmental impact while keeping your school clean.
Your school may have plenty of indoor areas to keep clean, but what about the outdoor areas? These areas are often neglected when it comes to cleaning, but they should be cleaned regularly, too.
When cleaning outside areas, you can use many of the same techniques for inside areas. You can use a broom and dustpan for sweeping dirt, leaves, and other debris from walks and sidewalks. You can also use a mop for cleaning hardwood stairs, walkways, and other outdoor surfaces.
You can also use outdoor cleaning tools to clean areas like picnic tables, benches, and playground equipment. It’s also a good idea to clean the gutters on the roof of your school building, as they can get clogged up with leaves and other debris.
Kid-related accidents happen, but that doesn’t mean you have to clean them up right away. For those, you’ll want to have an emergency clean-up plan ready to go. You can have a cleaning kit ready to go for these types of situations. This kit can contain items like paper towels, hand sanitizer, disinfectant, and trash bags.
It can be kept in a cabinet or drawer near the areas where accidents are most likely to happen, such as the bathroom, cafeteria, and playground. These items will help you quickly and easily clean up accidents and messes, preventing them from spreading.
Finally, you want to focus on high-touch surfaces. These include things like door handles, desks, and chairs. These are the areas that students most often touch, and they can quickly become dirty and germy.
Try to keep the desks and chairs clean. Many schools use a rolling desk system, which means that the student sits on a chair, and the desk is stored underneath. This is a great way to keep the desks clean, but you should also clean them regularly.
The same holds for door handles. You can use special wipes, sprays, or a particular cleaning product for cleaning door handles. This will keep them clean and free from germs.
First, cleaning and disinfecting your school can be difficult due to the size of many buildings and the number of people who use them daily. If manual disinfection isn't feasible due to budget constraints or time restrictions, then automating disinfection is the best way to go.
Automated disinfection systems use ultraviolet light technology to disinfect surfaces quickly and effectively without human intervention. These systems are also great for use in classrooms and staff spaces, as they have a smaller footprint than manual disinfecting methods.
In addition to automated disinfection, educational institutions should focus on implementing social distancing protocols within the classroom. This includes making sure that desks and chairs are spaced apart properly, limiting the number of people in any given room at one time, and providing face coverings for students and staff when they enter school grounds.
Sanitizing refers to the act of reducing or eliminating bacteria and other microbes. This can be achieved through the use of disinfectants. Disinfectants are chemicals that will kill bacteria. Soap and water can be used to sanitize and disinfect, although the latter is more effective.
Disinfecting should be done on areas where people come into contact with their hands, such as door handles, doorknobs, and railings. It is recommended to use a disinfecting spray or gel for these areas.
Ventilation is another crucial component of disinfecting schools safely. To reduce the risk of aerosol transmission of viruses, proper ventilation should be maintained at all times.
This includes ensuring that air filters are changed regularly, keeping windows open to allow fresh air circulation, and regularly disinfecting any HVAC systems.
Finally, it’s essential to ensure that everyone is educated on the proper disinfecting protocols before returning to school. Educating students, staff, and parents about how to disinfect correctly and why it’s necessary can help reduce the risk of disease transmission in schools.
Protective equipment while using disinfectant products is one of the most important aspects of disinfecting safely. Ensure everyone knows that wearing gloves and masks is a must when disinfecting and that any disinfectant products are kept out of reach of children.
Consider providing posters or brochures that explain disinfection procedures and safety guidelines for classrooms, bathrooms, common areas, and anywhere else people may be congregating during the school day.
While creating a cleaning checklist can help you get started with daily cleaning, some big-budget items can make the process even easier. Here are a few things that can make cleaning your school easier:
- Mopping machines - These help you to mop all the floors in your school thoroughly.
- Wiping machines - You can use these to wipe down desks, chairs, shelves, and other surfaces that need quick cleaning.
- Vacuum cleaners - These are beneficial for daily cleaning. You can use them to clean up after students and vacuum up dust on your floor.
Weekly cleaning is different from daily cleaning. You don’t need to clean as much weekly, but a few items should be part of your regular cleaning routine. Here are a few items that you should address weekly:
- Cleaning the floors - Dust and debris tend to build up on your floors each day. You should vacuum and mop your floors every week, especially in areas with lots of people walking around.
- Wiping down surfaces - You should wipe down desks, shelves, and other surfaces at least once a week.
- Cleaning the classrooms - By the end of the week, your classrooms will have collected quite a bit of dust and debris from students. It would be best if you cleaned the classrooms once a week.
The disease control measures to disinfect schools are just as important in common areas. Common areas, such as hallways and cafeterias, should be disinfected daily with disinfecting sprays or wipes.
As you’ll learn in the next few sections, there are many different areas in a school that require cleaning. There are also a few other challenges that come with disinfecting each room. The classroom is the first place where you’ll want to focus your clean-up efforts.
Many students study in the classroom, and teachers go over lesson plans. This makes the classroom a very important and sometimes delicate place.
If you clean your classroom too vigorously, you could damage the equipment inside the room. This could cause you to have to replace desks, bookshelves, and other important materials, which could be costly.
Poorly maintained and unclean premises can lead to the growth of bacteria and microbes, which can cause various health issues. This can affect students and staff in several ways, including respiratory conditions, stomach bugs, and skin infections.
Additionally, unclean premises can lead to reduced productivity and increased absenteeism. Grit and grime on doorknobs, desks, chairs, and other surfaces can cause infections and lead to staff absence due to contracting illnesses. It is important to reduce the risk of unclean school rooms and common areas wherever possible.
This will help to reduce the risk of students and staff contracting infections and other illnesses. Poor hygiene can also lead to the buildup of mold and mildew. In some cases, this can cause structural damage, such as the rotting of beams and floorboards.
The presence of harmful microorganisms and toxic molds can also affect air quality. This can lead to poor air quality, especially in some areas, such as the restrooms. Poor air quality can make students and staff feel unwell and reduce productivity.
Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms found everywhere, including inside and outside school buildings. They are on many surfaces, including desks, chairs, door handles, and floors.
Bacteria thrive in unclean and unhygienic environments and can cause various illnesses. They are the main cause of infections, such as the common cold, food poisoning, and urinary tract infections. Bacteria are extremely difficult to eradicate and can take time to die off even with the use of cleaning products. Similarly, viruses are a type of pathogen.
They are extremely small and hard to detect, making it challenging to eradicate them. Viruses exist in almost all areas and substances, including desks, chairs, and door handles. They are responsible for various illnesses like the common cold, the flu, and stomach bugs.
As mentioned, unclean school rooms and common areas can lead to many potential health issues. Some of these include respiratory conditions, stomach bugs, and skin infections.
Respiratory conditions, such as the common cold, are caused by bacteria and viruses. These can be transmitted through contact with contaminated surfaces, such as doorknobs.
Stomach bugs, such as food poisoning and norovirus, are caused by bacteria. These can be found on many surfaces, including desks, chairs, and door handles. Bacteria can also cause skin infections, such as impetigo, a common infection among children.
School rooms and common areas are recommended to be cleaned and sanitized once a week. This is the minimum frequency recommended for cleaning and should be done thoroughly. The frequency of cleaning should increase following the level of dirt and grime present.
School rooms should be cleaned thoroughly after each break. This includes wiping down desks, chairs, and other surfaces and removing any debris, such as crumbs, from the floor. Common areas should be cleaned as they are used. This includes cleaning doorknobs and handrails after each use.
Schools should consider using microfiber cloths for cleaning, as they are very effective. They can clean various surfaces, including desks, chairs, and even walls. Microfiber cloths are highly absorbent, making them suitable for cleaning surfaces, such as blackboards, which are difficult to clean.
Microfiber cloths are also reusable, making them cost-effective. Schools should have a designated cleaning area. This will make it easier to organize cleaning supplies and ensure that chemicals, such as disinfectants, are stored safely.
Carpets are an excellent way to reduce the risk of slips and falls associated with unclean surfaces. However, they also need to be cleaned regularly.
Common areas and public spaces are areas that many people, such as the library and cafeteria, use. These are places that need to be cleaned thoroughly and regularly.
As such, common areas are potential breeding grounds for bacteria and other harmful microorganisms. This can lead to the spread of infection and result in reduced productivity.
Thankfully, there are several ways to reduce the risk of unclean common areas. This includes disinfecting sprays and wipes on door handles, railings, and other commonly touched areas.
Regular maintenance and cleaning are essential to keeping school rooms and common areas clean. This is even more important than cleaning weekly, as it should be done daily. This can be challenging in some cases, but it is important to prioritize it.
Regular maintenance includes cleaning, mopping, vacuuming, and removing debris, such as crumbs, from the floor. It is recommended to use a vacuum with a Hepa filter or HEPA vacuum to reduce the risk of spreading bacteria and other microbes.
Schools should consider the use of water-based cleaning products, as they are less likely to cause damage to floors and other surfaces. Similarly, they are less likely to leave behind a residue that can be difficult to remove.
Schools are places of learning, but they are also environments that need to be kept clean and hygienic to prevent the spread of disease and maintain a healthy environment for students and staff.
Unclean school rooms and common areas can lead to potential health issues, including respiratory conditions, stomach bugs, and skin infections.
Bacteria and viruses are the main cause of these illnesses, which can be reduced through disinfectants and sanitizers. Regular maintenance and cleaning are essential to keeping school rooms and common areas clean and healthy.
As you’ve learned throughout this article, many different things must be done to disinfect a school. You can’t do it all in one massive cleaning session; you must regularly clean your school.
But how do you stay on top of everything? What’s the best way to stay organized while also keeping your school clean? Well, there are several ways you can stay organized while disinfecting a school.
- Create a cleaning checklist - You should create a checklist that lists everything you need to do daily.
- Use a calendar - Keep a calendar nearby to mark the days you’ve completed cleaning certain items.
- Get help - If you’re struggling to keep up with regular cleaning, consider hiring a cleaning service.
Disinfecting a school requires dedication and a lot of energy. It’s something that you can’t really do half-heartedly. You have to be committed to regularly cleaning every nook and cranny of your school.
That said, it’s important to remember that you don’t need to do it all by yourself. You can set up a cleaning schedule with other teachers, staff members, or administrators so that everyone is pitching in.
You can also use cleaning tools like mops, vacuums, and cleaning machines to help you clean faster. And don’t forget to use cleaning supplies that kill germs — like disinfectant sprays!
By following these steps you can help keep your school disinfected and safe from COVID-19 and other illnesses. With the right disinfecting protocols in place, everyone can feel secure knowing that their learning environment is as safe as possible.
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