As this post is being written, we can confidently say that the dog days of summer are behind us. We are nearing the end of summer 2023. We all know what that means: it’s time to start thinking about going back to school. If you operate a private school or large daycare center, it also means cleaning.
Schools and daycare centers need to think about back-to-school cleaning from two angles. First is preparing the facility to receive students in a few short weeks. Second is maintaining a clean facility throughout the coming school year. The last thing administrators want is a dirty facility that promotes the spreading of germs.
Private schools and large daycare centers are among the various types of facilities we clean. We would be happy to take a look at your facility and provide a no obligation quote. In the meantime, we have some suggestions for getting ahead of the cleaning in advance of students returning to school.
Clean and Disinfect
It is probably a safe bet that most private schools and daycare centers conducted a deep clean at the end of the last school year. That’s pretty standard. Since then, spot and surface cleaning have been the norm. But in advance of the new school year, it is time to go back and clean and disinfect.
High traffic areas with a propensity for spreading germs should be high on the list. This includes cafeterias and washrooms. Any high touch items or areas within individual classrooms are also good targets for cleaning and disinfecting. The idea is to give all high risk areas one last cleaning and disinfection before students return.
Limit Future Contamination
Following a thorough cleaning and disinfecting of your facility, staff should do their best to limit future contamination. There is no point in doing a thorough cleaning and then allowing dirt, debris, and germs back into the building.
Staff should be reminded about tracking dirt into the facility. When minor spills and messes do occur, they should be cleaned up immediately. As for staff washrooms, daily surface cleaning and disinfecting remains a priority.
Establish a Cleaning Calendar for the Year
Administrators expect the janitorial staff to keep the facility clean and tidy. Without a bit of direction though, the results may be less than expected. One way to make sure the janitorial staff stays on task is to establish a cleaning calendar for the entire year. Every cleaning task can be laid out on the calendar according to when it needs to be done.
Daily tasks, like cleaning the washrooms and cafeteria, can be scheduled at specific times in order to set a routine. Once a cleaning routine is established, it is easier for janitorial staff to manage their time so that everything gets done.
Stock Up on Cleaning Supplies
Once the school year starts, you are going to have a lot on your plate. You don’t need any worries associated with cleaning supplies. So stock up now. If you don’t have a regular supplier, now is the time to find one and establish a relationship. It is also a good idea to give someone on the janitorial staff the responsibility of inventorying and ordering new supplies.
The back-to-school season can be an exciting one for administrators, teachers, and students. Even large daycare centers come alive with new faces in the fall. But before that surge of traffic starts, make sure your facility is cleaned and disinfected. Make sure you have a plan in place to guarantee it stays that way throughout the coming school year. If we can help, do not hesitate to contact us.
