The dog days of summer are upon us. This is the time of year when kids are enjoying their freedom, parents are thinking about that next vacation, and private school maintenance crews are working overtime to get ready for the start of fall classes. Deep cleaning is on the maintenance crews list.
If you operate a private school, we would like to make a suggestion: why not give the maintenance crew a break and bring in a commercial cleaning service instead? A company like All Pro Cleaning Systems can give your property a thorough deep cleaning while your maintenance crew concentrates on other things. It is the ideal way to get ready for the next semester.
Coming in Behind Maintenance Work
We are guessing that your crew has been doing significant maintenance work since school let out earlier this year. We get it. There are lockers that need repair. Some of your classrooms need a fresh coat of paint. There are door hinges that need tightening, window frames in need of lubrication, and so many light bulbs to change out. Here is another tip: save deep cleaning until after those maintenance tasks are done.
There is no value in deep cleaning a classroom only to turn around and bring in a painting crew the following week. Hold off and have the cleaners come in behind the painters. That way, deep cleaning is the last thing to be done in that space.
We also advise the top-down approach to cleaning. In any particular space, clean the highest surfaces first. Gradually work your way down to the floor. You will minimize the risk of contaminating surfaces that have already been cleaned.
Cleaning in the Cafeteria
Private schools are known for having a few areas that are pretty tough to clean. The cafeteria immediately comes to mind. Cafeterias and their kitchens are difficult to clean because you need to be so thorough. It is not a simple matter of wiping up surface dirt and leaving it at that. Cafeterias and kitchens need to be disinfected as well.
Deep cleaning the cafeteria and kitchen covers everything from cafeteria tables to food prep surfaces to walk-in coolers and freezers. Speaking of walk-in coolers, summer is the best time to deep clean them. If you wait until supplies start showing up a few weeks before school starts, you are already behind in the game.
Cleaning the Floors
It has been our experience, as commercial cleaning providers, that floors are the toughest thing to clean in a private school setting. Schools are heavy on foot traffic by nature. That means carpeted floors are subject to plenty of stains. Hard-surface floors are subject to scuff marks, scratches, and stains as well.
It is best to make the floors the last item on the list. When everything else is done, shampoo the carpets and scrub the hard-surface floors. If necessary, strip and wax those hard-surface floors no later than a week or two before school starts.
Other Concerns for Private Schools
The things we have tackled in this post are just the starting point for private school deep cleaning. There are plenty of other things to think about including disinfecting locker rooms and gymnasiums, deep cleaning the library, and even tackling faculty areas.
Deep cleaning a school is no small task. In fact, there may not be enough time during the summer break to get it all done. All Pro Cleaning Systems can help. If you are running behind on your deep cleaning schedule, give us a call. The summer break is nearly half over and you’re running out of time.
