School Cleaning 101: The Basics

September 6, 2018

Cleaning a school is no easy task. With so many people working together in close spaces, the spread of germs is inevitable. There are a few things you can do to keep the spread of germs to a minimum. One of these is proper cleaning and sanitation of surfaces.

What Is the Difference Between Cleaning, Disinfecting and Sanitizing?

We often use these terms interchangeably, but they actually represent completely different things. Cleaning means using soap and water to physically remove germs from faucets, counters, sinks, and other surfaces. Removing the germs reduces their number on the surface, decreasing their spread around the school. But, soap alone does not kill these germs.

Disinfecting a surface means using a chemical to kill the germs on a surface or object. Disinfectants are usually chemical sprays that do not necessarily clean a surface from dirt or remove the germs from the surface by themselves, however they do kill the germs, lowering the risk of sickness.

Sanitizing a surface means killing and removing germs from a particular surface and bringing the count to a safe level. Public health standards usually determine safe levels. The sanitizing process usually involves some form of disinfecting and some form of cleaning together to fully complete the task.

The Most Often Touched Objects

It is important to regularly clean and sanitize frequently handled objects. To prevent the spread of germs, schools should properly clean and disinfect these objects. Common items to consider include:

• Doorknobs
• Light switches
• Toys
• Computer keyboards
• Faucets
• Phones
• Desks
• Learning manipulatives

All of these are a breeding ground for germs and need cleaning on a regular basis. Consider creating a cleaning schedule and having everyone in the building follow it. Use parent volunteers to help clean and sanitize classroom materials when needed.

Keep these cleaning tips in mind when creating a cleaning plan for your school. Be sure everyone is on the same page about the plan in order to make it work. By cleaning throughout the year, you’ll save a lot of student absences due to sickness.