Schools are meant to be a safe space for children to learn and grow. However, like any other public place, schools can get dirty. Unfortunately, the dirt and germs in school can be more dangerous than those in regular homes. Children touch surfaces with their hands and bring them up to their faces or mouths, exposing themselves to germs.
Besides spreading germs, dirt and grime can impact how well the students learn. That is why it is important to ensure that schools’ cleaning practices are up-to-date and effective. Besides promoting cleanliness, cleaning services can help schools create an environment that encourages children to engage in classroom activities without feeling self-conscious about hygiene. But how do you ensure your school has proper cleaning standards? Bring in the experts!

2. Properly Dispose of Waste
Proper disposal of waste is essential for creating a safer school environment. Specialized cleaning services have trained professionals to manage potential infectious materials and body fluid spills to prevent infections and ensure safe disinfection. Daily cleaning of frequently touched surfaces improves the air quality and reduces bacteria in schools. Trained janitorial staff handle a wide range of cleaning processes, including deep cleaning of carpets, waxing of hardwood floors, and thorough cleaning of foodservice areas.
In addition to this, sanitization and regular maintenance of school restrooms are also important for creating a healthy environment for students and staff. Custodians using disinfectants must be trained and should utilize appropriate cleaners and sanitizers. Overall, investing in specialized cleaning services is critical to ensuring a safer school environment for younger students and high school students.
3. Know Where Bacteria is Lurking
Schools can be a breeding ground for bacteria and germs, making specialized cleaning services a necessity. High-traffic areas and frequently touched surfaces, such as doorknobs, water fountains, tables, restrooms, and computer workstations, need to be cleaned daily. Children bring in bacteria from outdoor play and pets, making it important to have a cleaning service that can prevent the spread of germs.
It is crucial to be aware of where bacteria and germs are hiding, these common spaces can easily spread germs from person to person. Locker rooms, cafeteria(s) and restrooms are the top areas that most infected with germs. Paying close attention to these common areas where people touch objects can go a long way in preventing the spread of bacteria and the illnesses they cause. Therefore, schools must invest in specialized cleaning services to ensure a healthier and safer learning environment for their students and meet public health standards set by the CDC and the Deparment of Education for the U.S..

4. Is Your School Clean or Sanitized?
The first step is to know the difference between cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing. Most school administrators and janitorial staff have a clear understanding of what it takes to have healthy schools. Cleaning removes germs, dirt and impurities from surfaces. This is most commonly done with some type of cleaning agent like soap. Disinfecting kills germs on surfaces and objects by using chemicals to remove germs and bacteria. Sanitizing lowers the number of germs but doesn’t remove the germs completely.
Talk with your custodial staff to make sure they know the proper way to kill the flu virus, COVID-19 and other germs and viruses that can live on surfaces throughout your educational facilities.
5. Pay Attention to Cleaning Product Labels
It’s important to avoid mixing cleaning products and follow instructions to minimize the risk of accidents. Always read labels on cleaning products like bleach, bleach solutions, ammonia and other chemicals for safety, and be certain that staff members are trained to handle hazardous products properly. Natural cleaning products can also be a safe and effective alternative to commercial products. Making sure that schools are clean and safe for students and staff alike is crucial to promoting a positive learning environment.
6. Get the Kids Involved?
Schools need to prioritize safety and cleanliness for students. That is why specialized cleaning services are critical for school maintenance. Trained cleaners have the experience and knowledge required to handle infectious materials that would be harmful to children. Background checks for cleaning service employees should be a must to ensure the safety of students. Teachers or parents should inform the nurse or custodian if students are ill to schedule a cleaning of the classroom.
Proper training, education, and materials for disinfecting should be given to teachers to encourage correct cleaning protocols. Involving kids for cleaning is not advised as it can put them at risk of exposure. It is also the liability of the school and the cleaning service to ensure that the schools are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected for the students. Parents want to know that their children’s schools are thoroughly cleaned, and hiring reliable cleaners can be advantageous for the cleaning businesses, especially when securing school contracts.

7. Bring in the Professionals
Cleaning and maintaining schools can be a challenging task, especially with the current health crisis. It is essential to follow a systematic process with specialized cleaning tasks for classrooms, restrooms, and common areas. It is also necessary to sanitize and deep clean restrooms with disinfectants regularly, replace toiletries, and wipe commonly touched surfaces. Additionally, ensuring that all equipment is regularly cleaned and maintained can help reduce cross-contamination in schools.
Using color-coded cleaning supplies can avoid using the same cloth on different spaces and prevent cross-contamination. To efficiently clean schools with these methodologies, it is recommended to hire professionals who can provide specialized cleaning services for schools. By following these guidelines and hiring professionals for specialized cleaning services, schools can be kept safer for students and teachers alike.
8. Schedule Deep Cleaning During Breaks
Maintaining a clean school environment should be a top priority for school administrators, especially given the current pandemic. Specialized cleaning services can help make schools safer for students, teachers, and staff. School breaks provide the perfect opportunity for deep cleaning of high traffic areas like restrooms, carpets, and food equipment, which often go unnoticed during regular cleaning. Effective cleaning tasks are divided into primary cleaning, vacuuming, restroom sanitation, and deep cleaning.
Classrooms require extra attention as they’re occupied all day long. A thorough cleaning process involves cleaning high-touch points, disinfecting surfaces, and removing trash regularly. Common cleaning services include disinfecting high-frequency touch points, cleaning athletic facilities and common areas, and removing garbage and recycling. HVAC units are also cleaned during breaks to prevent bacteria from spreading in the school. By investing in specialized cleaning services, schools can ensure a safer and healthier learning environment for everyone.
9. Clean Areas That Don’t Look Dirty
Schools can be a breeding ground for germs, and that’s why regular cleaning is essential to maintain a healthy environment for both students and staff. It is important to clean and disinfect surfaces that are frequently touched, including desks, keyboards, and doorknobs, to reduce the spread of bacteria and viruses. Daily sanitizing procedures in classrooms can effectively reduce bacteria buildup, leading to improved air quality.
But it’s equally important to understand that bacteria and viruses can still live on clean-looking surfaces for up to a week. Hence, specialized cleaning services should include cleaning areas that don’t appear dirty. Using cleaning and disinfectant products like ENVIROSHIELD® can help eliminate 99.9% of germs from surfaces.
All schools should have standard procedures for routine cleaning and disinfecting to keep the school environment healthy, safe, and stress-free for teachers and students alike.
10. Don’t Forget About the Windows
Providing a safe and clean environment for students and staff alike has become increasingly important in recent times. Regular cleaning of high-traffic areas, frequently touched surfaces, and restrooms is crucial in maintaining cleanliness. It’s also essential to ensure that the school is well-ventilated and that natural light can get through. Don’t forget to schedule deep cleaning during school breaks, especially for areas like HVAC units, restrooms, and carpets. Glass doors and windows tend to get dirty quickly due to young children’s grubby handprints, so frequent cleaning is necessary. Floors should be regularly vacuumed and mopped and carpets occasionally cleaned to maintain the best conditions. This ensures a healthy and safe environment for everyone, making specialized cleaning services an indispensable part of the school’s management.
Conclusion
With special cleaning services, school facilities can be cleaner and safer. Specialized cleaning is appropriate for school environments because students are more vulnerable to germs and other contaminants than adults. Because school children are generally more susceptible to infections and other health complications, it’s vital that their school environment is properly sanitized. There are many things you can do as a school authority to ensure the cleaning of your school with specialized cleaning services, but it’s best to leave the heavy-duty cleaning to the professionals. They have the tools and knowledge necessary to keep your school bacteria-free!
What Does A Cleaning Service Cost?
When it's time to look for a new cleaning service it may seem like a daunting task. Our FREE pricing guide will help you to determine what a cleaning service should cost for your facility. Here's what's in our guide:
- What factors determine costs
- How to request a fair cleaning quote
- How to compare hidden cost in cleaning
- Rooms and Square footage for cleaning