Janitorial Services – Back to School Cleaning

Janitorial Services – Back to School Cleaning

Professional janitorial services tips and advice for schools and parents preparing for the upcoming school year.

Janitorial Services - Back to School Cleaning - Bakersfield CA

Janitorial Services Tips for Back to School Cleaning

It's time to start preparing for back to school; the perfect time to get your classroom in shape for a healthy year of learning.

Now is the perfect opportunity to air out your musty classroom and set rules for healthy behavior.

For parents, it's time to prepare your home and children for the inevitable back to school colds.

 

Back to School Illness

When returning to school, children are exposed to a wide range of ailments.

  • Common cold or Sinusitis.
  • Flu.
  • Stomach Flu.
  • Sore or Strep Throat.
  • Head Lice, and;
  • Pink Eye.

All of these ailments will result in the child being sent home; missing in-class work, and costing one of the parents/guardians, at least, a day of work at the office.

While comprehensive prevention is impossible, measures can be taken to mitigate exposure significantly.

 

Prevention in the Classroom

After a long, hot summer, you can bet your class will be stuffy and humid.

Boxes, long kept in dusty storage, will release allergens into the air when opened.

Sanitation supplies will need to be replenished, and notices will need to be placed around the classroom to remind students to wash their hands and wipe their feet.

The first steps to preparing your class are:

  • Open all of the windows and doors to vent out dust, humidity, and the smell that inevitably accompanies rooms sealed off for too long.
  • Turn on the AC with the windows open to help evacuate dust and other particles that have accumulated in the vents.
  • If necessary, check and replace all AC filters with HEPA filtration products.
  • Scrub down all vertical and high-touch surfaces, including desks, with a green cleaning solution.
  • Make sure to check for, and remove gum stuck to the bottom of desks and chairs.
  • Thoroughly clean any computers, mice, keyboards, and monitors.
  • Take floor mats outside and shake them out, or have them professionally cleaned.
  • Return boxes and packing materials to storage, and eliminate all unnecessary clutter.
  • Remove all books stored on shelves, then dust.
  • Sweep out the whole classroom.
  • Mop the floor with a green cleaning solution.
  • Clean all of the windows, inside and out, to remove dirt and mildew, as well as allow maximum sunshine.

Once that is complete, make sure to stock sanitary wipes and tissue in easy to access locations throughout the classroom, including in-class restrooms.

Placing them in easy to reach places will prevent the students from unnecessarily touching surfaces on their way to clean their hands or wipe their nose.

Additionally, ensure that your class is fully stocked with soap and paper towels.

 

Year Around Maintenance

To keep the room clean throughout the year, place posters and notices around the classroom reminding students to:

  • WASH THEIR HANDS.  This single habit will dramatically reduce the transfer of germs, as well as sick days for students and teachers.
  • Wipe their feet before coming into the classroom all year around to reduce indoor air pollutants, as well as mud, mildew, and bacteria from accumulating near exits likely adjacent to where students place personal belongings.
  • Place sanitation station signs around the room, especially in lower grades, to help children locate tissue to blow their nose, or sanitizer to clean their hands.
  • Educate them early and often about washing their hands before eating, and after using the restroom.
  • Set and monitor strict guidelines regarding clutter and trash, especially inside of their desks.
  • Get the students involved in cleaning the room and facilities, and use it as an opportunity to teach about germs and bacteria.

 

Prevention in the Home

Illness prevention and back to school preparation in the home is similar to classroom preparedness, with a few caveats:

  • Have children take off and leave shoes in the primary entry way.
  • Encourage them to wash their hands as soon as they get home, especially before an after school snack.
  • Make sure all vaccinations are current.
  • For young children, wash all damp clothing as soon as possible.
  • For older children, teach them to wash their clothes regularly.

 

Takeaway

With so many children confined to a relatively small location for the majority of the year, kids are going to get sick and pass germs to each other.

Eventually, those germs will make it to the teachers, who probably have children of their own, as well as parents who don't get sick days.

The most critical aspects of school cleaning and protecting children's health are consistency in cleaning standards and personal hygiene.

If you would like to learn more about the benefits of professional janitorial services for your business, contact us today for a free quote!

In Bakersfield CA, call (661) 395-3009

In Fresno CA, call (559) 473-1790


Vanguard Cleaning Systems of the Southern Valley

Vanguard Cleaning Systems of the Southern Valley