Routine cleaning and targeted disinfection services stop the spread of germs in schools and offices.
The Impact of Cleaning on Schools and Businesses
Dirty classrooms negatively impact school and student performance, commonly resulting in several challenges:
- Student and instructor attendance issues.
- Difficulties concentrating in the classroom, and;
- Inadequate instruction consistency and quality.
Conversely, several studies have shown that clean classrooms have a positive effect on several critical performance metrics.
Extensive research has shown that K-12 school environments have an improved capacity toward learning when they are clean.
[...] the quality of learning is greatly impacted by the overall cleanliness of the indoor environment within the school.
Specifically speaking, cleaning contributes to performance by reducing anxiety and distractions; controls the appearance, making a pleasant environment; and protects human health.
Furthermore, [...] when a school is systematically cleaned and maintained daily, the overall cost of running a custodial operation can decrease by almost 50 percent.
Of note, one resarcher commented;
It is too bad so few people have paid any attention to those peer reviewed research results that clearly demonstrate that a properly designed cleaning program will produce a healthy environmental condition.
Dirty offices hurt businesses in several ways:
- Chronic worker health and productivity issues.
- Safety and compliance challenges commonly resulting in fines, and;
- Union complaints and investigations leading to OSHA inspections.
And, just like classrooms, cleaning has been shown to positively impact employee wellness and several key performance indicators.
A clean office produces increased profits by making employees more productive.
It saves companies money on missed workdays and healthcare costs.
Money will not be spent replacing items that get lost or paying employees for time spent going through the clutter.
When the workplace is clean, employees have the mental focus and disposition to tackle their tasks in the most productive way.
The Economic and Social Burden of Germs
As recent history has demonstrated, concerns over even moderate outbreaks (not necessarily limited to humans), can result in:
- The closure of schools, businesses, public services, and government buildings.
- Shocks to the healthcare system, and;
- Trade and supply disruptions resulting in an economic downturn.
According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF);
Concern over the spread of even a relatively contained outbreak can lead to decreased trade.
For example, a ban imposed by the European Union on exports of British beef lasted 10 years following identification of a mad cow disease outbreak in the United Kingdom, despite relatively low transmission to humans.
[...] the expected yearly cost of pandemic influenza [is estimated] at roughly $500 billion (0.6 percent of global income), including both lost income and the intrinsic cost of elevated mortality.
Even when the health impact of an outbreak is relatively limited, its economic consequences can quickly become magnified.
Liberia, for example, saw GDP growth decline 8 percentage points from 2013 to 2014 during the recent Ebola outbreak in west Africa, even as the country’s overall death rate fell over the same period.
Stopping the Spread of Germs With Enhanced Cleaning
Enhanced cleaning combined with targeted disinfection protocols and a solid handwashing program will significantly reduce the presence and transmission of germs in classrooms and offices.
- Clean all occupied spaces every day with soap and water applied with microfiber.
- Disinfect high-touch fomites two to three times daily with an EPA-registered disinfectant.
- Don't neglect the floors, especially along entryways and in restrooms.
- Clean and disinfect high-risk areas daily, such as cafeterias, break rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms.
- Use signs and emails to communicate any health risks and guidelines, including handwashing recommendations, to guests and occupants.
- Check on restroom paper and soap supplies several times daily and keep handwashing stations clean to encourage occupant use.
Takeaway
Soil and germs in schools and offices harm occupant health, reduce work quality, and impair memory and critical and creative thinking functions.
High-quality cleaning methods combined with targeted disinfection protocols and ongoing handwashing programs demonstrably reduce buildings' germs and soil, resulting in improvements to occupant health, facility safety, and school and business performance.
Onboarding and managing the requisite labor and material resources necessary to ensure the highest standards of cleanliness are achieved and maintained may prove cost-prohibitive for many organizations.
Outsourcing is a proven method for onboarding highly in-demand cleaning and disinfection services and experience for a fraction of the price of maintaining a similar service in-house.
If you would like more information regarding the effectiveness of high-performance infection prevention and control measures, or if you would like to schedule a free, no-obligation on-site assessment of your facility's custodial needs, contact us today for a free quote!
In Bakersfield, CA, call (661) 437-3253
In Fresno, CA, call (559) 206-1059
In Valencia, CA, or Santa Clarita, CA, call (661) 437-3253
In Palmdale, CA, or Lancaster, CA, call (661) 371-4756
