Every building merits cleaning, but school buildings in particular need special attention.
Students spend about 7 hours a day, 5 days a week in school buildings, so it’s not wrong that we would want them to be in an environment that has been properly cleaned and sanitized.
In this article, we’ll examine why keeping schools clean is essential for the health of students, teachers, and everyone who enters these buildings. More importantly, we’ll cover the steps that can be taken to keep a school clean and safe for everyone.
The Impact of Poor Cleaning Practices
Before we examine the importance of maintaining the cleanliness of a school building, let us consider the consequences of poor cleaning practices and how they impact everyone.
First of all, poor school cleaning services create an accumulation of bacteria and other kinds of pathogens. Not only is this a health hazard, but it also leads to the deterioration of school furniture and walls.
If that wasn’t bad enough, poor school cleaning practices may also lead to an increase in insects, which can spread diseases as well as trigger allergies or asthma attacks. On top of all that, poorly cleaned schools are not only unpleasant to see, but they can also negatively affect students’ and teachers’ psychological well-being.
All of this ultimately equates to a major problem – unhealthy students who aren’t operating at their peak and teachers who are constantly at odds with an unclean environment.
It’s fair to say that unclean schools lead to poor learning environments. When students are able to learn in a safe and healthy environment, they are more likely to engage with the material and be productive.
This means that the quality of education they receive is increased, which on a large scale creates a more educated society as a whole, benefiting everyone.
The Benefits of Cleaning School Buildings
On the flip side, keeping school buildings clean has several additional benefits, such as:
Peak Health for Everyone
First and foremost, it’s a matter of health for both students and teachers. Keeping schools and educational facilities clean lowers the risk of germs spreading through surfaces or air ducts, which can cause serious health issues and even diseases.
On average, students will miss less school due to illness, and teachers can continue teaching uninterrupted. This is a win-win for everyone.
A Polished Appearance
Second, cleaning schools every week also helps maintain the overall appearance of the school building, which can have a positive impression on students and even parents. Imagine hosting a parent-teacher conference, only for the school to be covered in grime and dust – it’s not a very pleasant sight!
As a result, keeping schools clean demonstrates that the school is well-kept and well-organized, which can instill trust among parents and administrators.
Improved Focus
A mess in a classroom creates a roadblock to understanding the material, making it difficult to move forward. When schools are clean, students are likelier to concentrate on their work. This is because visual cues play a huge role in how we focus our attention.
Lower Replacement Costs
Last but not least, proper cleaning practices can reduce maintenance costs for the school. A school’s budget can also be improved through frequent cleaning because they are less likely to have to replace furniture due to wear and tear. This allows the budget to be used elsewhere to further enrich the school’s facilities.
4 Pro Tips to Ensure a Clean Environment for Everyone
It’s clear that there are many advantages to cleaning school buildings and disinfecting them regularly, but how do we go about achieving this?
Here are some steps that can be taken to keep your school buildings properly cleaned and sanitized:
1. Identify Areas of Concern
The first tip is to identify areas of concern in the school building. This means finding all areas which could potentially pose health risks, including classrooms or bathrooms.
When taking this action, it’s important to take note of any problem areas. This includes spots where dirt and grime may be accumulating frequently, such as dusty classroom windows, dirty computer keyboards, and highly used door handles.
2. Establish Cleaning Schedules
The second tip is to establish cleaning schedules for each area. A regular cleaning schedule will help ensure that all spaces in the building are cleaned regularly and consistently. Additionally, it allows custodial staff to manage their time better.
3. Utilize Proper Cleaning Materials
The third step is to utilize proper cleaning materials. This means using appropriate chemicals and tools for each area as needed. In addition, it’s important to ensure that these materials are not hazardous or toxic in any way, which could cause harm to students or staff members alike.
4. Adequately Train Cleaning Staff
The fourth and last tip is to train your staff members on proper cleaning techniques and your overall cleaning plan. This ensures that your team members are properly informed of the best practices for cleaning any area in the school building, which helps reduce potential risks while also promoting a safe and healthy environment.
Different Areas Require Different Care
No one area of the school is used in the exact same way. For instance, the surfaces of restrooms come into contact with different chemicals and bacteria than the surfaces of a classroom. And the floors of the cafeteria don’t see the same type of traffic hallways do.
For these reasons, different areas of the school should be cleaned with different methods and protocols.
Classrooms
A classroom should be vacuumed and mopped at least once a week. Desks and other surfaces (such as light switches) should be wiped down regularly with appropriate cleaning materials to prevent the accumulation of germs and bacteria.
Additionally, windows should be washed at least once a month, and trash should be emptied and washed down regularly. This is because these areas are known to be hotspots for dust and bacteria.
What Cleaning Equipment Do I Need for Cleaning Classrooms?
Classrooms often require a high-quality vacuum cleaner due to the large amounts of dust and dirt on the floors. Mops with wringers are also recommended for mopping up any spills in classrooms.
Mastercraft has a collection of vacuums for both hard surfaces and carpets in school buildings. Our renowned carpet vacuums promise to leave carpets and rugs looking as good as new, while our oscillating floor machine is great for maintenance on all types of floors.
Restrooms
Restrooms should be cleaned at least twice a day, as they tend to be a breeding ground for germs and bacteria due to their high use. Toilet bowls, urinals, and sinks should all be scrubbed using appropriate chemicals and disinfectants.
Restrooms require particular care because of the traffic they see on a daily basis, as well as the nature of their usage.
What Cleaning Equipment Do I Need for Cleaning Restrooms?
When cleaning restrooms, it’s important to use the proper tools to make sure that all germs and bacteria are eradicated. This means using a mop with a wringer for mopping floors, sponges for scrubbing toilets and urinals, and specialized bathroom cleaning equipment such as brushes for scrubbing sinks and showers.
Cafeterias
Cafeterias should be cleaned daily to prevent the spread of germs and bacteria from food that may have dropped on the floor. Tables, chairs, and other surfaces should also be wiped down with appropriate cleaning agents periodically.
What Cleaning Equipment Do I Need for Cleaning Cafeterias?
When it comes to cleaning cafeterias, a mop and wringer are essential for cleaning up spills quickly. Sponges should also be used for wiping down tables and chairs. Aside from this, because cafeterias produce a large amount of garbage, we recommend investing in multiple waste baskets so that all trash is properly disposed of.
Common Areas
Common areas, such as hallways and staircases, should be vacuumed or swept daily. Additionally, these areas should also be mopped once a week to ensure they appear polished and presentable.
What Cleaning Equipment Do I Need for Common Areas?
The cleaning materials you need for common areas will vary depending on the type of surface being cleaned. Generally, a microfiber cloth, vacuum cleaner, broom, and mop are all necessary items.
Mastercraft’s high-speed burnisher is perfect for cleaning hard floor surfaces in hallways and stairwells, while also polishing the finish for a professional look.
Conclusion
All in all, by recognizing the importance of cleaning school buildings and following the appropriate steps, it’s possible to ensure that school facilities and buildings remain safe and sanitary for staff and students alike.
It’s important to remember that cleaning not only helps reduce health risks but also has many positive impacts on students, such as improved focus and reduced replacement costs. This creates a large-scale impact on society as a whole, since students are able to gain the best possible education.
Author Bio:
Melanie Morales is a contributing writer at Mastercraft. She covers all home-related topics including home improvement, gardening, and landscape
