Cleanliness and hygiene are essential in all crowded environments, and this is no different for schools, whether for early years or through to universities and colleges. Property and building managers, as well as cleaning companies, are responsible for maintaining a healthy environment as outlined by the Department of Education, Skills and Employment, to improve behaviour management and ensure the school is a pleasant and safe place to be.
Everyone knows how messy kids can be, which is why it’s so important to know how to keep school environment clean. To achieve this, cleaning companies and property managers or administrators must consider these important factors.
From the classroom to the corridors to the school canteen, a thorough cleaning checklist can improve hygiene around the school and keep the environment clean.
This checklist should be followed throughout the day to reduce the workload at the end of the school day. This also ensures no hygiene hazards go unnoticed or get out of hand. The checklist provides solutions to prepare for students’ return to the school following the break. The thorough checklist will involve all communal areas and will highlight a range of expert cleaning supplies suitable for all cleaning demands.
Using high-quality school cleaning equipment will make the cleaning process more efficient and successful. These items should include Hygen Disposable Microfibre Cloths and Mop Pads, mops and buckets and utility carts to carry all essential cleaning and disinfectant supplies.
This gives cleaners and property managers the ability to clean all surfaces with ease and confidence. For example, rather than use cheap, low-quality products that simply transport germs, a disposable cloth prevents the spread of infectious bacteria. It sanitises the environment from top to bottom, as the microfibre material removes 99.9% of microbes when used with a disinfectant or a sanitising solution.
In preparation for students returning to school, property managers should install designated sanitary stations throughout the building to prevent germs and bacteria from being transmitted.
Touch-free sanitisation stations provide the best solution. They do not require students to interact physically with the station. Instead, automatic sensors dispense hand sanitiser to keep hygiene practices efficient.
This approach provides a convenient and logical solution for keeping students healthy as it does not crowd washroom facilities or other areas of the school. Crowded areas reduce social distancing opportunities and raise the risk of infections being passed between students. Cleaners and managers can also set up Safety Barriers to help maintain social distancing in these high-traffic areas.
Providing easily accessible waste disposal units is one of the simplest and most effective ways to keep school environment clean. Placing refuse bins throughout the school makes it easier for students to dispose of food waste and used bottles or cans, among other packaging.
Considering how large schools are, it is best to choose large capacity refuse bins. Wide-top bins are another solution, as this prevents litter prevalence and reduces the risk of the bins overflowing, which could make the school unsightly. Food waste bins should be emptied regularly to prevent rotting food or cross-contamination, and therefore improve sanitary conditions within the school.
Contact one of our experienced team members for more guidance on infection control in schools and other childcare settings.
