Back to a Clean and Healthy School

We know that dirty schools = sick people. And school administrators are a bundle of nerves leading up to the first day of school. On top of that, you also must ensure your students are protected from certain dangers, weather conditions, and viruses/germs. Younger children are at risk because their immune systems are not fully developed, so they’re more vulnerable to serious complications with germs that would pose little threat to the average adult. Regular practices should be in place consistently throughout the year to sufficiently protect kids.

As students and teachers prepare to return to classrooms after a relaxing summer, there’s a renewed focus on creating a clean and healthy school environment. The common denominator in schools is the close proximity of kids to each other and the frequency of commonly touched surfaces. Therefore, if one child gets an infectious germ, the close proximity increases the chance of person-to-person spread. Remember this rule: “What gets touched gets contaminated.”

In this blog, we’ll explore methods and strategies for cleaning and disinfecting schools and daycare facilities to prevent the spread of flu and other harmful viruses and promote overall student well-being.

Prioritizing Student Safety

Every school must prioritize rigorous cleaning and disinfection practices to minimize the risk of disease transmission. When kids contract viruses, they not only feel sick, but they can be contagious, requiring them to stay home - and that means not learning. It also means most parents must shuffle around their work schedules to make arrangements for their sick children.

Classrooms: According to the ISSA (International Sanitary Supply Assoc.), nearly 22 million school days are lost annually to the common cold, and 38 million days due to influenza. The classroom can be a breeding ground for bacteria and germs and requires regular cleaning and disinfection. Rotational cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces, or “hotspots” such as doorknobs, desks, chairs, lunch trays, light switches, handles, and shared equipment, help safeguard against disease transmission.

Restrooms: We know kids aren’t the most diligent in washing their hands every time they use the restroom. It’s probably the most obvious area where germs and bacteria thrive, especially on surfaces like toilet seats, door handles, and sinks. In fact, restroom faucet handles are big germ spreaders – along with the toilet flush handle. Did you know that pathogenic C. eoli can survive and grow in bathroom drains and sinks? Water accumulates and becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, like E. Coli and Staph. If not properly cleaned and disinfected, bacteria can continue to thrive and spread, so it’s important to clean and disinfect bathrooms, drains, and surrounding surfaces regularly to help prevent the spread of harmful bacteria.

That’s where rotational commercial janitorial services come in!

And bonus: Anago franchisees provide touchless soap and paper towel dispensers, so kids never need to touch those surface areas in their restrooms.

Hallways, lockers, water fountains: Kids roaming the halls and touching lockers and walls also need addressed. As some students might not follow proper hygiene practices, dirt, germs, and odors can build up. Classes and activities, like sweaty sports equipment or a spilled lunch, can make lockers, a dirty mess. A commercial-grade disinfectant should be used at all times starting from the top of the locker down.

Don’t forget about those water fountain spigots, which can hold 2,700,000 bacteria per inch - yikes!

Floors, carpets, upholstery: The dirty, grimy school floors and any carpets need the same care and attention. Carpets and upholstery can trap dust, dirt, and other contaminants, which accumulate over time if not regularly cleaned.

These materials serve?as a haven for bacteria and mold spores and produce?the off-gassing of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). Every time you roll your chair back and forth and every step you take, you may be releasing mold spores and unhealthy bacteria into the air. This causes asthma, allergies, and a host of other conditions. Commercial janitorial experts, like Anago franchisees, use advanced hot water extraction processes to sanitize carpets, as the hot water loosens stubborn particles and kills germs and bacteria.

Green cleaning practices:

Parents wouldn’t want their children exposed to the odors and fumes of cleaning chemicals. Our franchisees provide research-based green cleaning methods using non-toxic cleaning agents to provide healthier, safer, and more productive learning with less environmental impact.

As student absences can lead to higher instances of dropouts, studies show chronically absent students are 7.4 times more likely to drop out of school.

All children deserve an education - optimize a healthy learning experience with reputable professional commercial cleaning services for your school.