A Daily School Cleaning Checklist

Cleaning has always been crucial to a school's upkeep. But but we’re in a post-covid world, staying on top of cleaning duties has become even more important to everyone. The constant traffic of pupils, teachers, and staff moving around the building means schools can quickly become a breeding ground for germs if not cleaned properly. Around 8.5% of pupils missed at least 10% of lessons due to illness in the 2021/2022 academic year. This is why a daily school cleaning checklist is essential for keeping the school environment and everyone in it healthy and safe. In this post, we'll look at good school cleaning habits and how a daily school cleaning checklist is essential for creating a clean and healthy learning environment.

The Importance of a Hygienic School

A hygienic school is essential for maintaining the health and wellbeing of pupils, staff and visitors. With so many people interacting in close proximity, schools make the ideal breeding ground for germs to multiply and transfer. A hygienic school can help reduce the spread of germs, which can help reduce absenteeism and promote a positive learning environment for everyone. Some of the key reasons why a hygienic school is important include:

• Reduces the spread of germs: Germs and viruses can live on surfaces for between four and 72 hours, potentially infecting anyone who comes into contact with that surface. Regularly cleaning high-traffic areas such as classrooms, corridors, kitchens, canteens, and washrooms can help reduce the spread of illnesses such as colds and flu.

• Creates a positive learning environment: A clean and hygienic school creates a positive learning environment and gives pupils and staff a sense of pride. It also encourages everyone to play their own role in keeping the school clean and tidy, promotes a healthy school environment and encourages positive habits.

• Improves air quality: An unhygienic school will likely have poor indoor air quality, which can cause asthma and allergy flare-ups. Regular cleaning can enhance indoor air quality and enable pupils and teachers to focus on learning rather than their symptoms.

• Enhances the school and parental relationship: A hygienic school reflects the school’s commitment to creating and maintaining a healthy and safe learning environment. It can help to gain parents' confidence, encouraging them to be more committed to the school.

 School Cleaning Checklist

A school cleaning checklist ensures all areas of the school are cleaned regularly and provides a clear record of when tasks are completed. The checklist can be divided into three categories, daily, weekly and monthly, to ensure that you keep track of all areas that require cleaning.

The Materials You Need

A good range of cleaning supplies and PPE equipment is essential for cleaning a school from top to bottom. While the materials you need may vary, some of the essential items include:

• Multi-purpose cleaner
• Disinfectant
• Glass cleaner
• Carpet cleaner
• Washing up liquid
• Air freshener
• Microfibre cloths
• Mops and buckets
• Vacuum cleaner
• Disposable gloves
• Aprons
• Masks
• Hand sanitiser
• Refuse sacks

Classrooms

Pupils and their teachers spend much of their time in the classroom together, making them the ideal breeding ground for germs. Classrooms should be thoroughly cleaned every day, paying particular attention to the following:

• Desks and tables, including the tops and sides
• Chairs and any other seating in the classroom
• High-touch areas such as door handles and light switches
• Classroom floors
• Whiteboards and markers
• Shared equipment, such as computers and tablets
• Classroom bins should be emptied each day and periodically disinfected.

Kitchen and Canteen

Germs can easily spread in a kitchen and canteen, so these areas must be thoroughly cleaned each day. The key areas to focus on cleaning include:

• Food preparation areas, including cutting boards and work surfaces
• Kitchen equipment including fridges, ovens, cooker tops
• Sinks
• Storage areas
• Utensils
• Floors
• Tables and chairs
• Food containers and trays
• Tableware and cutlery
• Door and door handles
• Floors and walls
• Vending machines
• Waste bins

Washrooms

A school washroom is a hotspot for germs to spread and transfer from one person to another, making a strict cleaning routine essential. The areas within a school washroom you should focus on cleaning include:

• Toilets and urinals
• Toilet roll holders are replenished
• Fill up soap and hand towel dispensers
• Sinks and taps
• Tiles and mirrors
• Cubicle doors, door handles, hand dryer buttons and cubicle locks
• Floors
• Waste bins

Stainless Steel Washroom Accessories For a Hygienic School

Stainless steel washroom accessories are popular in schools as they offer several hygiene benefits. For example, stainless steel is a very durable material designed to withstand regular use and is resistant to rust, corrosion and staining. Stainless steel is also non-porous, making it resistant to bacteria and easy to clean and maintain. Some of the most common stainless steel washroom accessories for schools include:

• Hand dryers: Stainless steel hand dryers offer a hygienic and eco-friendly way for pupils and staff to dry their hands. They use high-speed air to quickly and effectively dry hands and reduce the risk of spreading germs. They are also easy to clean and maintain and more durable than plastic hand dryers.

• Paper towel dispensers: Stainless steel paper towel dispensers are durable, easy to clean, and offer a convenient and hygienic way to dry hands in school washrooms.

• Toilet paper dispensers: Stainless steel toilet paper dispensers are easy to clean and hard-wearing, making them less likely to be damaged than plastic alternatives.

Create a Hygienic School with Stainless Steel Washroom Accessories

Stainless steel washroom accessories help to create a safe and healthy environment thanks to their durable and hygienic properties that make them easy to clean and disinfect. Washroom accessories made of stainless steel, such as hand dryers, paper towel dispensers and toilet paper dispensers, are less likely to harbour germs and bacteria due to the hygienic properties of stainless steel. Not to mention their sleek and modern appearance will enhance the aesthetic appeal of any school washroom.

If you're looking to upgrade your school washrooms with stainless steel accessories, Dudley Industries has just what you need. Our range of stainless steel washroom accessories helps promote good hygiene and reduce the spread of germs and bacteria in environments such as schools. Our quality stainless steel washroom accessories are easy to clean and a great low-maintenance solution for busy schools. Get in touch with our team today for advice on choosing the right washroom accessories for your school.