It’s time for our children to return to school. But their return doesn’t come without expected anxiety from parents, teachers, and students too. So, all schools need to follow a thorough, professional cleaning and sanitization process before welcoming their students back.
Once a professional clean has been done, the upkeep and maintenance of the school’s hygiene are imperative. The upkeep will involve creating a detailed plan for the school’s cleaning staff’s daily routine with a priority on all high-touch areas. Teachers and students should also be trained as to how to go about daily hygiene routines while at school.
Encourage Student Etiquette
As the COVID-19 virus is thought mainly to be spread from person to person, one of the main precautions we can all take to limit the spread of the virus is by regularly washing and cleaning our hands. It’s essential to teach students and continuously remind them of proper hygiene etiquette when on campus.
Place signs around the campus to remind students, staff, and visitors of the proper etiquette, such as:
- Sanitizing hands after coughing, sneezing, using the toilet
- Coughing or sneezing into their elbow
- Washing their hands as often as possible
- Using disinfectant wipes and alcohol-based hand sanitizer to clean shared spaces and equipment before and after each use
- Try limit sharing of all items, equipment, or food
Cleaning Versus Disinfecting
Cleaning and disinfecting are two essential cleaning processes that need to take place in schools that will help slow the spread of Coronavirus and other infectious diseases. Before you get to cleaning areas within a school, it’s important to know the difference between cleaning and disinfecting––and why both are equally important.
- Disinfecting: This will help kill germs on surfaces or objects. The chemicals are used to kill the bacteria, but they do not clean the surfaces and remove the germs. Disinfection can lower the risk of spreading infection.
- Cleaning: Cleaning helps remove germs and dirt from high-contact surfaces or objects. A good clean is done with soap/detergent and water. By getting rid of the viruses, there is a lower risk of spreading infection. Cleaning surfaces after disinfection is always advised.
Important Areas to Clean and Disinfect at Schools
Below is a list of areas that will need special attention when it comes to cleaning and disinfecting schools:
- In the Classroom
The more frequently touched areas are doorknobs, desktops, and light switches. At the end of the day or between classes, desks should be disinfected with fast-acting disinfectant. - The Restrooms
Areas around the toilets, door handles, and taps need to be disinfected regularly. Washing hands after using the restroom is crucial. Students can even use paper towels to turn off taps or flush the toilet to avoid touching these surfaces. - The Gymnasium
Contact sport should be avoided if possible until the pandemic passes. Mats and equipment that are being shared need to be disinfected between use, and students should shower after sport if possible, and not share towels or soap. - All Shared Workspaces
If you are unable to stop the use of shared workspaces and equipment altogether, such as in the library or computer room, ensure that these are disinfected after each use–– especially the computer keyboards and mice.
Why not use Restoration 1’s professional cleaning services to ensure your school campus is hygienic and safe for all students and teachers? Restoration 1 offers virus and disease clean-up services and will get you started on the road to a healthy school or campus environment. Restoration 1 also has a Keep It Clean Program that provides a full, hygienic, and environmental cleaning by using EPA-registered disinfectants and industry best-practices. These cleanings can be scheduled once a week, a month, or a semester depending on individual school requirements.
When it comes to virus disinfection and our children’s safety, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Give your nearest branch a call today, or learn more about our professional services here.
