Tips to Keeping Your Classroom Clean During COVID-19

Thankfully the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic seems to be slowing down. As vaccine programs continue across the country, and our numbers steadily drop we can all breathe a sigh of relief. That’s not to say, our lives have completely returned to normal though! One such change that’s not going anywhere soon is virus disinfection and sanitization practices. In this article we point out a few tips to for keeping your classroom clean during COVID-19.

We can’t imagine a world where airports, shopping malls, and universities don’t have hand sanitizing stations and temperature checks. And we’re all for it, for as long as it’s needed, right? And one crucial public space that sanitization and disinfection will need to remain firmly in place is in our schools.

Before opening for the new semester, all Southern West Virginia 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 to keep the classroom clean during COVID-19.

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

Classroom Cleaning During COVID-19 Versus Classroom 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. At Restoration 1 of Southern West Virginia, we offer a one-off or regular Keep It Clean Program for schools and universities. Here we provide a full, hygienic, and environmental cleaning by using EPA-registered disinfectants and industry best-practices. At Restoration 1 of Southern West Virginia, we will tailor this program to your school’s unique needs, guaranteeing a safer, healthier environment for your staff and students.

To find out more about our Keep It Clean Program click here and for FAQs, click here.