Learn the ABCs of school & campus cleaning!

Every day, students attend schools and campuses to get an education, as well as sports and other learning activities. By doing so, they interact with other students, staff members, and the facilities. As adults, we spend most of our time at work, and the same goes for students getting an education. Making sure the students learn their ABCs in a clean and healthy learning environment is critical not only for the student but also for the reputation and goodwill of the school and campus. This is where selecting the right professional cleaning company comes into play.

During the day, students will be exposed to all sorts of bacteria and viruses. This could be through personal interaction, moving from classroom to classroom, opening and closing doors, sitting at different desks and chairs, using their lockers, eating in the cafeteria, and using the restrooms.

Minimizing the risk of cross-contamination of potentially harmful germs by keeping all these areas clean and sanitized is the focus of management and the janitorial cleaning services staff.

Just as the students learn their ABCs through routine and schedules, so, too, must the professional cleaning company staff be educated in the ABCs of proper cleaning routines and schedules. Proper training on how, when, and where to focus their attention while cleaning and maintaining the schools and campuses is what elevates the true professionals above the rest.

Cleaning is not just about mopping and wiping surface areas to remove visible dirt and grime. It is also knowing the difference between cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing. This is key to maintaining a healthy school or campus environment for students and staff.

Cleaning

Cleaning removes dirt and grime from the targeted surfaces but doesn’t kill germs. Rather, it temporarily removes them.

Disinfecting

Cleaning removes dirt, grime, and surface germs. Using disinfecting chemicals on the targeted area kills the germs and bacteria, which vastly reduces the risk of contamination.

Sanitizing

As in the case of a restroom, sanitizing the areas and contact surfaces reduces but, but does not fully eliminate, the bacteria and germs on the targeted surfaces. Instead, it brings them to a level that is safe and up to public health and safety standards.

As you can see, there are many aspects to ensuring the facilities and amenities of schools and campuses are kept clean and sanitary by the janitorial cleaning services staff. They have a clear understanding of what each cleaning process achieves.

Clean Surfaces

Students are very active, whether it is with personal interaction, sports, or other activities, and this can lead to messes and even accidents. As a result, the janitorial services staff members need to be on their toes and attend to these incidents as quickly as possible. The cleaning team needs to immediately clean surfaces that become visibly soiled to reduce the risk of an accident or the spread of germs and other infections. These could include foodstuffs, dirt, blood, and quite possibly, other bodily fluids. As a rule, the cleaning team should use gloves when cleaning these messes to avoid contact with the fluids.

Eliminate Germs and Viruses

Surfaces that are touched often can be a breeding ground for bacteria, germs, and viruses, which can quickly spread illnesses, such as the flu. These, in turn, affect the attendance of both the students and staff. These surfaces need to be cleaned and disinfected daily. Items, such as door knobs, light switches, telephones, keyboards, desks, countertops, and faucets, are all handled hundreds of times a day and need special attention to provide a clean and healthy studying environment.

Proper Routine

The professional cleaning company tasked to clean your school or campus knows the importance of setting up the optimal routine for cleaning efficiency. This needs to be done in a manner that does not disrupt the daily activities of the students and staff. Specific areas, such as the restroom or locker room, should be targeted for cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing, and depending on the types of germs that may be encountered, the right chemicals and cleaning procedures must be used. An effective cleaning routine will vastly reduce the chances of cross-contamination of germs and viruses.

Safety Conscious

Knowing and understanding the ABCs of cleaning is one thing, but if the professional cleaning company staff members don’t have the proper training, equipment, or a safety-conscious approach to the tasks at hand, they could end up causing more harm than good. When scrubbing or mopping floors, the cleaning staff needs to know that, at any given time, students and staff members need access to other areas of the school or campus. And, as such, the surfaces they are attending to can often become slippery when wet. Having the proper signage displayed to warn others to avoid or proceed with caution will prevent any potential accidents or incidents.

Healthy Study Environment

Because of the proximity of students and staff, campuses are breeding grounds for germs, bacteria, and viruses, Therefore, it is important the proper procedures and chemicals are used to reduce, if not eliminate, the risks of contamination.

However, an aspect of cleaning that is sometimes overlooked is finding the right chemicals and solvents to achieve the best results. Some of the commercially available chemicals and solvents can cause irritation to those who suffer from asthma and other respiratory ailments. So, it’s in the best interest of the students, staff, and janitorial services cleaning staff that nontoxic cleaning agents are used for the cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing of all surfaces.

Conclusion

When it comes to education, it’s all about the ABCs and how they are used for students in schools and campuses to achieve the results needed to complete their daily tasks. The same can be said about a professional cleaning company. With the proper training in the cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing ABCs, you can rest assured your educational facility is receiving the very best in cleaning and maintenance services.

If you feel your current cleaning company is failing to grasp the fundamentals of its ABCs, do not hesitate to call iNX, where one of our professional representatives will be more than willing to assist you.