It is no secret that children can easily spread germs. Kids do not know any better. They are used to simply grabbing items and touching everything around them. If you have a childcare center, you are probably aware that germs linger on every surface of classrooms, playrooms, lunch areas, and toys. There is no avoiding the germs. It can be nearly impossible to keep everything in a childcare facility sanitized throughout the day. However, when it comes to cleaning a facility what needs to be cleaned and how often?
Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting
Did you know there is a difference between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting? Cleaning a childcare facility takes a lot more effort than simply cleaning. Areas need to be sanitized and disinfected depending on usage.
Cleaning refers to washing with soap-like substances and water to remove dirt and dust from surfaces. It is essential to ensure any dirt is removed from the surface before moving on to sanitizing and disinfecting. If not, a surface cannot be properly cleaned.
Sanitizing occurs after cleaning with a special solution. Sanitizers generally air dry and are used on multiple surfaces, including food-contact surfaces, toys that can be put in children’s mouths, tables, and more.
Lastly, the disinfection process revolves around covering an area with a disinfecting solution. Common disinfecting solutions are bleach and ammonia. However, it is essential to note that these two substances should never be mixed. Following applying a solution, it can either air dry or be wiped off. Disinfecting solutions are necessary for bathrooms and other places where bodily fluids touch.
Cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting are necessary to limit the growth and spread of bacteria and viruses growth.
Areas to Clean
If you provide your cleaning, it is beneficial to create a weekly cleaning schedule. When in charge of a child care facility, there is a lot to keep track of, and a lot to forget about. Following a schedule can assist in knowing what areas and items to clean on specific days. This can avoid the problem of forgetting to clean specific areas or perhaps over-cleaning. Any areas that compile dirt easily or with visible soil should be cleaned right away. Handles, light switches, floors, railings, keyboards, phonies, and cubbies should be cleaned every day.
Facilities with diaper changing areas should be disinfected between each use. Another important note to remember is child care providers must be washing their hands after every diaper change. If not, a provider is at risk of receiving and spreading gastrointestinal illnesses.
Another key area is the playroom. Shelves, play centers, and surfaces should be cleaned regularly. Toys should be wiped and cleaned, even if they are small. If toys and linens are washable, they should be washed regularly as well.
Sinks, toilets, faucets, rugs, knobs, and switches should be cleaned in restroom areas. In kitchens, floors, faucets, handles, chairs, tables, counters, and trash cans should be regularly cleaned. More specific areas are shared items, keyboards, drinking fountains, handles, toilet levers, toys, and mats. To be more precise, any area a child can easily touch should be cleaned, disinfected, and sanitized.
Cleaning Your Childcare Center
Knowing which tasks are more urgent can assist in prioritizing. Spills should always be immediately cleaned up. Vacuuming should be a daily task along with cleaning the bathroom. Having a designated container to place dirty toys and items can assist in identifying the main culprits for germs.
Running a childcare facility is exhausting. The last thing providers want to consider is cleaning. At Tidy Team Cleaning Services, janitorial services are offered for childcare facilities. Childcare providers can expect perfectly cleaned and disinfected facilities. For more information, contact Tidy Team today.