One of the main challenges of running a daycare facility is keeping the environment clean for children. Kids tend to touch surfaces a lot and shove their fingers in their mouths, and this can expose them to illnesses. What's more, they are at a high risk of various conditions such as respiratory conditions, stomach bugs and other diseases associated with unsanitary facilities. Thus, it's vital to come up with a cleaning strategy that will create a healthy and sanitary space for the young ones.
With this in mind, here are some strategies to adopt when setting up a cleaning schedule for your daycare.
Clean, Disinfect and Sanitise Surfaces
As aforementioned, children come into contact with various surfaces in a daycare facility. Thus, the best way to protect them is by cleaning, disinfecting and sanitising these surfaces daily. Pay special attention to the floors, countertops, interior walls, door locks and knobs, toys, sensory materials and activity areas.
Also, remember to clean and disinfect outdoor play equipment such as climbing towers, seesaws, swings, slides and trampolines. If left unclean, these surfaces can attract dust and bacteria, which will, in turn, increase the risk of falling ill.
Deep-Clean Rugs and Carpets
Kids have weak immune systems, which makes them more vulnerable to colds, flu and respiratory allergies. Dirty carpets and rugs accumulate dust mites which can cause asthma, common cold and other respiratory conditions in kids. According to research, children can catch up to ten colds a year. Furthermore, over 460,000 Australian kids between ages 0 and 14 have asthma.
One way of reducing the prevalence of common colds and allergies in your daycare facility is by deep-cleaning rugs and carpets. Monthly carpet deep cleaning helps get rid of dust mites, pollen, and other environmental pollutants that can have devastating or long-term effects on kids. In addition to regular deep cleaning, carry out daily vacuuming to get rid of surface pollutants.
Use Child-Friendly Cleaning and Sanitising Products
Children are sensitive to the chemicals used in cleaning and sanitation products. For example, cleaning agents with strong chemical odours can increase the risk of wheezing and asthma. Here are a few things to have in mind when purchasing cleaning agents, disinfectants and sanitisers:
When in doubt, always contact a cleaning expert or childcare consultant to make sure the agents you have are not dangerous to kids. Products such as sanitisers and disinfectants may contain chemicals to be effective. Thus, consider using them after pickup hours to avoid exposing the kids to the pungent and potentially dangerous odours.
Schedule Cleanings With a Commercial Cleaning Service
Keeping up with the cleaning needs of a daycare facility without professional help can be daunting. The best way to ensure that the facilities are always clean and sanitary is by hiring a commercial cleaning crew. Together with the experts, set up a suitable cleaning schedule that comprises daily, weekly and monthly cleanings. The program can be as follows:
Daily Cleaning
The cleaning crew can come in every day to clean the floors and washrooms, vacuum carpets and disinfect and sanitise surfaces. They should also sanitise items that the children play with daily. Schedule the cleanings in the evening or at night to avoid interference from the children.
Weekly Cleaning
Weekly cleaning should include areas such as the bookshelves, walls, washrooms, windows, activity centres and outdoor play equipment. Do your weekly cleaning over the weekend as it can be more intensive and time-consuming.
Monthly Cleaning
Your monthly checklist should include deep-cleaning the carpets and rugs and cleaning of the exterior walls, windows, ceiling and furniture. You should also pay attention to other furnishings such as curtains and sheers, kids' beddings and storage spaces.
To maintain a clean and healthy daycare centre, you need to create a cleaning program. Contact a commercial cleaning company for professional help.
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