August means back to school and educational facilities pride themselves on creating safe, welcoming environments that will be conducive to learning. Cleaning and preparing these facilities prior to the return to school is essential to meeting these goals. The following outline will have you prepared to thoroughly clean your facility in no time.

Prepare for cleaning by conducting a thorough walkthrough of the facility to identify areas that will need special attention. This will be the basis of a detailed cleaning schedule that will assign specific tasks and areas to members of the cleaning staff. Then the cleaning staff can ensure that they have the proper cleaning supplies, equipment, and PPE to accomplish their tasks.

Once these preparations are complete is a good time to perform a thorough deep cleaning of the entire facility, focusing on problem areas previously identified and any areas that were unused over summer. Make sure to clean and disinfect all surfaces (including floors, walls, desks, chairs, and common areas), inspect and replace HVAC filters to ensure clean air circulation, and consider adding air purifiers, especially in areas with poor ventilation. There should be a specific focus on restrooms, classrooms, and other common areas throughout the facility.

Restrooms should be a priority for educational facilities. Scrub and disinfect restrooms thoroughly, including toilets, sinks, mirrors, and floors. Restock supplies such as soap, paper towels, and toilet paper. Have a schedule in place to maintain cleanliness and supply inventory.

Classrooms require cleaning and disinfecting of all surfaces including desks, tables, chairs, and whiteboards. Make sure furniture is arranged to meet any ADA requirements. Consider air flow and any air purification needs and make sure the room is stocked with the necessary supplies to maintain its cleanliness.

Common Areas such as cafeterias, libraries, gyms, and auditoriums should be cleaned and disinfected as well as organized and free of clutter. High-touch surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, handrails, and elevator buttons should also be disinfected and on a schedule for regular cleaning.

Review and update the ongoing maintenance schedule for the upcoming year to reflect a daily cleaning routine that includes disinfecting high-touch surfaces, emptying trash, and maintaining restrooms. A weekly deep clean will address areas that need more attention and ensure that all parts of the school are regularly maintained. By creating and following a schedule that addresses all the above, any educational building will be well-prepared for the back-to-school season and on its way to ensuring a clean, safe, and healthy environment for students, staff, and visitors. Still not sure how to handle it all before the return of students? Click here to get a free cleaning estimate and see how we can help you.