It is logical that the cleaner a school is, the healthier its students will be; harmful microbes thrive on frequently touched surfaces like dirty desks and doorknobs. As a result, poorly maintained schools lead to more sick students staying home, putting districts at risk of losing attendance-based state and federal funding. Studies have also shown something less obvious: Students in cleaner schools perform better academically.
With funding, student health and educational performance at stake, school administrators must understand the importance of a comprehensive cleaning program. Equipped with the following best practices and solutions, janitorial staff can lay the foundation of a successful school year.
Purchasing products that improve hygiene and are well-suited to clean specific areas within a school can enhance the institution's image and support the well-being of students and staff.
Schools can also benefit from solutions that support sustainability, such as super-concentrated, high-performance cleaners that cost pennies per day as well as certified green products. Today there are products and procedures certified by GREENGUARD, Green Seal and ECOLOGO. Incorporating sustainable solutions not only positions a school as an environmental leader but supports indoor air quality and overall health and safety.
Just as it is wasteful to overuse cleaning chemicals, it is careless to purchase quality products without putting them to regular use. Facilities managers and head custodians must make sure their staff members are all on the same page, working together as a cohesive cleaning unit.
To accomplish this, there must be a visible, reliable schedule for cleaning all parts of the campus. Leaders should train staff, not only on how and when to perform their duties, but on why doing so correctly is critical for the school. To supplement training, online resources can help employees stay informed on best practices in their day-to-day cleaning and provide guidance when questions arise. In cases where employee performance is not up to standards, management should conduct retraining to close learning gaps and guarantee consistent results.
From the gym to the classroom to the locker room, a cleaning and hygiene program supports a school in numerous ways. To avoid hindering student learning, encouraging the spread of germs and losing funding, schools must prioritize regular cleaning and disinfection. By concentrating on the strategies laid out above, schools can foster healthy, stimulating learning environments and strengthen the bottom line.
Diversey is a proud sponsor of Healthy Schools Campaign's (HSC) Green Clean Schools program. Reach out to us at to learn more about essentials for your educational facility.