If some of your contracts are schools, big or small, then the summer break is the perfect to time to plan a deep clean. Schools are a hot bed for germs, and with busy terms brimming with staff, students and visitors, they quickly become the easiest place to pick up an infection.

Ensuring your staff are deep cleaning effectively will help to keep pupils and teachers healthy, meaning less days lost to illnesses that can spread easily.

We’ve pulled together a list of key areas to concentrate on to get the best results from your deep clean.

The Classroom

There aren’t many places in the classroom where little fingers can’t reach. The spread of germs from pupil-to-pupil can happen quickly due to the multitude of items they touch during their day in the classroom. Make sure these are included in your deep clean:

Tables (including the underside)
Chairs
Windows & Doors (including frames and handles)
Whiteboards & markers
Trays
Carpets
Radiators
Light switches
Computer keyboards & mice
Sinks & taps

This three minute video from ABC shows just how far germs can travel within the classroom environment – so it’s important your staff are concentrating on these areas.

The Staffroom

Just like any other kitchen, the staffroom has plenty of items that come into regular contact with hands and food. Making sure that your cleaning team is concentrating on every nook and cranny will help it stay cleaner for longer and prevent the spread of germs.

Make sure special attention is placed on any fridges, microwaves, kettles and any other appliances. The handles and surfaces will have seen an awful lot of hands over the academic year, so they’ll be teaming with bacteria.  Cleaning inside and out will eradicate germs and minimise the risk of infection.

Give tables and chairs a thorough wipe down with an antibacterial cleaning agent, and don’t forget things like blinds and cupboard handles that often get forgotten about.

Sports Equipment

Un-washed sports equipment can carry more germs than a toilet seat. Sweaty hands provide one of the nicest environments for bacteria to grow – warmth & moisture. It’s probably an area that a lot of cleaning contractors neglect, because it’s tricky, but it’s one of the most important areas to focus on.

If you’re worried about making time to clean benches, cages of balls and trays of batons, bean bags and bats then consider some ways of making it easier for your team. Cages of balls can easily be moved outside, where they can be sprayed with an antibacterial agent, then hosed or power washed down. Benches can also be cleaned in a similar way (providing their surface is suitable).

For smaller items like bats and batons, these can be wiped quickly with disposable wipes. Larger equipment surfaces can also be wiped down quickly and easily.

Don’t forget

The obvious places like kitchens and bathrooms. These two areas will have seen a lot of footfall during the year so will need to be cleaned for longer and more intensely than a routine clean.

Keep your staff stocked up with the essential equipment and clothing for them to do the job properly and continue to talk to them about their challenges. You can help them tackle all the hard to reach areas so they can leave the school sparkling.