Tips To Cleaning Around Kids

A reader writes: “We service three day care centers and would appreciate any advice that you can give on keeping them clean and safe. Thanks.”

This brief article cannot address all the Day Care cleaning issues that you need to consider. I can only make a few observations and encourage you to research this topic further with your chemical distributor who may have specific products and training related to this topic.

Based on our conversation you understand the importance of constant efforts towards disinfection. A day care center can be a hub for dissemination of all sorts of pathogens and conditions. Since children tend to touch/hug each other, cough/sneeze on each other and spend a lot of time on the floor they can easily pick and spread illness. When you add the additional issues such as head lice and other vermin it is very important that your service does all it can to protect them from each other. Oftentimes a child may not have any symptoms until it is too late. Working parents struggle with when to keep them home and it is easy to miss initial symptoms until it is too late.

Some points to consider is realize that the spray bottles filled with stale bleach that many of the attendants use can not only be a health hazard to the children and themselves but also can damage clothing, carpet and other fabrics without truly disinfecting. It is recommended that you provide guidance to the day care staff on what products to use in a safe manner. Another point is to review all the touch points with the day care staff stressing the importance of cleaning them on a regular basis with sanitizing wipes. Encourage washing the children’s hands regularly. Of course, when you conduct your regular cleaning regimen it should be much more intense and thorough than a regular office building. Do your best to limit the possibility of contagion at the source.

Regular hand washing, use of hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes can go a long ways towards protecting children and staff.

Your comments and questions are important. I hope to hear from you soon. Until then, keep it clean...

Mickey Crowe has been involved in the industry for over 35 years. He is a trainer, speaker and consultant. You can reach Mickey at 678-314-2171 or CTCG50@comcast.net.