The Importance of Deep Cleaning in Schools

Traditionally, the cleaning of residential homes and businesses is often associated with the start of spring, but for primary and secondary schools across the UK, summer is the perfect opportunity to deep clean buildings and facilities.

Keeping large premises clean and tidy can often be a difficult and daunting task for any member of staff, especially during those hectic final days of the summer term.

However, with most school’s summer provides the perfect opportunity to complete those cleaning tasks that are yet to be completed, as well as the deep cleaning of floors, walls and other surfaces.

There are many different things which go towards determining the success of a school, but one of the most overlooked aspects is often the overall cleanliness. The good news is professional cleaning equipment hire can make the job go both easier and quicker, so let’s take a look at a few of the reasons why:

1. Increased Safety

   A professional and well-structured summer deep cleaning schedule will result in no wet floors for pupils and staff to slip on, and it also ensures that when they return from their break they will encounter an environment that is safe for them to use.  As well as removing slip and trip hazards a summer break deep clean also means those with asthma or dust allergies won’t suffer from a dusty atmosphere when they come back.Steam cleaner hire can also play an important part in keeping the school’s facilities hygienic, with their use on:

   • Canteen equipment/area
   • Gym equipment
   • Non-wooden chairs and desks

   helping to prevent the breakout of a school bug early in the year.

2. Facilities Last Longer

   An unclean environment attracts pests and vermin like a powerful magnet, and the presence of even just a few bugs and beasts can wreak havoc on:

   • Electrical cables
   • Stored paperwork
   • Material fittings.

    

   Broken-down equipment is the last thing you need to kick off the new term, yet this is easily preventable by extending your clean to your stores.

   Computer equipment should be carefully cleaned to remove dust build up, and the use of a pressure washer on industrial technology machinery such as drills and band-saws should help remove the greasy dust residue accumulated throughout the year.

3. Save Time & Money

   If your equipment or facilities become unusable due to grime, then lessons inevitably must be rescheduled, putting you on the back foot from the outset. Regular maintenance of equipment extends its lifespan and reduces future repair costs but performing this action en masse during the school holidays also comes with many benefits.  The length of most schools’ summer break allows you to book your cleaners in at your convenience, allowing you to plan it around your staff’s summer availability. Also booking in one big clean will probably save you a lot of money, as opposed to several appointments scattered throughout the year’s smaller term holidays.

4. Appearance

   A tidy environment is proven to boost the productivity of both students and staff, so having a clean school to welcome everyone back is crucial if you want a great start to the year. Industrial floor scrubber hire can make light work of scuffed flooring in the canteen and sports hall, and floor  polishers will also help to make your school foyer and corridors shine brightly too. By keeping on top of your school’s flooring and furniture you’ll avoid carpets and desks looking tatty, which should also help the students respect their environment that little bit more.

5. Reputation

   The start of a new term inevitably means plenty of new faces at your school, with your fresh intake of year 7’s accompanied by transferred students and new staff. With this in mind it is vitally important you present them with a school premises that is both professional and welcoming, as otherwise your reputation can seriously begin to suffer.
   Future intake numbers could be drastically hit if your school’s cleaning standards slip, as not only will this make for a poor environment to work in, but people will also begin to wonder where else your standards are slipping.

Areas to Focus on

With the assistance of a professional scrubber dryer or steam cleaner you should focus on the following areas during the school deep cleaning process:

• Thoroughly clean all floor surface types, remove any carpet stains and deodorize.
• All gymnasium and sports equipment should also be deep cleaned to improve hygiene and lifespan.
• Food service equipment and work surfaces should be professional treated to remove grease and bacteria, as well as any eating areas used by pupils and staff.
• Paint, ink and chewing gum stains must be also removed from tables, chairs and classrooms.
• Deep cleaning toilets, changing rooms and showers can help to reduce limescale and improve the hygiene of the facilities. Most stains cannot be removed during normal, everyday cleaning.
• Finally, the summer break also provides a fantastic opportunity to thoroughly dust classroom bookcases, fixtures and fittings.

How Can We Help?

From improvements to everyday health and hygiene to increasing facility lifespan and appearance, the deep cleaning of all educational facilities should never be ignored.  The good news is Clean Sweep Hire are in your corner to improve cleaning quality, value for money and efficiency.

Please give our professional team a call to find out how we can help you.