While we don’t like to admit it, many adults may struggle to practice basic hand hygiene at all times throughout the day. We all know someone who doesn’t wash their hands before every meal, or who might miss a hand wash after using the bathroom. If adults sometimes struggle with hand hygiene, kids have it even harder. It’s no wonder that daycares are common places for the transmission of communicable diseases. Keeping a clean daycare centre is therefore critical to protect the health and wellness of kids and their families.
Cleaning vs. Disinfecting
The first thing to consider when thinking about daycare cleanliness is the difference between cleaning and disinfecting. Kids track in dirt from outside, grime from whatever they’re touching, and generally like to touch and feel all kinds of surfaces. Exploration is a messy business. To remove unwanted surface contaminants, you’ll want to use good old soap and water, which remains the most effective way to clean a surface. Cleaning, however, is different from disinfecting or sanitizing, which refers to killing or otherwise inactivating microorganisms and other pathogens. Hand sanitizer, for example, is effective at disinfecting, but will not help you clean off a dirty surface. A daycare requires a thorough understanding of both of these principles in staying clean and sanitized.
Areas to Clean
A daycare is full of individual toys and usually has multiple play areas and rooms. The best way to ensure everything is cleaned and sanitized thoroughly is to follow a clearly outlined cleaning schedule. You should aim to clean areas the same way on a regular basis. High-touch surfaces, for example, should be subjected to daily cleaning. This goes doubly for any surface that is visibly soiled, or areas that you know came into contact with bodily fluids. Door handles, keyboards, shared toys, and cubbies are all examples of high-touch areas that need constant attention. The National Association for the Education of Young Children recommends most areas in a daycare get cleaned at the end of every day, and that fridges, carpets, large rugs, and blankets get cleaned monthly. Alberta Health Services has created a resource that outlines the health and safety guidelines for child care facilities, such as daycares.
Children learn and explore their world in messy ways; it’s up to us to make sure they are doing so safely. Looking for someone to handle your daycare cleaning needs? Regency Cleaning is here to help! Give us a call at 403-520-7788 today to see what we can do for you.
