Childcare centres are one of the places where commercial cleaning is essential, however some cleaning may need to be undertaken by staff throughout the day. Children still have developing immune systems so viruses and bacteria can be easily transferred between them and taken home to families. This is why correct and regular cleaning processes need to be undertaken.
This has only become more important with the current pandemic so that everyone can stay safe from harmful and contagious illnesses. Therefore, if you run a daycare or childcare facility, you should have a daily cleaning checklist that matches the one below. Otherwise, you need to quickly get your centre up to code.
At the end of the day, clean and sanitise
Cleaning and sanitising are two separate processes, but both are important in a childcare centre. When children have gone home for the day or before they arrive in the morning, the following parts of your centre need to be both cleaned and sanitised to minimise transfer of harmful viruses and bacteria.
- SurfacesMany surfaces in your centre will need to be cleaned and sanitised daily. This includes, tables, chairs, windowsills, doorknobs and other surfaces that children regularly interact with throughout the day.If a surface is ever soiled with blood, mud, or any bodily fluid or substance, it should be removed from the area and cleaned immediately.
- BathroomsBathrooms are a high-risk area for the transfer of germs and viruses. As many children at your centre will also be toilet training, you can expect there to be regular spills along with the usual messes you’d expect in a bathroom.
Take care to clean and sanitise all sinks and toilets, as well as walls, floors, taps and door handles. - Floors All flooring in your centre will also need to be cleaned and sanitised daily. For hard floors like wood and linoleum, dirt and debris should be swept up first, before vacuuming the area. Afterwards, mop the floor to sanitise it.If you have any rugs, carpets and mats, these should be vacuumed daily and sanitised weekly. However, as with all items in your childcare centre, if they become soiled they should be removed immediately and cleaned before being returned to the centre.
- Waste binsEmpty the contents of waste bins daily, particularly if they contain hazardous materials like used tissues and dirty nappies. Use disposable bags and dispose of waste safely and then clean and sanitise the waste bin. Replace the bag in the bin for future use.
Sometimes you’ll have to clean immediately
As noted previously, there will be times when you need to spot clean immediately in your childcare centre. Therefore, all staff should know where cleaning equipment is and when they need to do so.
- An item goes in the child’s mouth Young children are often learning and exploring about the world using all their senses. This means that they will regularly use their mouth to get a sense of new or favourite items. However, saliva can transmit many viruses and germs between children. Therefore, if a child places an item in their mouth, remove the item from play and clean and sanitise it.As much as possible, discourage children from putting objects in their mouth because they can also prove to be a choking hazard.When it comes to cleaning these items, the method depends on the item’s composition. Plastic items can be hand washed in hot water with detergent, while soft toys should be placed in a washing machine following manufacturer’s instructions. Make sure all toys are completely dry before returning them to the children.
- Toileting accidentsWhen children are being toilet trained, be prepared for toileting accidents. Clean up the child and soiled items immediately. Similarly, if they are using toilet training equipment, these should be cleaned and sanitised after each use.
- Child is sickIf any child is sick, such as vomiting or sneezing, clean up the child and any affected area as needed. Isolate the child if appropriate and follow your centre’s procedures for alerting parents and taking care of unwell children.
