main-logo
  • Fire, Water & Mold
    • Fire & Water Damage
    • Drying & Dehumidification
    • HVAC Decontamination
    • What is Black Mold?
    • Insurance Restoration
  • Commercial
    • COVID-19 Cleaning & Decontamination Services
    • Commercial Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration
    • Commercial Water Damage Restoration
    • Document & Media Recovery
    • Commercial Mold Remediation
    • Commercial Cleaning Services
    • Priority Disaster Response Program
  • Residential
    • Residential Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration
    • Residential Water Damage Restoration
    • Residential Mold Remediation
  • Construction
    • Residential Construction
    • Commercial Construction
    • Multi-Family Construction
    • Controlled Demolitions
  • Disasters
    • Residential Disaster Recovery
    • Commercial Disaster Recovery
    • Emergency Repairs
    • Storm Damage Repairs
    • Natural Disasters
    • Biohazard Cleanup
    • Personal Effects Recovery
    • Aviation & Transportation Incidents
  • About Us
    • Careers
    • Our Reviews
    • Our History
    • Our Clients
    • Resources
    • Blog
    • Business Opportunities
    • Contact Us
×
  • Fire, Water & Mold
    • Fire & Water Damage
    • Drying & Dehumidification
    • HVAC Decontamination
    • What is Black Mold?
    • Insurance Restoration
  • Commercial
    • COVID-19 Cleaning & Decontamination Services
    • Commercial Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration
    • Commercial Water Damage Restoration
    • Document & Media Recovery
    • Commercial Mold Remediation
    • Commercial Cleaning Services
    • Priority Disaster Response Program
  • Residential
    • Residential Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration
    • Residential Water Damage Restoration
    • Residential Mold Remediation
  • Construction
    • Residential Construction
    • Commercial Construction
    • Multi-Family Construction
    • Controlled Demolitions
  • Disasters
    • Residential Disaster Recovery
    • Commercial Disaster Recovery
    • Emergency Repairs
    • Storm Damage Repairs
    • Natural Disasters
    • Biohazard Cleanup
    • Personal Effects Recovery
    • Aviation & Transportation Incidents
  • About Us
    • Careers
    • Our Reviews
    • Our History
    • Our Clients
    • Resources
    • Blog
    • Business Opportunities
    • Contact Us
24-Hour Response
877-899-0676
24-Hour Response
877-899-0676

COVID Cleaning Guide for Schools and Universities

Home / Helpful Tips / COVID Cleaning Guide for Schools and Universities

COVID Cleaning Guide for Schools and Universities

August 19, 2020

COVID Cleaning Guide for Schools and UniversitiesReopening schools right now may seem risky, but it is essential. And, if done properly, it can be safe for all those involved. The first step is for schools to clean and disinfect their campuses carefully.

We’ve put together some guidance, based on the CDC’s current knowledge of COVID-19, to help school administrators as they aim to protect the health and safety of the students, teachers, staff, and their families.

School Cleaning and COVID-19 Disinfection

We know that the virus that causes COVID-19 is mainly spread by respiratory droplets expelled by coughs or sneezes and breathed in by someone nearby.

Another way the virus is spread is that if a person touches a surface contaminated with the virus and then touches their eyes, nose, or mouth, the virus can then enter their mucous membranes.

This is the reason that thorough and regular cleaning and disinfection of schools is of utmost importance. These are two critical everyday actions that need to take place in schools.

They will each help slow the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. But what’s the difference between the two?

  • Cleaning: This will help to remove germs and dirt physically from high-contact surfaces or objects. Cleaning is done with soap/detergent and water. By eliminating the germs, there is a lower risk of spreading infection.

  • Disinfecting: This will help to kill germs on surfaces or objects. The chemicals used are able to kill the germs, but they do not clean the surfaces and remove the germs. The action of disinfection is able to lower the risk of spreading infections. Take note that cleaning surfaces after disinfection is advised.

How to Create a Plan for School Facility Cleaning

As mentioned above, cleaning and disinfection will need to happen frequently at schools to reduce the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. The best way to make sure this happens regularly is to create a plan.

Here are 4 important steps to consider when creating and sticking to your cleaning plan:

  1. Discuss the Plan: Discuss the plan with staff and teachers, and the ways to possibly overcome obstacles when it comes to daily cleaning and disinfection of the campus.
  2. Train Staff: Ensure the cleaning staff, teachers, and outside cleaning companies understand the appropriate and safe ways to use the cleaning products, and that PPE is used where necessary.
  3. Shared Objects: Limit the use of shared objects. Where the sharing of objects is necessary, make sure to clean and disinfect between use.
  4. Develop a Schedule: You’ll want to modify standard cleaning procedures to accommodate more frequent cleaning and disinfection. Focus on frequently-touched objects and areas (playground equipment, door handles, sink handles, computer keyboards, school buses), and highlight items that need disinfection between use and most appropriate times for disinfection.

Effective Cleaning and School Disinfection Practices

Now that your cleaning plan is ready to go, what are the best cleaning and disinfection practices? Here are a few things to consider:

  • Choose the right products: Look for products that meet the EPA disinfection criteria as these products can kill the virus and often come in ready-to-use sprays and wipes.
  • Have adequate supply: You’ll have to increase the number of products available for cleaning staff and teachers. The classroom will need to be stocked with a variety of products (sprays and wipes) for classroom objects to be wiped down before use, as well as products for the students to use themselves.
  • Use a bleach solution: If appropriate for the surface you are cleaning, bleach solutions are also highly effective against the virus. Prepare the diluted bleach solutions fresh daily.
  • Don’t stockpile: Not only can stockpiling result in shortages for other schools and people, but supplies can degrade and become less effective if stored for long periods.
  • Follow safety precautions: When using disinfectants, always read and follow the directions on the label for safe and effective use.

Always Promote Hand Hygiene in School

As the COVID-19 virus is thought mainly to be spread from person to person, one of the main precautions we can all take to limit the spread of the virus is by regularly washing and cleaning our hands.

Train staff, teachers, and students to clean their hands multiple times a day with soap and water (for at least 20 seconds) or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (with at least 70% alcohol).

Put up posters on all the message boards, and in bathrooms and elevators. Send regular reminder emails to all your staff and students. After all, this is a crucial step to avoid transferring germs to objects and people.

Plus, build time into the daily school routines for students and staff to wash hands, and take into account the time this will take while students are social distancing.

How We Can Help

The BMS CAT teams are on standby to provide cleaning and decontamination services to commercial properties – such as schools, office buildings, hospitals, hotels and more. With high-quality cleaning supplies and state-of-the-art equipment, including electrostatic fogging, we can disinfect premises, surfaces and objects.

If you are looking for COVID-19 cleaning and disinfecting services in your school facility, consider contacting the experts at BMS CAT. Call us at 877-730-1948 or visit our website for more information.

Filed Under: Helpful Tips

Search

Subscribe to our Blog

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Categories

  • Air Duct Cleaning
  • Carpet Cleaning
  • Disaster Recovery
  • Document Recovery
  • Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration
  • Helpful Tips
  • Insurance
  • Mold Remediation
  • News & Press
  • Reconstruction
  • Restoration
  • Social Media
  • Tile & Grout Cleaning
  • Transportation
  • Upholstery & Furniture Cleaning
  • Water Damage Restoration
  • White Papers

Archives

  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • March 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015

We Service Your Area

  • Atlanta

  • Cleveland

  • Houston

  • New York

  • San Antonio

  • Austin

  • College Station

  • Los Angeles

  • Oklahoma City

  • San Francisco

  • Bonita Springs

  • Columbus

  • Marco Island

  • Orlando

  • Tulsa

  • Boston

  • Dallas

  • Miami

  • Petoskey

  • Vero Beach

  • Charlotte

  • Fort Worth

  • Nashville

  • Pittsburgh

  • Washington D.C.

  • Chicago

  • Detroit

  • New Jersey

  • Port Huron

  • See All Locations

  • Fire, Water & Mold
  • Commercial
  • Residential
  • Construction
  • Disasters
  • Careers
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Map
  • CE Courses

Corporate Headquarters
5718 Airport Freeway
Haltom City, TX, 76117

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • rss
  • youtube

Copyright © 2020 - All rights reserved.


Digital Marketing by thriveagency