School hygiene is particularly important as it may cause many diseases if inappropriate. Children at school are at risk of catching and transmitting infections as they are highly susceptible due to their immature immune systems. They also have contact with other children and share the facilities and equipment at school with them. Cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitising school facilities are some of the measures that could be taken to prevent the transmission of diseases.
Cleaning, disinfecting, sanitising
- Cleaning is one way of removing dust and dirt from surfaces. It is usually undertaken by a qualified school cleaner who scrubs the surfaces with warm, soapy water and a sponge or a cloth. The main goal of this process is to remove dirt, although germs might not be completely killed.
- In the disinfection process, suitable detergents are used to disinfect the surfaces that have already been cleaned. Disinfecting small objects is particularly important, as they are usually touched with hands and covered with germs.
- Sanitising further decreases the amount of germs and makes the school environment clean and bacteria-free.
Daily cleaning
Daily cleaning of desks, window sills, door handles, floors, toilets, toys, etc., is essential to maintaining the overall hygiene at the school. In case a spillage happens, it is recommended that it be cleaned as soon as possible to avoid further soiling. As viruses are fragile, a standard daily cleaning should be sufficient to kill germs and protect pupils.
As young children have immature immune systems, sometimes it is possible that cleaning harms their health. For this reason, the cleaning products should be applied according to their instructions, and the surfaces should be rinsed with pure water to remove the cleaning chemicals. If a surface isn’t visibly dirty, it could be disinfected with a suitable detergent to remove any invisible dirt and kill germs. For better results, it is recommended the disinfectant to remain on the surface for a certain time before wiped down. For electronic devices like computers, keyboards, and telephones, disinfecting wipes can be used.
A very important aspect of school cleaning is the eating area. The dishes, cutlery, and tables need to be clean at all times. Tablecloths and towels should be washed frequently not only to remove stains but also to disinfect them. Floors should be vacuumed and mopped daily for disinfection, and any fallen food should be removed before it gets rotten.
Hand washing
Hand washing is one way to prevent infections from spreading around schools. Pupils and teachers should wash their hands with soap and water regularly to keep the school environment free from germs.
Waste management
The school should be equipped with bins where all rubbish should be placed. The bins need to be emptied regularly, and the waste should be placed in the designated areas for collection by the waste management company.
If school facilities are not maintained adequately, they may become places where diseases can be easily transmitted.