Why Getting Better Cleaning Services Means We Can Open Schools
In the midst of a global pandemic children have been sent home. If we’re going to open schools back up, a strong focus must be placed on proper cleaning.
Reopening the United States is going to require all of us to stay within the best practices provided by the CDC. Social distancing, isolation, personal cleanliness, and sanitation within our homes and businesses should be a priority.
When it comes us being able to open schools here in the Houston area, ensuring that we are keeping them clean and sanitized in the midst of a global pandemic is going to play a massive role.
How School Cleaning Services Can Help Reopen Our Schools in Houston
Reducing the risk of exposure to COVID-19 by excellent cleaning and disinfection is going to be one of the most important aspects of our schools being able to reopen.
Of course, we all play a role in slowing down the spread of the Coronavirus by social distancing, washing our hands, and wearing masks. Reopening our schools and every other business is going to require more.
The United States Government has a plan and that not only includes but focuses on the cleanliness of public workspaces, businesses, and schools. If we want our school to reopen and our lives to move back into a normal routine again, then we are going to have to follow this plan. That means cleaning and disinfecting our schools properly.
Sanitizing Plan to Open Schools
Developing a sanitizing plan is one of the best ways we can help ensure that our school will reopen and our kids will stay safe. With the guidance of the CDC, we can make that we have a proper plan laid out.
Developing a Plan
This will involve going over what needs to be cleaned and how often it needs to be sanitized. There is so much to consider when it comes to having a well-drawn out plan. Staff members, resources, products, equipment, time, cost, and the actual cleaning itself are all factors.
Here are many aspects to keep in mind from the CDC:
Outdoors: Maintaining regular cleaning and hygiene practices for all outdoor areas.
Workspace and High Touch Areas: What is touched on a regular basis will all need to be wiped down frequently. Most of these will need to be wiped down a minimum of twice a day.
High touch surfaces and objects include:
- Door and window handles
- Desks and tables
- Bathroom facilities
- Remote controls
- Computer equipment (think keyboards and mouse devices)
- Classroom resources, such as books and games
- Furniture
- Light switches
- Reception desks
- Telephones
- Fingerprint scanners
- Communal kitchens or canteens
Follow through each employee’s routine and use only EPA approved products to fight against germs.
Hard Versus Non-Porous Materials: What kind of material or item needs to be cleaned and what will be the best sanitizing product for it?
Resources and Equipment: Do you have the resources and equipment suitable to ensure a clean and sanitized environment? What cleaning supplies do you have available? If you don’t have them, it may be best to hire a local cleaning service.
Routine: How often does this get touched? When will we have our staff clean? Do we have enough staff to keep up with the CDC regulations?
The Time and Cost of Cleaning Schools
When there is so much to consider for cleaning, it can become a daunting task. Every nook and cranny of the school needs to be considered. When you put this task up to only a few school janitors, the level of cleanliness and efficiency may be lost.
You also have to take into consideration the cost of not only the cleaning products, which needs to be EPA approved but also of the new cleaning equipment the schools will need to purchase. The cost of local schools ensuring these best practices can become expensive very quickly.
Machines such as an electrostatic misting fogger can cost a school up to $7000 and take several weeks to arrive.
According to The School Superintendents Association (AASA), an estimate from June shows us that the average school district is going to have to spend an additional $1.8 million in order to open within health and safety regulations.
Between the cost of janitors, cleaning supplies, and equipment, plus the time spent planning and implementing, it makes more sense for schools to hire a cleaning service instead.
Why Hire a Local Cleaning Service
Hiring a professional janitorial service has many benefits for schools.
By hiring on a professional cleaning service, you’ll have a team of experts that know how to disinfect and spot-clean an area.
Cleaning companies also already come equipped with all of the supplies needed to ensure that the best practices of the CDC are correctly implemented.
This will help relieve the school of the time and cost of doing it themselves.
Checklist to Find the Best Sanitizing Cleaning Services in Houston
When it comes to choosing a local cleaning service, you want to make that you choose the right one for your business. Here are a few things you need to consider before hiring a cleaning service provider here in Houston.
Services Provided
Check and see if they offer all of the actual cleaning services you will need, such as:
- Daily maintenance
- Carpet shampooing and extraction
- Floorcare, including stripping, finishing, and burnishing
- Window cleaning
- Pressure washing
- Event setup/planning
- School setup/resets for classrooms and church activities
- Specialty cleaning services and project work at your request
Company Values
Look at the company as a whole, checking to see if they have a great vision plan along with core values. Customer service is just as important, call up your local cleaning company and listen to how they greet you and provide you with the information you are seeking.
Its also good to see that a company is green. Not only will you be hiring a great local company, but you will also be doing it in an environmentally friendly way!
We Can Open Schools With Cleanliness
With proper cleaning and disinfecting provided by reputable companies in Houston, we can open schools and keep everyone healthy. However, this only works if we focus on this and implement it correctly and that’s where professional cleaning companies come in.
If you are looking for more information on local janitorial services, contact us today so we can provide you with the best cleaning services in the Houston area.