How to Choose a Day Care Center Cleaning Service

Without strong cleaning procedures, day care centers can quickly transform into havens for dirt and germs. Choosing the right day care center cleaning service is crucial for maintaining a clean, kid-friendly environment. This article will guide you through the essential factors to consider and questions to ask when selecting a cleaning service for your day care center.

1. Will They Sanitize and Disinfect Effectively?

Sanitization and disinfection are critical for any qualified day care center cleaning service. Preschoolers frequently come into contact with germy surfaces, and they spread germs like nobody’s business. Worse yet, they have less robust immune systems than older kids and adults, further increasing their risk of infection.

To reduce the risk of infection in your day care center, talk with cleaning vendors about their approach to sanitization and disinfection. Here are some key points to cover:

• Products Used: Which sanitizers and disinfectants do they use? Ensure they are effective against a broad spectrum of pathogens.

• Application Methods: How do they apply these products to different surfaces? Effective disinfection requires proper application techniques.

• Coverage: Are there any areas they won’t be able to disinfect? Ensure all high-touch and high-traffic areas are covered.

• Safety: Are these products safe for your day care center? Non-toxic and child-friendly products are essential for a safe environment.

2. Will They Use Safe and Kid-Friendly Cleaning Products?

As a day care owner/operator, you’re tasked with maintaining a safe and healthy space for growing kids. To do so, you’ll need to be mindful of the cleaning products used in your facility. Many cleaning products contain ingredients that can be harmful to children’s short-term health and long-term development if misused. Some of the most common culprits include chlorine bleach, ammonium compounds, triclosan, and phthalates.

Before hiring a day care center cleaning service, discuss the following:

• Ingredients: Do the products contain harmful chemicals? Avoid products with chlorine bleach, ammonium compounds, triclosan, and phthalates.

• Safety Protocols: How will they ensure these products are used safely if they contain any harmful ingredients?

• Green Cleaning Options: Consider a green cleaning service that uses non-toxic and kid-friendly products.

3. Will They Keep the Air Free of Dust and Pollution?

Most people think that a day care cleaning service is there just to keep surfaces clean and germ-free. But cleaners should also be keeping the air in your day care clean, limiting airborne pollutants like dust, allergens, mold spores, and airborne bacteria.

This can be accomplished through a mix of strategies:

• Microfiber Textiles: These are effective at trapping dust and allergens.

• HEPA Filter Vacuums: These vacuums trap dust and allergens, preventing them from re-entering the air.

• Mold and Bacteria Neutralization: Cleaners should be able to neutralize these pollutants at the source.

4. Will They Be Able to Handle Day Care Messes and Accidents?

Day care centers see their fair share of spills, messes, and accidents. In many cases, you’re left with unsightly stains or unpleasant odors. In the worst cases, improper cleaning could leave your day care with expensive-to-fix problems, like mold growth or water damage.

A great day care cleaning service will be prepared for the worst that your day care has to offer:

• Stains and Spills: Ensure they have the tools, products, and processes to clean up juice stains, paint spills, and other common messes.

• Odor Neutralization: Effective cleaning services can neutralize unpleasant odors instead of just masking them.

• Damage Prevention: They should have protocols to prevent issues like mold growth and water damage.

5. Will They Keep Your Facility Safe and Secure?

When you hire a day care center cleaning service, tidiness and hygiene aren’t the only concerns. There’s also the matter of site security. Cleaners typically work after hours, which means they’ll have access to your day care center when you’re not there. If cleaners don’t take the proper security protocols, your facility could be at risk.

Before choosing a day care cleaning service, talk with vendors about how they approach site security:

• Access Protocols: How do they access and secure your site?

• Identification: Are their cleaners easy to identify by their uniforms?

• Screening Procedures: What kinds of screening procedures do they use for hiring cleaners

Their answers will give you a strong sense of how they approach the safety and security of your day care. This is a vital subject not just for your peace of mind, but for the safety of the children in your care.

Conclusion

Choosing the right day care center cleaning service is essential for maintaining a clean, safe, and healthy environment for children. By asking the right questions and considering factors such as sanitization, safe cleaning products, air quality, handling messes, and site security, you can ensure that you select a service that meets the unique needs of your day care facility. A dedicated and professional cleaning service will provide peace of mind and help create a nurturing space where children can thrive.

Related

• Measuring Cleanliness with ATP Bacteria Meters
• Common Bacteria in Commercial Spaces
• Importance of Regular Car Deep Cleaning
• Cleaning During a Pandemic for Public Health
• What are the Responsibilities of a Commercial Cleaner?

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