Expert Cleaning Blogs: Tips for Commercial & Residential Cleaning

Smart and Safe Classroom Disinfecting Tips for Teachers

Written by Tom Hallissey | Sep 10, 2020 2:00:00 PM

Regular disinfecting is one of the most effective methods for limiting exposure to bacteria, viruses, and deadly pathogens inside schools. Our Antimicrobial Protection offers long-lasting protection for schools that are a common sense precaution for schools to improve safety. Learn how to help reduce the spread of germs this semester by studying our classroom disinfecting tips.

Why Disinfecting for Health is Important to Schools

As schools reopen in New York, classroom safety is on the mind of the whole community. To help protect you and your students, basic disinfecting of frequently touched surfaces can provide significant benefits, including:

  • Limiting the spread of contagious illnesses, like COVID-19 
  • Increasing productivity
  • Decreasing school absences
  • Improving indoor air quality
  • Reducing asthma and allergy triggers

Where to Disinfect in the Classroom

Whether it’s at the start of the day or in-between classes, disinfecting high-touch surfaces throughout your classroom is a smart strategy this semester.

Even if your school has been professionally disinfected recently, you may also want to consider disinfecting high-touch surfaces and objects in your classroom, including:

  • Door handles, knobs, and light switches
  • Desks, chairs, tables, bookshelves, and cabinets 
  • Shared computer keyboards, mice, and printers 
  • Shared electronics and learning materials
  • Shared learning materials

By making classroom disinfecting a regular part of your school day, you will help your students feel safer throughout the school year.

When to Do Classroom Disinfecting

With COVID-19 still a concern, disinfecting surfaces on a daily basis or between is a precaution many teachers plan to take.

The Best Times for Disinfecting in Schools

  • In the morning before the buses arrive
  • In-between classes
  • After the use of shared surfaces or objects 
  • Before students return from recess or breaks 
  • After the school day ends
  • Nighttime.  Nighttime disinfecting is a service provided by professional cleaners.

Recommended Disinfecting Products to Use

When disinfecting your classroom, stick to EPA-approved disinfectants that have been found to limit the spread of COVID-19 and other contagious illnesses. Click here to see a list of EPA-approved disinfectants.

The ABCs of Safety: Additional Tips for Teachers

To properly safeguard yourself and your students, teachers will benefit from creating a comprehensive action plan, which also includes the basics, like practicing and teaching hand hygiene.

Before eating, after using the bathroom, after recess or any other time hands get dirty, handwashing for at least 20 seconds with plain soap and water is highly recommended.

If you choose to use hand sanitizer, the U.S Centers for Disease Control recommends products made with at least 60 percent alcohol. Remember to store products like these out of reach of students.

Imperial Cleaning Safeguards Schools Throughout New York

As our teachers and students return to the classrooms, Imperial Cleaning is right by their side, disinfecting New York schools overnight to create safer learning environments. With our Antimicrobial Protection and our Electrostatic Spray of Disinfectant, we are working to improve peace of mind for our educators working on the frontlines.

To improve safety in your school, consider choosing Imperial Cleaning’s powerful and long-lasting disinfecting services. Request an estimate today.