Proper cleaning reduces illness outbreaks in child care by breaking the chain of germ transmission through a two-step process of cleaning and disinfecting. First, cleaning with soap and water removes dirt and grease, which greatly reduces the number of germs. Second, disinfecting kills remaining germs on surfaces like toys, counters, and doorknobs. Combining these with good hygiene practices, such as frequent handwashing, a cleaning schedule, and isolating sick individuals, creates a safer environment for children and staff

Understanding the Health Risks in Child Care Settings

Health risks

• Infectious diseases: Close proximity in child care settings facilitates the spread of illnesses like the flu, common cold, and gastrointestinal infections, notes MedlinePlus. Other risks include head lice, scabies, and Hepatitis A.
• Allergic reactions: Children may have allergic reactions to food, materials, or insect bites.
• Mental and emotional stress: Child care workers, particularly pregnant ones, face risks of occupational stress and potential harm to the fetus from certain exposures. 

Safety risks

• Physical injuries: Common accidents include slips, trips, falls, and injuries from playground equipment or other hazards.
• Unsafe environment: This can stem from poorly maintained buildings or play spaces, unsafe equipment, and improper storage of hazardous materials like cleaning products.

 Inadequate supervision: Poorly trained staff or insufficient adult-to-child ratios    increase the risk of accidents and neglect.

• Accidents and emergencies: Emergencies such as fires, severe weather, or medical issues require a clear and practiced emergency plan. 

Mitigating of health and safety risks

• Hygiene: Ensure consistent and thorough handwashing for both children and staff. Best  child care cleaning company maintains cleanliness of the environment, toys, and play materials. Follow strict guidelines for food preparation and toileting/diaper changing, including disinfecting surfaces after each use.
• Physical environment: Continuously inspect and maintain the safety of the building, playground equipment, and all play resources. Store hazardous substances, like cleaning supplies and medications, in a safe and inaccessible place. Keep emergency exits clear and well-marked.
• Staff training and procedures: Train staff on health and safety policies, emergency procedures, and first aid. Ensure staff are aware of and follow procedures for handling injuries and illnesses, such as isolating sick children and disinfecting after illness.
• Health promotion: Encourage children to follow hygiene and safety procedures. Ensure proper immunizations for staff and children. Have plans for managing food allergies. Provide nutritious meals and snacks.
• Risk assessment: Regularly conduct risk assessments to identify potential hazards, evaluate the level of risk, and implement necessary precautions.
• Emergency preparedness: Developing and practicing clear emergency plans for events like fire or natural disasters. 

High-Touch Surfaces: Why They Matter Most

Reason Behind The Critical Place to Focus On

• Germ Transfer Points: Even if a high-touch surface isn't visibly dirty, it can still harbor invisible pathogens that transfer easily to hands.
• Pathogen Survival: Many common pathogens, including the flu and common cold viruses, and even more severe bacteria like MRSA or E. coli, can survive on surfaces for hours or even days.
• Breaking the Chain of Infection: Continuously cleaning and disinfecting these specific areas, combined with good hand hygiene, is one of the most effective and straightforward ways to disrupt the "circle of transmission" and reduce the risk of illness.
• Protecting Vulnerable Individuals: Focusing on these surfaces is especially important in environments with vulnerable people, such as hospitals, nursing homes, or households with children or the elderly, who are more susceptible to infections.
• Maintaining Productivity/Health: In workplaces and schools, proper high-touch surface hygiene reduces absenteeism due to illness, leading to a healthier environment and sustained productivity. 
• Common High-Touch Surfaces
• High-touch surfaces vary by environment, but common examples include: 
• Door handles, doorknobs, and push plates
• Light switches and elevator buttons
• Handrails and stair railings
• Phones especially shared office phones and mobile phones and TV remotes
• Keyboards, mice, and other shared office equipment (printers, coffee machines)
• Faucets, toilet flush handles, and soap dispensers
• Kitchen and bathroom countertops
• Shared tables like conference, dining, bedside tray tables in healthcare 

Best Practices for Maintenance

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasize the importance of targeted cleaning protocols. 
• Clean Before Disinfecting: Always clean a surface with soap and water or a general cleaner first to remove visible dirt and grime before applying a disinfectant. Disinfectants are less effective if applied directly to soiled surfaces.
• Use the Right Products: Use an EPA-approved disinfectant and follow the manufacturer's instructions for proper use, including the recommended "dwell time" (how long the product needs to stay wet on the surface to kill pathogens effectively).
• Establish Frequency: High-traffic areas and surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected at least daily, and more frequently in high-risk settings like hospitals, during flu season, or if someone is ill.
• Promote Hand Hygiene: Encouraging frequent and effective hand washing or the use of hand sanitizer, as this complements surface cleaning efforts and further disrupts the chain of transmission. 

Effective Cleaning Protocols for Toys and Shared Materials

General Principles

• Clean first, then disinfect: Disinfectants are less effective on visibly dirty surfaces, so always wash with a detergent and water solution first.
• Check manufacturer guidelines: Always refer to care labels and instructions before using any cleaning method to avoid damage.
• Dry completely: Ensuring all items are thoroughly air-dried or machine-dried before storage or reuse to prevent mold and mildew growth.
• Use appropriate protective equipment: Wear utility or disposable gloves when cleaning and wash hands afterward. 

Disinfecting Solutions

• Mild Soap and Water: Good for general cleaning and safe for most materials.
• White Vinegar: A natural disinfectant. Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle or basin. Works well on hard, non-porous surfaces.
• Diluted Bleach Solution: A powerful disinfectant. Mix ½ cup of unscented bleach per gallon of water (or 1 tablespoon per quart). Soak toys for about 5-10 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with clean water to remove all residue. Never mix bleach with other cleaners. 

Shared Material Management

• Establish a "Dirty Toy" Bin: Have a designated, covered bin out of reach of children where soiled toys can be placed throughout the day, awaiting cleaning.
• Rotate Toys: Use two sets of toys and rotate them, allowing one set to be cleaned and fully dried before being put back into use.
• Hand Hygiene: Children and adults should wash their hands before and after playing with shared materials like play-dough.
• Remove Damaged Items: Inspect all shared materials regularly and discard items with cracks, chips, or broken parts, as damage can compromise effective cleaning and provide hiding spots for germs. 

The Role of Regular Cleaning and Disinfection

The roles of cleaning and disinfection

• Cleaning: Physically removes dirt, dust, organic matter, and debris from a surface using soap or detergent and water. This is the first step and is essential because it eliminates the physical layer that can shield germs from disinfectants.
• Disinfection: Kills remaining germs on a surface, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. This is achieved using specific chemical products, like bleach or alcohol-based solutions, and is critical for reducing the risk of infection and preventing illness.
• Sanitizing: Reduces the number of germs to levels considered safe by public health codes, but does not necessarily kill them all. Disinfecting is more thorough than sanitizing. 

Why they are important together

• Preventing the spread of infection: Together, they break the chain of infection by removing pathogens from surfaces where they can be transmitted from one person to another.
• Protecting vulnerable populations: Environments with high concentrations of at-risk individuals, like hospitals or nursing homes, require strict cleaning and disinfection protocols to protect them from infections.
• Reducing cross-contamination: Continuous cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces, such as doorknobs, light switches, and countertops, minimizes the risk of spreading germs from person to person.
• Combating antimicrobial resistance: Proper cleaning, followed by disinfection, helps reduce the overall microbial load, which is an important part of the strategy to fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria. 

Best practices

• Clean first: Always clean a surface with soap and water before you disinfect it.
• Follow instructions: Read and follow the label instructions for all cleaning and disinfecting products, including the recommended contact time for the disinfectant to be effective.
• Focus on high-touch areas: Pay extra attention to surfaces that are touched frequently, as they are common hotspots for germs. 

Proper Hand Hygiene Practices for Staff and Children

Handwashing steps

• Wet: Wet the hands with clean, running water.
• Soap: Apply soap to your hands.
• Lather and scrub: Rub your hands together to create a lather and scrub for at least 20 seconds. Be sure to wash all surfaces:
• Palms
• Backs of hands
• Between fingers
• Under and around nails
• Thumbs
• Wrists
• Rinse: Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
• Dry: Dry your hands thoroughly with a clean or disposable towel.
• Turn off faucet: Use a paper towel to turn off the faucet. 

When to wash hands

• Before and after touching patients, preparing food, or eating
• Before, during, and after cleaning or disinfecting
• After using the toilet
• After touching frequently touched surfaces in public places
• After handling garbage or bodily fluids
• Before touching your eyes, nose, or mouth 
• Hand sanitizer
• Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol when soap and water are not available.
• Apply a palmful and rub until hands are dry, ensuring you cover all surfaces.
• Wash with soap and water after using the toilet, handling trash, or when hands are visibly dirty.

Managing Illness Through Proper Sanitation Procedures

Personal hygiene

• Wash hands frequently: Wash with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the bathroom, before/after preparing food, and after coughing, sneezing, or touching your face.
• Cover coughs and sneezes: Use a tissue and dispose of it immediately, or cough and sneeze into your elbow instead of your hands.
• Avoid touching face: Keep unwashed hands away from your eyes, nose, and mouth to prevent germs from entering your body.
• Do not share items: Avoid sharing cups, dishes, and cell phones.
• Bathe and shower often: Continuous bathing or showering helps prevent the spread of infections.
• Stay home when sick: This is a crucial step to prevent spreading illness to others. 

Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces 

• Clean first: Use a cleaner or detergent to wash away dirt and germs from surfaces before disinfecting.
• Disinfect regularly: Consistently clean high-touch surfaces like doorknobs, countertops, and light switches with a disinfectant.
• Use paper towels: When cleaning surfaces, paper towels are more sanitary for wiping than reusable cloths, which can harbor bacteria.
• Follow instructions: When using disinfectants, follow the manufacturer's instructions for application and contact time. 

Other important practices

• Get vaccinated: Staying up-to-date on vaccinations is a key way to protect from illness.
• Practice physical distancing: When recommended by health authorities, maintain distance from others to limit the spread of airborne illnesses.
• Handle food safely: Wash hands and clean surfaces often when handling food. Clean all food-contact surfaces with hot, soapy water. 

Importance of Ventilation and Air Quality

Health and safety

• Removes pollutants and allergens: Ventilation removes dust, pollen, pet dander, and chemical fumes that can cause respiratory problems.
• Reduces health risks: By diluting and removing irritants, good ventilation can help prevent or alleviate asthma, allergies, and other respiratory issues. It also protects against dangerous gases like carbon monoxide and radon that can build up indoors.
• Prevents mold and mildew: Proper air exchange controls humidity, which is essential for preventing mold and mildew growth, often triggered by high moisture levels from cooking, bathing, or other activities. 

Comfort and productivity

• Controls humidity: Ventilation helps maintain a comfortable humidity level, which can reduce condensation on windows and walls.
• Eliminates odors: It removes stale and unpleasant odors from cooking, pets, and other sources.
• Improves focus and well-being: A fresh, clean-air environment can reduce fatigue, improve concentration, and enhance overall productivity and quality of life. 

Training Staff on Correct Cleaning Techniques

1. Establish procedures and content 

• Create standard operating procedures (SOPs): Write down clear, step-by-step instructions for each cleaning process to ensure consistency.
• Develop training materials: Create content like cleaning checklists, training manuals, and videos for different tasks and equipment.
• Set clear expectations: Provide a detailed list of cleaning expectations, including specific tasks and responsibilities, as well as company policies and safety protocols. 

2. Conduct hands-on training 

• Demonstrate techniques: Show staff the correct way to perform tasks from basic dusting and mopping to complex floor care and sanitation.
• Practice with tools and chemicals: Supervise staff as they use cleaning products and equipment to ensure they can operate them safely and correctly, following all manufacturer instructions.
• Use mentorship: Pair new employees with experienced staff for mentorship, allowing them to learn best practices and receive immediate advice.
• Simulate real-world scenarios: Use role-playing or simulated scenarios to prepare staff for real-world challenges. 

3. Implement quality control and continuous improvement

• Establish quality control: Train staff to perform self-audits, identify areas for improvement, and ensure they are adhering to industry standards.
• Provide regular feedback: Conduct regular inspections and provide constructive, ongoing feedback to help staff maintain high-quality work.
• Encourage feedback: Create an environment where staff feel comfortable asking questions and providing feedback on the training process and procedures.
• Offer ongoing training: Reinforce initial training with refresher courses and consider workshops or training sessions with industry experts. 

How Consistent Cleaning Reduces Absenteeism

How consistent cleaning reduces absenteeism

• Fights the spread of germs: Regular and thorough cleaning, particularly of frequently touched surfaces like doorknobs, phones, and keyboards, helps prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses. This is crucial because 80% of common infections are spread by hand.
• Improves air quality: Proper cleaning of ventilation systems and using appropriate filters reduces dust, allergens, and pathogens circulating in the air. This can lead to fewer respiratory illnesses and sick leave requests.
• Minimizes cross-contamination: Frequent cleaning in shared areas like bathrooms, break rooms, and meeting rooms prevents germs from accumulating and spreading between employees, safeguarding the health of the entire workforce.
• Reduces overall illness: A cleaner environment means fewer sick days overall, as employees are less likely to catch common colds or other contagious diseases. This translates directly to fewer absences and greater productivity.
• Encourages a culture of health: A well-maintained and clean workspace demonstrates a commitment to employee health and safety, fostering a culture where people feel better and are more motivated to come to work. 

Conclusion

Cleanliness in childcare centers helps create a safe space where children can play, learn, and grow without the constant threat of illness. A clean atmosphere also promotes a sense of well-being and security among children and staff. Staff play a vital role in maintaining hygiene standards.

FAQ

1. Why is proper cleaning so important in child care facilities?

Children have developing immune systems and often share toys and surfaces, making them more susceptible to germs. Proper cleaning helps remove harmful pathogens and reduces the likelihood of illness outbreaks.

2. What areas in a child care facility need the most frequent cleaning?

High-touch surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, tables, toys, bathroom fixtures, and shared learning materials require the most frequent cleaning and disinfection.

3. How often should toys be cleaned and sanitized?

Toys should be cleaned daily, and any item that a child puts in their mouth should be sanitized after each use. Soft toys should be washed frequently or removed if they cannot be cleaned properly.

4. Can proper cleaning really reduce illness outbreaks?

Yes. Evidence shows that consistent cleaning and disinfection significantly reduce the spread of viruses like colds, flu, and stomach bugs, which are common in child care environments.

5. What cleaning products are safe to use around children?

Only EPA-approved, child-safe disinfectants should be used. Labels should be followed carefully, and products should be stored out of reach of children at all times.