EDUCATIONAL AND SCHOOL FACILITIES School’s out


Gill Ireson, Head of Sales at cleaning manufacturer and distributor Robert Scott, on making the most of the summer to deep clean.


Educational facilities are fairly unique from a cleaning and maintenance perspective, as they enjoy regular long-term breaks from daily usage throughout the year, with the summer break being the longest by far. This presents FMs with an opportunity to carry out deep cleaning programmes while the buildings are mostly free from students and staff.


We all know how important it is to maintain a cleaning routine that ensures buildings are safe, enjoyable spaces, fit for learning. After the COVID-19 pandemic, much focus was put on the role of FM in maintaining safe spaces that are hygienically clean and germ-free, and these practices have remained.


This is important year-round, but the approaching extended summer break gives facilities managers an opportunity to invest in a deep clean that will have a lasting impact.


Classrooms


These high traffic, high touch areas should be cleaned thoroughly as part of regular cleaning regimes, with a complete deep clean during holiday periods. As per industry guidelines, cleaning should be completed top to bottom and back to front – meaning janitorial staff should start in the highest and furthest point of the room and work their way out.


It’s also important to remember that effective cleaning requires a two-step approach: cleaning then disinfecting. Cleaning involves the physical removal of dust and dirt while disinfecting reduces and destroys bacteria, germs and viruses.


It’s important to ensure that special attention is paid to both hard to reach and high touchpoint areas such as ceilings, light fixtures and the tops of furniture, as well as door handles, light switches, desks and chairs.


Common areas


Hallways, lecture theatres and halls will also benefit from a more intense clean: they’re high traffic areas which receive a great deal of wear and tear throughout the year.


Again, top to bottom and back to front is the best approach. Ensure that high up areas are cleaned as well as floors, bumper rails, wall guards and doors. Door release buttons should also be cleaned and disinfected, and furniture should be carefully cleaned – both removable and fixed furniture, such as lecture hall seating.


Floorcare


Floors in educational facilities are designed for durability but are likely to need both cleaning and maintenance by the time the summer break comes around. Floor scrapers


40 | TOMORROW'S CLEANING


are valuable tools for removing tough dirt, chewing gum and dried on grime from most hard surfaces, while floor pads like the Flexis Ferrzon Floor Pad can follow on with deep cleaning, producing a light reflective finish which is popular in large areas.


Bathrooms


Washroom facilities naturally require significant cleaning. Aside from the usual cleaning protocols in these areas, school breaks present an ideal opportunity for deeper cleaning, such as grout scrubbing and tile cleaning, as well as air decontamination. Products such as the AirCare offer a chemical-free way to improve air quality, remove odours and germs, and also disinfect air and surfaces. Using UVC light technology along with ozone and photoplasma disinfection, AirCare kills airborne respiratory viruses, removes bad odours and destroys bacteria.


The range was designed for washrooms and hard to reach areas, but can be used in any space that requires decontamination. The summer holidays present an ideal time to install such devices.


Reducing environmental impact


As well as being proven to remove over 99.9% of dirt and bacteria, microfibre performs exceptionally well as part of a surface and floorcare routine as it provides quick-drying results, helping prevent slips and trips. This also allows recently cleaned areas to reopen as soon as possible, avoiding unnecessary corridor or room closure.


Microfibre will also help FMs reduce waste because it offers a reusable cleaning solution. Cloths like our Exel Microfibre Cloth collect dirt in just one wipe and can be washed and reused up to 300 times, making it a lower-impact alternative to disposable wipes and cloths.


If you’re interested in finding out more, contact our Clean Team on 01457 819400 or email info@robert-scott.co.uk.


www.robert-scott.co.uk twitter.com/TomoCleaning


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58