EDUCATIONAL/STUDENT FACILITIES
THE COVID-SECURE CLASSROOM
School classrooms have long been a hotbed for germs, but with the added complication of Coronavirus, only the highest standards of cleaning will suffice as youngsters enter the new academic year, says James White, Managing Director at Rawlins.
Picture the typical school classroom. Prior to COVID-19, around 30 children sat in close contact for hours on end, with numerous communal surfaces touched frequently throughout the day.
It was the ideal environment for bacteria to spread like wildfire. In fact, microbes could not only survive in such settings, but they would thrive, passed from pupil to pupil, and then to teachers, either directly or through shared surfaces.
Add to that the budget cuts in recent years, which led to many schools laying off professional cleaners, and it’s no surprise that so many school days were lost each year to the common cold and influenza.
In fact, it was once reported that teaching was the ‘top germ profession due to the high levels of bacteria in schools. The article stated that the surfaces regularly touched by teachers contained up to 10 times more bacteria per square inch than those of any other profession.
Since COVID-19 arrived on our shores, schools across the country had to close their doors to most children back in March and only reopened in recent months to limited groups, such as vulnerable children and those of key workers.
Additional cleaning and hygiene measures may have been put into place since the outbreak, with many teachers taking responsibility for sanitising desks, floors, and equipment. As the government aims to get all age groups back into the classroom this term, it is vital that cleaning measures are robust enough to protect both pupils and staff from coronavirus.
This means ditching the mop and bucket and adopting a science-led method with long-lasting proven results. Here are our top five cleaning tips to ensure education environments are COVID-19 secure and ready for the return of children in the coming weeks:
Stop relying on disinfectant – This over-used chemical may claim to kill most bacteria, but it doesn’t remove them. In fact, it leaves dead microbes, along with any surviving germs, spread across the surface, serving as a food source for the next wave of bugs. Some bacteria also produce biofilms that can effectively defend them from cleaning agents like disinfectant. So, there is a real danger that it only increases the bacterial resistance, rendering it ineffective after consistent use.
Remove dirt – It is crucial that any traces are removed by adding water, and the correct chemistry in the form of a pure cleaning solution that is uncontaminated by previous use. With some dwell time and agitation where necessary, high-flow fluid extraction can then be used to take away the used solution, storing it separately for disposal.
Constantly improve processes – There has never been a better time to invest in improved cleaning methods. Cleaning with the above process will show remarkable results, even from first use. Then, every time the process is followed, it further improves the cleanliness of any hard surface.
Test cleanliness – The effectiveness of the cleaning process can be proven by taking ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) measurements before and after cleaning. ATP is the energy molecule found in all living and once- living things, making it a perfect indicator when trying to determine if a surface is clean or not. Following up cleaning with this measurement test ensures that floors and surfaces are not just clean, but also germ free.
Protect surfaces - Once all dirt has been removed, the final step should always be to protect surfaces with a microbial shield like Zoono Z-71 - a cost-effective, residual polymer-based antimicrobial protection. The solution provides prolonged active protection for any treated surface, significantly reducing the spread of harmful bacteria and viruses, and providing unique, proven long- lasting protection. The solution can be applied to a surface by spraying, wiping, or fogging, leaving behind a mono- molecular layer that permanently bonds to the surface, forming a protective barrier. Regular, routine cleaning can continue without disturbing the effectiveness of Zoono.
www.rawlins.co.uk/remove-improve-protect-covid 58 | TOMORROW’S FM
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