THE ULTIMATE DAYCARE CLEANING CHECKLIST: 5 WAYS TO STAY ORGANIZED

While school buildings and your daycare center may differ in size and activities, they share an important responsibility for children: to ensure their surroundings are healthy and clean. Make your daycare center cleaning efforts more efficient by using this cleaning checklist. You’ll also discover daycare cleaning tips that will help you achieve the best results.

1. ORGANIZE ONGOING TASKS

It is important to keep these tasks in order throughout the day. Assist staff in organizing ongoing tasks before and after different activities and rest periods.

• Wipe down high chairs, seats, tables, and play area surfaces after snack time and between activities.
• Prevent food contamination by washing dishes and disinfecting food prep stations regularly.

Keep toys organized in bins, clean the toys when stains appear, and check for damages. Create a designated area where mouthed or dirty items will be stored out of reach of children.

• Check for tripping hazards at entrances, in pathways, in hallways, and in rooms with activity.
• Ensure that diaper changing tables are clean and sterile after every use.
• Empty trash cans or diaper pails that are half-full or more.

Remember to wash your hands after changing diapers or disposing of trash.

2. ESTABLISH DAILY CLEANING SCHEDULES

Create a schedule around the checklist of your daycare center cleaning to ensure regular housekeeping is completed. Have copies posted on your daycare center website for easy access.

At the end of the day, inspect all toys and thoroughly clean them. Power Tip: Rotating your toys throughout the week will keep this task manageable.

• Fold and store nap mats, cot sheets, and blankets as needed, or wash as necessary.
• Rinse, clean, and sanitize all surfaces and equipment in the food preparation area.
• Cleaning touchpoints such as doorknobs, cabinet handles, and lighting systems are necessary. Power Tips: Ensure that you sanitize staff equipment, phones, and keyboards regularly.
• Keeping your facility’s hard floors clean and vacuuming its carpets every day is critical.
• Discuss the importance of cleaning the bathroom at the daycare every day from scrubbing toilets to sanitizing surfaces.

3. OUTLINE WEEKLY TASKS

Identify which daycare cleaning procedures should be performed on a weekly basis in collaboration with the staff. Make use of this strategy to save time by completing certain tasks on certain days.

• Remove all items from storage cubbies and wipe them clean inside and out with disinfectant wipes.
• Clean nap mats, cot sheets, and blankets, and straighten any ripped or frayed edges.

Inspect the freshness of all food supplies and clean out your refrigerators and appliances. Power Tip: Rotate food in storage to prevent food from expiring before its expiration date.

• Dust furniture, light fixtures, and ceiling fans, as well as wipe down the walls.
• When cleaning the daycare bathroom on a weekly basis, it should always include hard-to-reach areas behind the toilets and under sinks.

4. ASSIGN MONTHLY DUTIES

Assign different staff members to monthly duties on your daycare cleaning checklist. Make sure that tasks are rotated throughout the year so that workloads are equally distributed.

• Cleaning and organizing shelves, closets, and storage areas, as well as testing equipment and supplies.
• Window and glass doors should be polished, blinds should be cleaned, and drapes should be freshened.
• Window sills, door frames, baseboards, and the areas behind furniture should all be dusted.
• Inspect doormats for wear or tripping hazards, and replace as needed.
• Check drains and plumbing in bathrooms and kitchens for signs of clogs or leaks.

5. OUTSOURCE DEEP CLEANING JOBS

Professional cleaning contractors are the best choice for some jobs. Cleaning day-care centers include important maintenance tasks that must be completed on a regular basis to keep facilities in good condition.

• Deep carpet cleaning eliminates bacteria that can breed in fibers and padding
• Professional hardwood floor care keeps surfaces in good condition and extends flooring life.
• Air duct cleaning sanitizes the network that circulates air through all the rooms in your daycare center.
• Deep tile and grout cleaning minimize fungal growth on surfaces in bathrooms and food prep areas.

Power Tip: A cleaning and restoration contractor also handles mold removal and remediation.

• Upholstery cleaning keeps fabrics stain-free and freshens facility interiors.
• Industry-certified green cleaning options are available for most daycare deep cleaning projects.

WE’RE AT YOUR SERVICE

We understand how hard it can be to stay organized when you’re constantly busy. We offer our daycare cleaning checklist as a guide that can streamline routines, save time and make your job a little easier every day.

You can rely on Service Master Restoration by Equinox Cleaning for big projects when you need help. We provide a full line of cleaning services in New Jersey and nearby suburbs, including professional daycare cleaning. Our deep cleaning services cover multiple types of deep cleaning on a facility-wide basis, and we are always available. Feel free you can reach out to us anytime to get assistance for your cleaning services.