Keeping schools clean is critical for protecting the health of students, faculty and visitors, as well as for maintaining a positive image within the community. With several shared, high-touch spaces like classrooms, cafeterias, gyms and restrooms, educational facilities need to stay stocked with the right cleaning products and tools. Here’s a checklist of essential supplies every school should keep on hand to support a safe and welcoming learning environment:
Sanitizers and Disinfectants
Educational facilities experience a lot of traffic throughout the day, making it important to keep disinfectants readily available. Disinfectant sprays and wipes should be used regularly on high-touch points, including desks, doorknobs, handrails and cafeteria tables. Along with routine surface cleaning, hand sanitizer stations should be placed in classrooms, hallways and other common areas to encourage good hygiene habits and reduce the spread of germs.
Cleaning Tools
Disinfectants and cleaners are only effective when paired with the right tools. Every janitorial closet should be stocked with microfiber cloths, scrub brushes and mop heads to support daily cleaning needs. Brooms, dustpans and dusters help manage dirt and debris, while squeegees are useful for keeping windows and glass surfaces shiny and clear. Of course, you’ll need a janitorial cart to make it easier for custodial staff to transport cleaning supplies from one area to another.
Receptacles and Liners
While easy to overlook, waste management plays a critical role in maintaining a clean facility. Ensure every classroom, hallway, restroom and cafeteria is equipped with enough waste bins to prevent overflow and litter from accumulating on your campus. Use heavy-duty liners for easy disposal and odor control. Placing recycling receptacles can also help promote sustainability within your school community. Color coding trash and recycling receptacles can be especially helpful for encouraging eco-friendly behavior.
Floor Care Equipment
Due to the high-traffic nature of educational facilities, the floors can take a beating, making it important to keep floor care at the forefront of your cleaning program. Along with basic tools like brooms, mops and cleaners, floor care equipment is essential to maintaining larger spaces. Vacuums are good for daily carpet maintenance, while floor scrubbers can be used for flooring in areas like gyms, hallways and cafeterias. Keep replacement pads and brushes on hand to maintain equipment performance. You can also place entrance mats near doorways to reduce the amount of dirt and debris that’s tracked into your facility.
Restroom Essentials
Clean restrooms require more than just disinfectants; they also rely on well-maintained dispensers and hygiene products. Stock paper towels, soap and toilet tissue dispensers regularly, and consider upgrading to touchless models to minimize contact and the spread of germs. Just like heavy-duty receptacle liners, air fresheners and deodorizers help with odor control. Frequent restocking of these products and strategic dispenser placement go a long way in maintaining the cleanliness and hygiene of your facility’s restrooms.
Partner With Veritiv Pollock
Having the right cleaning supplies on hand is essential to promoting a healthy learning environment while instilling a sense of school pride among students and faculty. It also demonstrates your school’s commitment to keeping the community safe. Keeping a clean school starts with partnering with the right supplier. Veritiv Pollock has been serving the education sector for over a century, supplying essentials from cleaning chemicals and tools to floor scrubbers and dispensers. As a single-source supplier, we’re committed to helping school facilities stay clean, safe and ready for learning to take place every day.
Contact us online to get started developing a customized cleaning program for your school with cleaning solutions expert, Veritiv Pollock!
