Schools can become dirty very quickly as they are intensely high-use spaces. Ask any teacher during flu season, and they will be able to tell you how vital it is to keep schools clean! But the reality is that holiday periods are the only safe and practical time for full-scale deep cleaning in schools because it would be impossible to arrange the school day around such intensive cleaning.
In this article, we will outline the holiday deep cleaning we can provide to NSW educational facilities, demonstrating the expertise and understanding held by Matthews Cleaning Company.
Beyond the Classroom: Deep Cleaning the Library, Hall, and Gymnasium
Library
The library is full of high-touch areas that can harbour bacteria and dust. Our initial focus in a school library is the delicate materials which may be damaged by harsh cleaning products or overzealous use of water. We are always mindful of the environment while providing deep cleaning you can trust.
Bookshelves need to be thoroughly dusted and sanitised while respecting the properties of the books that make wet cloths and lingering moisture a big no-no. HVAC systems in the library must also be deep-cleaned to ensure that dust and bacteria are not simply recirculated. Study desks are typical high-touch areas to be sanitised, including computer stations, while considering electrical safety.
Carpets are often not the first area considered for cleaning, but deep soiling can build up over a school year. While a school is quiet in holiday periods, we are able to deep clean carpets and lift long periods of embedded dirt.
School Hall
Large areas of flooring require extensive mechanical scrubbing and polishing to maintain and restore the flooring finish. We pay attention to flooring types to ensure abrasives are not used inappropriately, and floors are deep-cleaned without damage.
If your school has staging, we are well-equipped to prepare this for student use. We can clean stage curtains and lighting fixtures safely, even ensuring the cleanliness of AV equipment and surrounds.
School halls can build up a variety of dirt over the course of a school year. We will remove gum from floors and chairs, tackle adhesive residue and stubborn staining, and sanitise your stacked chairs to ensure that the new school year goes off without a hitch.
Gymnasium
In a school gymnasium, it’s likely that sweat has built up on surfaces and sports equipment alike. This can be stubborn but is removable with the right knowledge and products, in order to return the space to a hygienic and user-friendly space for your students. Another key area to maintain hygiene is the ventilation system: in an unclean state, it will simply spread bacteria and unpleasant odours.
At Matthews Cleaning Company, we are skilled in cleaning ventilation ducts and vents to ensure the air in your space does not contribute to a lack of cleanliness and a build-up of humidity, which may lead to mould in the future.
Restorative Floor Care: Strip and Seal vs. High-Speed Buffing
School floors require both routine maintenance care during the year and restorative deep cleaning at the end of the school year. The different surfaces in schools have different needs in terms of their care, and at Matthews Cleaning Company, we assess surfaces carefully to decide which cleaning method is needed. Involved in this decision are slip hazards, drying times and the importance of minimising chemical fumes and odours.
Strip and Seal Treatment
This is the best way to treat and clean vinyl flooring, or older polished floors that have worn down, cloudy or scratched finishes. These floors are a long way past their best and require full chemical stripping to remove built-up dirt and grime. Of course, in a school environment, we recognise the importance of neutralising these chemicals before children return to the building, and we are diligent in ensuring the longevity of the cleaning process by sealing the flooring afterwards.
After this treatment, you will find your floors are easier to clean on a daily basis and show a restored shine to match their new and improved durability.
High-Speed Buffing Treatment
For floors that are in overall good condition but have lost their shine, we can use our high-speed buffers to restore a glossy finish to your school surfaces. Buffing removes light damage from footmarks and scuffs, enhances the appearance and finish of the flooring and prolongs the life of any sealer that has been applied.
Preparing Ovals and Outdoor Learning Spaces (Pressure Washing/Graffiti)
When we come to clean a school during term breaks, we cover the whole environment, not just the indoor areas. The outside spaces of a school are just as important, meaning that their cleanliness and safety should be held in equal esteem.
Many outdoor areas can end up being overlooked, but they have a high impact when they are clean and safe. We have unique protocols for cleaning outdoors and protecting the space, including guidelines for water containment, rules around slip signage on wet surfaces, and environmental care where we have used harsh cleaning products.
Pressure Washing
School pathways, canteen areas and playground equipment can be cleaned efficiently with pressure washing. This process blasts away moss and algae to reduce the risk of slips and trips. It is also ideal for preparing outdoor sports areas for the new term.
Graffiti Removal
We understand the unique demands of the school environment and choose our cleaning products appropriately. While graffiti removal might require harsh chemicals, we are careful to avoid damage to the surface underneath. The most important thing about removing graffiti is to do so in a timely fashion so that it does not become the expected norm, and ongoing vandalism is not encouraged. Graffiti removal is something we can incorporate into more regular contract cleans with schools for this very reason.
Checklist for Term Break Cleaning: Term-Specific Focus Areas
Our cleaning priorities for schools are tailored to the NSW academic calendar. At different times of year, there are different challenges in the school environment: heat, rain, pollen and flu season.
- Term 1 Break: At this time of year, school spaces should be deodorised after the summer. Air conditioning vents should be deep-cleaned, and floors should be restored.
- Term 2 Break: This is when winter illnesses are at their peak. We sanitise high-touch points, deep clean the bathroom areas and make checks for damp across the school building.
- Term 3 Break: Here we tackle the outdoor areas with pressure washing before spring and summer events, and clean school windows to free them of winter dirt and grime.
- Term 4 Break: This is the full reset for a school at the end of the year. Floors can be stripped, carpets can be deep cleaned, and storage areas can be emptied and sanitised.
As the ideal cleaning partner to NSW schools, we can deliver a structured cleaning plan for each part of the school calendar. Audits will be vastly simplified with our clear and structured planning and documentation.
Conclusion
Deep cleaning a school during the holidays has a measurable impact on student and staff safety. It preserves the life of your school building by providing the expert care required. We can bring the expertise and compliance knowledge that your school community needs – request your tailored deep cleaning plan from Matthews Cleaning Company today.