Bissell Commercial's Guide to Cleaning Educational Facilities

Schools and universities require daily cleaning. Aside from routine cleaning projects, there are often ad hoc messes that need to be cleaned up as they happen. For this reason, facilities need to be properly stocked with vacuums, floor cleaners, and cleaning equipment that can help with a variety of specific cleaning projects. In this guide, we will cover how educational facilities can improve their cleaning operations with Bissell Commercial cleaning equipment.

The Benefits of School Cleanliness for Faculty & Students

Keeping your academic facility clean is imperative for the health and well-being of both teachers and students. Schools are often an area where illnesses can spread rapidly. Proper cleaning can decrease the risk of illnesses from spreading, which can have many positive impacts. First and foremost, health, attendance, and academic performance are all impacted by your staff and students’ well-being. When teachers or students are unable to go to classes, it sets everyone back. Moreover, cleanliness also impacts public perception of your school. Maintaining classrooms, hallways, and outdoor spaces helps indicate to students and guests that you value professionalism and cleanliness.

High-Traffic Areas with Unique Cleaning Requirements at Schools & Universities

High traffic areas, including classrooms and hallways, need to be cleaned regularly. Moreover, high-touch surfaces like doorknobs, desks, and light switches should be cleaned and disinfected daily. On top of cleaning, it is imperative that cleaning supplies are well-stocked around the campus. Bathrooms should always be stocked with hand soap, toilet paper, and other cleaning supplies, and teachers/students should be encouraged to use sanitizer and other cleaning supplies like wipes to clean up any messes that are made during the day. There are also a handful of facilities that require unique cleaning tasks and equipment.

• Cafeterias/Eating Areas: For colleges and universities, dining halls, as well as other places where students can eat on campus, including outdoor cafes or common rooms in dorm buildings, need to be cleaned more regularly to remove food debris that can rot or attract pests. 
• Science Labs: If your campus includes labs or scientific facilities, they will likely have unique cleaning requirements to remove chemical residues safely. It is important to follow chemical laboratory safety instructions and ensure that teams are using the recommended cleaning solutions for these facilities.
• Gyms/Bathrooms: For athletic facilities, you will need to have equipment for cleaning showers, bathrooms, and grout & tile. These facilities will often require floor machines that can be used to scrub and polish.
• Dorm Floors/Living Areas: For colleges and schools that provide on-campus housing, cleaning crews will need to handle shared spaces, including hallways, common rooms, and shared kitchens. Moreover, it can be beneficial to provide students with clear communication about when cleaning will happen, as well as stocking a supply closet that students can use to clean up spills and other messes.

Daily, Weekly, & Monthly Cleaning Tasks for Educational Facilities

Schools and universities often partner with janitorial services that specialize in cleaning these types of facilities. It is important to work with a trusted vendor that can provide clear communication and consistent results. Because of the natural cycle of educational calendars, there are often built-in times to handle different cleaning tasks.

For example, before the school year starts, most schools will schedule deep cleaning services. These cleaning services can include waxing floors, deep cleaning carpets, and restocking cleaning supplies. This ensures that your buildings are ready for the start of the school year. This can also be repeated around scheduled winter breaks, since the cleaning tasks will not interrupt classes.

On a daily basis, vacuuming, sweeping, and emptying trash cans can be done after classes are concluded. Cleaning staff must have access to schedules so they can optimize their cleaning protocols based on when rooms will be in use. For example, college dorms are frequently cleaned when the majority of the student body would likely be in classes, while the classes and lecture halls can be handled after.

Recommending Cleaning Equipment for Schools & Janitorial Staff

Bissell Commercial provides a variety of high-quality cleaning products for schools, universities, and cleaning companies. For a full list of recommendations, please see our page on cleaning equipment for educational facilities. 

Walk-Behind Sweepers for Outdoor Cleaning

Our battery-powered walk-behind power sweepers are an excellent choice for cleaning parking lots, sidewalks, entryways, and shared outdoor spaces. Their patented cleaning technology allows them to clean twice in a single pass, and they are capable of cleaning both wet and dry debris.

Commercial Vacuum Cleaners for Colleges & Universities

Upright vacuum cleaners like the BGU1451T or the BG102DC are perfect for cleaning hallways, classrooms, and dorm buildings. They are designed to clean carpeted rooms as well as hard floors and feature a variety of ready-to-use attachments that can help with cleaning walls, ceilings, blinds, and other areas.

Deep Cleaning Carpets & Upholstered Furniture with the BG10

The BG10 extractor is the perfect tool for stain removal and upholstery cleaning. This makes it an ideal choice for colleges and universities that need to clean chairs, carpeted lecture halls, and other shared spaces. The BG10-kit provides teams with everything they need to clean both carpets and furniture.

Floor Machines for Polishing, Buffing, & Scrubbing

Bissell Commercial provides a variety of powerful floor machines that feature interchangeable pads and brushes so that teams can polish, scrub, and buff floors. These machines are quiet, so they are not disruptive to daily operations at your school. Of course, many schools choose to clean floors either during weekends or when classes are over for the day.

Tips for Encouraging & Communicating with the Student Body About Cleanliness

One of the keys to keeping your school clean is clear communication. Students and faculty should be aware of the start and end times for deep cleaning projects. Likewise, students should know what cleaning equipment is available to them and where it is located. Moreover, faculty should be encouraged to reinforce that students keep the campus clean by cleaning up small messes, emptying small trash cans into larger bins, and following clear cleaning protocols.

Purchase High-Quality Cleaning Equipment from Bissell Commercial

Here at Bissell Commercial, we have helped countless schools source high-value cleaning equipment. As such, our team is able to help schools and universities choose the right cleaning equipment for their facilities. If you have questions about cleaning equipment or would like our recommendations for your school, please reach out to your team.