The Art of Day Care Disinfection: Surfaces and Play Areas

Under the right conditions, day care is an enriching experience. That includes proper cleaning to prevent high-touch surfaces from collecting germs and viruses that children can spread among each other or carry home with their toys, lunch boxes and art projects. Any reputable licensed day care should follow a routine for cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting day care surfaces.

While your state child care licensing entity might have its own guidelines, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides easy-to-follow cleaning guidelines for reducing the spread of germs and infectious diseases in a child care setting. Here are a few tips to help protect children, staff and their families and keep everyone healthy.

 

Cleaning, Sanitizing and Disinfecting

An early childhood environment is a magical time of discovery and hands-on learning. Unfortunately, all that interaction coupled with children readily putting their hands in their mouths make health and safety a challenge.

That said, you can reduce health risks drastically by cleaning throughout the day, then disinfecting and sanitizing items out of children’s reach.

 

Cleaning

Believe it or not, cleaning with soap and water, even simple dishwashing detergent, removes most dirt and harmful germs, including bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi, the CDC says.

Grab a wet paper towel, add a mild soap and wash hard surfaces and objects such as high chair trays, tables, countertops and seats before food preparation and after meals or activities. Rinse with a different wet paper towel, then allow to air dry completely, if possible. (Wipe with a clean cloth or paper towel if you can’t keep little fingers away.)

Vacuum carpets, rugs and soft seating, such as cloth or beanbag chairs.

Naturally, you must immediately clean any visibly dirty areas. For soft surfaces, such as cloth toys, bibs, napkins, tablecloths, placemats and clothing, that means a round in the washer and dryer on the warmest water appropriate. This cleans as well as sanitizes.

 

Sanitizing

The CDC notes that you might not need to sanitize surfaces and items daily if you clean them with soap and water carefully after each use. However, objects and areas that infants and young children use, including changing tables, eating utensils, plates, cups, shared toys and anything potentially exposed to bodily fluids, need sanitizing.

For hard surfaces and high-touch areas, including doorknobs and light switches, wipe with a weak solution of chlorine bleach and water (one tablespoon of unscented bleach per one gallon of water). Alternatively, use an EPA-registered sanitizing spray.

A dishwasher with a sanitizing cycle also can steam nonporous surfaces, such as infant feeding items and certain toys, depending on the item manufacturer’s instructions. Provided these are dishwasher safe, place them on a clean dish towel or paper towel afterward to air dry.

 

Disinfecting

To fully kill germs, including flu and the COVID-19 virus, you’ll also need to disinfect surfaces regularly. While you’ll have to clean and disinfect immediately anything that’s visibly soiled, you’ll understandably want to disinfect the facilities after hours to avoid exposing children and staff to strong chemical products.

Tackle all public surfaces with a disinfectant or disinfecting wipes. Don’t forget to wipe down electronic equipment and phones. (Alcohol wipes are a safe and effective way to kill germs on phone receivers.) Be sure to follow the product label for any instructions, such as wearing protective gloves and allowing for fresh air or good ventilation, such as turning on a fan.

Remember not to combine chlorine-based products with those containing ammonia. This is potentially lethal.

Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing.

 

A Clean Environment for Learning

Caring for children is a responsibility that daycare providers don’t take lightly. To fully ensure the health and safety of the children and staff at your facilities, consider hiring a professional cleaning service.

These professionals can deep-clean, sanitize and disinfect carpets, flooring, offices and other areas and surfaces as appropriate, such as over a weekend, once or twice a month, or during an extended break. This leaves you free to focus on what’s most important: time for play and learning.