Industrial-grade chemicals help teams work more efficiently. Formulated to be fast acting and multi-purpose, the right products reduce labor fatigue and improve cleaning results. It also helps extend the life of surfaces, equipment, and flooring throughout the building, keeping costs lower for the school. Maintaining the cleanliness of a school isn’t to be underestimated. The most germ-filled areas are in plain sight, which children and employees frequent.
The efforts of schools’ janitorial and maintenance staff are well-versed in daily cleaning and specialized sanitation. Their responsibilities are essential for the environment that students and staff frequent. Preventing the spread of germs not only benefits the community, but also a more productive workplace. Every day, the janitorial team has a set of tasks to complete. In schools, many areas experience heavy foot traffic and frequent contact, requiring constant attention. Productivity will slow down if the products that staff use underperform and prevent them from completing their tasks on time. Custodial teams are essential for keeping the value in school environments.
What are the Best Cleaners to use in Schools
In schools, dirt will build up on all surfaces where students and staff frequent. Dust and grime build up on walls to counters and need to be removed to prevent the spread of illness. In cleaners, surface active agents called surfactants work to break down debris and hold them in liquid suspensions. Then janitorial staff wipe, mop, or rinse away the dirt. Selecting the right product for the job depends on the type of surfactant used in formulation. Some soils damage a variety of surfaces, and aid in the chosen cleaner for the task. Formulas have a wide variety that can be dilutable to ready-to-use and multipurpose. All cleaners have precise instructions on their labels to help janitorial staff safely use the product.
Janitorial staff carry out a wide range of cleaning tasks depending on the time of day, the season, and the level of traffic each area receives. Wiping down classrooms with products like diluted Rid-O-Grease quickly cleans hard surfaces and reduces buildup. After the product has set, it will remove grease, glue, ink, and other filth. During the summer, larger projects like surface restoration and deep cleaning can be accomplished.
Throughout the year, students will draw on desks, walls, or bathroom stalls. It can be frustrating for janitorial staff to remove markings, but Untag helps lift graffiti, scuff marks, and tape residue from hard surfaces. Classrooms need to be treated differently from other spaces in the school. Students spend the majority of their day in them and are heavily trafficked areas that need a more detailed cleaning.
Maintaining school restrooms requires a consistent schedule to stay on top of daily tasks while upholding standards. Roughly 85% of the United States experiencing hard water, keeping fixtures free of scale and residue can be especially challenging. CJ Industrial, a dilutable acid replacement system, features a clinging formula that adheres to surfaces longer, allowing for more effective cleaning of toilets, urinals, and sinks. Once the fixtures are treated, custodial teams follow up their routine by cleaning and disinfecting surrounding hard surfaces and floors. Deep cleaning tasks, such as scrubbing grout, sanitizing spigots, and cleaning tile, could follow their schedule biweekly or monthly, depending on the restroom use.
Once the lunch bell rings, students rush to the cafeteria, and things get messy fast. Items can be spilled or dropped on the floor outside of the routine cleaning in the kitchen. Some schools have students scrape their trays before handing them off to be cleaned. Trays are loaded into commercial dishwashers, but food scraps, fats, oils, and greases (FOG) still accumulate in sinks and drains. This buildup can lead to clogged pipes, overflows, and odors. Grease Boss helps by encapsulating and breaking down grease to prevent those issues. Kitchen staff face the challenge of not just cleaning up but also preparing for the next meal service. By the end of the day, most surfaces are wiped clean and disinfected, getting the space ready to do it all again tomorrow.
Which Chemicals are Best for Disinfecting Schools
Microorganisms and molecules congregate on heavily touched surfaces, which can lead to illness being spread in schools. Cleaners are used to remove bacteria, viruses, and mold spores, but they cannot be removed completely. Disinfectants are formulated for sanitation and to capture debris with ingredients like phenols, diluted hydrogen peroxide, and chlorides. Areas with the most contaminants can be surprising and not thought about, like water fountain spigots, door handles, light switches, and handrails. Regular disinfecting with products like 4CQ Plus helps prevent the transmission of illnesses such as influenza, COVID-19, and foodborne bacteria like Salmonella. Places of learning aim to have healthy, safe surroundings and are able to take one more step towards their goal of improving sanitation in schools.
Choosing a School Floor Cleaner, Stripper, and Finisher
All year long, floors are regularly cleaned to prevent salt, dirt, and debris from being tracked throughout the school. Commonly, they need to be washed with a neutral floor cleaner like Everyday, which slows down UV deterioration and doesn’t harm the floors. Once the floors are cleaned, they need to be sealed to protect against soils from high traffic. The coating most often found in school is high-performance epoxy or urethane; however it yellows over time and is difficult to remove. Summit is a thermoplastic acrylic polymer with metal interlock technology that doesn’t yellow over time and has a durable wet look. Maintaining large areas of floor with heavy foot traffic is often difficult if the right chemicals aren’t being used to protect them.
In summer, most schools remove the wax coating from vinyl, tile, and laminate flooring to restore appearance and performance. Final Strip Plus makes this process easier by lifting multiple layers of finish with minimal effort. Other floor strippers usually leave behind an alkali residue and don't ensure proper bonding of the new finish. Fully stripped floors need to be cleaned before they can be refinished to prevent dirt from getting under the shiny finish. Janitorial teams work to complete refinishing floors before students return for the fall semester.
How to Best Deodorize Schools
Malodors are found all over various school areas like restrooms, cafeterias, locker rooms, and boiler rooms. Fragrance is often added to help eliminate or cover odors. Depending on the space and its use, deodorizers are added to maintain a fresh, welcoming space. Nodor uses a proprietary odor neutralizer to eliminate foul airborne smells rather than just masking them, and it’s available in a variety of pleasant fragrances. A clean space that smells clean helps reinforce comfort, focus, and overall satisfaction for students, staff, and visitors.
Maintaining a clean, safe, and welcoming school environment takes more than just effort. From disinfecting to seasonal deep cleans, the strategic use of industrial-grade cleaners, deodorizers, strippers, and finishes makes a noticeable difference in both efficiency and outcomes. When janitorial teams are equipped with high-performance products that are designed to meet the specific demands of educational facilities, they do their jobs more effectively and with greater confidence. Thoughtful chemical selection doesn’t just improve cleanliness; it helps support student success, staff well-being, and the school’s overall reputation. Investing in the right products today is an investment in a healthier, safer tomorrow.