Eco-Conscious Cleaning in Schools: Helping to Build a Healthier Environment for Our Children

Creating a cleaner school environment can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. By making small changes one step at a time, you can drive large and long-lasting improvements. Some changes are easier to make than others, like choosing eco-conscious cleaning and disinfecting products.

In this blog, I have compiled information from research studies and a new toolkit to help you make changes in how you clean schools.

Why Cleaning in Schools Is Important...and Why We Should Use Eco-Conscious Cleaning Practices in Schools

Germs and allergens in schools can significantly impact learning by causing illnesses and triggering asthma or discomfort. Common germs that cause childhood illnesses, such as strep throat, cold and flu, and hand, foot, and mouth disease, can survive on surfaces for hours to months¹. Unclean conditions in schools can lead to poor academic performance and increased absenteeism².

While germs, allergens, and dirt are problems everywhere, schools have some specific differences that we should pay special attention to, especially when we think about how to clean these spaces. Children have different behaviors and biology than adults: they touch more surfaces and their faces more frequently, and relative to their body size, they breathe, drink, and eat more than adults³. Schools are also heavily trafficked and densely packed spaces where children spend a lot of time. Additionally, teachers and other staff are frequently involved in cleaning tasks even if they haven’t received training in how to use them appropriately. This is why it’s especially important that we aim to use more eco-conscious products and practices in schools to ensure a more comfortable experience for teachers, staff and custodians who use the products, and of course for the children in classrooms.

Choosing the Right Eco-Conscious Products

When selecting eco-conscious cleaning and disinfecting products for schools, look for certifications that ensure the products have been reviewed for reduced impact on human health and the environment, such as EPA Safer Choice and EPA Design for the Environment. Outside of third-party certifications, there are a few other features I recommend selecting:

1. 1. Strong cleaning and disinfecting performance. Eco-conscious cleaners and disinfectants work just as well as traditional products. Choosing products that clean and disinfect in one step can help save time.
2. 2. Fast disinfection contact times for important pathogens. Cold and flu viruses, norovirus, Streptococcus pyogenes, and other bacteria and viruses can survive on surfaces and cause illness in children. Today, you don’t have to sacrifice contact time to choose eco-conscious products: many great eco-conscious products have faster kill times than traditional products.
3. 3. Low or no PPE requirements. Limited PPE requirements are important for training purposes, especially when providing products to teachers and staff who may not have custodial training.
4. 4. Low or no harsh chemical odors. Children and many adults are sensitive to chemical odors. Choosing products that limit these odors is a great option for professional cleaning workers and building occupants.

Implementing Eco-Conscious Cleaning and Disinfecting Practices

For professional cleaners, we recommend using eco-conscious products in several areas:

1. 1. For end-of-day cleaning and disinfection of classrooms, especially desks and high tough surfaces.
2. 2. Daily disinfection of restrooms, and treating and removing mold and mildew as needed
3. 3. Disinfecting kitchen and eating areas, and treating grease and tough stains when they arise.

There are also some occasions that teachers and staff can clean and disinfect to help keep spaces clean during the day and reduce some of the burden on cleaning professionals. A couple of these occasions are listed below.

1. 1. After a sneeze, cough or “accident”
2. 2. Throughout the day, especially during peak illness season, regularly disinfect high-touch surfaces and shared objects

To learn more about eco-conscious practices and how to find products, download our new Eco-Conscious Cleaning in Schools toolkit for information on eco-conscious cleaning practices and other practices to help improve the school environment for children.