Daycare Cleaning Tips from Experts: Keep Your Educational Facility Safe

Posted on June 25, 2024

Maintaining a hygienic environment in daycare centers is crucial for the health and well-being of children and staff. These facilities experience frequent spills, accidents, and the rapid spread of germs—all of which require professional attention and strategic cleaning.

Certified franchisees with JAN-PRO Cleaning & Disinfecting in Tampa Bay provide specialized cleaning for daycare centers and similar educational spaces. In this guide, you’ll find essential tips and insights to help you maintain a clean, safe facility with the support of a trusted local commercial cleaning company.

Make a Comprehensive Daycare Cleaning Plan

Before hiring professional cleaners, evaluate your daycare’s full range of sanitation needs. A well-rounded cleaning plan for an educational facility typically includes:

  • Restroom cleaning
  • Floor care (vacuuming, mopping)
  • Waste removal
  • Dusting
  • Surface disinfection
  • Touchpoint sanitation (toys, tables, doorknobs)

In daycare settings, disinfecting is particularly important. Young children often touch shared surfaces and place items in their mouths. Without proper cleaning, bacteria and viruses can spread rapidly.

Before scheduling janitorial services in Tampa Bay, ensure the provider includes disinfecting protocols targeting high-touch zones and soft surfaces.

Build a Cleaning Schedule That Matches Your Operations

Your cleaning frequency should reflect your center’s size, operating days, and student volume. A smaller facility open three days a week will need a different plan than one operating five days with a larger group of children.

A typical cleaning schedule may include:

  • Daily janitorial tasks (trash, restrooms, surface cleaning)
  • Weekly window and toy disinfection
  • Monthly deep cleaning for floors and carpets

JAN-PRO Cleaning & Disinfecting franchisees can adjust their services as your needs evolve—whether you’re expanding your hours, increasing enrollment, or adjusting your space layout.

Prioritize Surface Disinfection

Children often cough or sneeze on surfaces, and if not disinfected, germs can quickly circulate through classrooms. Professional cleaners focus on high-risk zones, including:

  • Tabletops, chairs, and shelves
  • Door handles and wall switches
  • Toys, books, and manipulatives
  • Bathroom fixtures
  • Diaper changing stations
  • Shared nap mats and soft seating

Disinfection is essential, not just wiping visible dirt. This extra step helps protect students and educators from viruses and bacteria, making your facility safer and more trustworthy to families.

Don’t Overlook Fabrics and Soft Materials

While most cleaning plans focus on hard surfaces, daycare facilities also contain plenty of fabrics—pillows, smocks, blankets, plush toys, etc.—that can trap odors, stains, and germs.

Professional cleaners can sanitize upholstered items and suggest proper laundering schedules for washable materials. For example:

  • Machine-wash aprons, nap blankets, and washable toys weekly
  • Spot-clean upholstered furniture as needed
  • Rotate washable plush items to maintain hygiene

These extra efforts preserve your facility’s cleanliness and create a fresher, more comfortable space for children.

Maintain Safe Food Preparation Zones

Many daycare centers also serve snacks or meals, making food hygiene essential. Apply food-safe cleaning procedures modeled after restaurant standards:

  • Staff should wash their hands before food handling
  • Use hot water and appropriate cleaners to wash dishes
  • Disinfect highchairs and tables after each use
  • Deep clean microwaves, refrigerators, and counters periodically

Hiring a certified cleaner ensures your food prep areas receive the same level of care as kitchens in hospitality settings, offering peace of mind to parents.

Choose Safe, Effective Cleaning Products

Professional cleaning should never compromise safety. JAN-PRO Cleaning & Disinfecting franchisees use EPA-approved, child-safe products for disinfection, free from harsh or toxic chemicals.

These supplies clean effectively while protecting children’s health and minimizing environmental impact. If you’re considering green cleaning for your daycare, confirm that your provider uses products suitable for learning environments.

Educate Staff on Basic Cleaning Protocols

Even if you hire professionals for routine and deep cleaning, your staff must uphold cleanliness throughout the day. Provide basic training so they can maintain the facility between service visits.

Staff responsibilities might include:

  • Spot-cleaning messes and spills as they occur
  • Wiping down tables after activities or meals
  • Disinfecting toys and materials during nap time
  • Laundering fabric items on a set weekly schedule
  • Frequent hand washing, especially before meals or diaper changes

By aligning staff routines with your professional service schedule, you ensure consistent hygiene at all times.

Why Trust JAN-PRO Cleaning & Disinfecting in Tampa Bay?

Whether you run a small daycare or a large early learning center, JAN-PRO Cleaning & Disinfecting connects you with trained, insured, and certified franchisees who specialize in educational facility cleaning.

Each certified franchisee follows proven systems, uses commercial-grade equipment, and offers flexible service plans tailored to your operational needs. You’ll receive:

  • Consistent and reliable results
  • Custom schedules and scalable solutions
  • Child-safe disinfection processes

Schedule Daycare Cleaning Services in Tampa Bay Today

Creating a healthy learning environment starts with clean, sanitized spaces. Partner with a certified franchisee from JAN-PRO Cleaning & Disinfecting in Tampa Bay to protect the children and staff in your facility.

Request a free estimate by filling out our online form or calling us at (813) 864-1940. Let us help you create a daycare that parents trust and children thrive in.