The new school year is already in full swing, and children attend regular classes in various nurseries and kindergartens. In order for the educational process to run according to plan, the Ministry of Health has issued mandatory measures that need to be observed every day. They apply to all institutions, whether private or municipal nurseries and kindergartens. It is for this reason, as well as our desire to help take care of children’s safety, that we decided to prepare this article. In it we will share tips on how to disinfect quality and safe in kindergartens.
Cleaning and disinfection – what’s the difference?
Let’s start with the basics of good disinfection. It consists in distinguishing the two concepts – cleaning and disinfection. On the one hand, cleaning refers to the removal of microbes and contaminants from various surfaces or objects. This activity is performed through the use of soap, detergent and water. The procedure itself does not completely destroy the microbes, but removes a significant part of them and reduces the risk of spreading infection.
On the other hand, disinfection directly neutralizes microbes on surfaces or objects. During the disinfection process, special preparations are used to destroy microbes on surfaces or objects. When disinfecting, especially in nurseries and kindergartens, reliable and safe for human health biocides must be used, which are authorized by the Ministry of Health. Such are the disinfectants of PaChico.
Cleaning and disinfection of the most frequently touched surfaces
Children’s facilities follow standard procedures that refer to routine cleaning and disinfection. Critical points are usually identified, these are all areas that are often in contact and are associated with high human trafficking. Surfaces and objects that are constantly touched by children and must be cleaned daily are: tables, chairs, door handles, practical school objects, faucet handles, lighting switches, elevator buttons, toys and more. Standard procedures require regular disinfection of certain areas of nurseries and kindergartens, such as bathrooms.
An additional requirement is to immediately clean surfaces and objects that are visibly contaminated. If the source of contamination is body fluid or blood, gloves and other standard precautions should be used to avoid contact with the fluid. The spill is removed first, and then the surface is disinfected.
In the presence of a certain number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the settlement, the frequency of disinfection in kindergartens should increase and compared to the sites, to vary from 4 times a day to – every hour.
Proper cleaning and disinfection
It is always necessary to follow the instructions on the labels relating to the cleaning or disinfecting agent. First, the surface is treated with a suitable cleaning product, then rinsed with water and treated with an EPA-registered disinfectant to kill germs. The staff should read the instructions on the package carefully, as there may be a separate procedure for applying the product as a cleaning agent or disinfectant.
Disinfection usually requires the biocide to remain on the surface for a certain period of time (for example, 3 to 5 minutes). Also, before applying a detergent to a specific object, the cleaning person needs to make sure that it will not be damaged by any ingredient. Examples of more sensitive surfaces in nurseries and kindergartens are those of electronic objects such as laptops and speakers.
Safety for cleaning and disinfection
Another important aspect of working with disinfectant is its safe use. Special attention must be paid to the warnings and instructions on product labels. Detergents and biocides often require the use of gloves or goggles. For example, gloves should always be worn to protect the hands if working with solutions containing bleaching agents.
Do not mix detergents and disinfectants unless the labels indicate that it is safe to do so. Combining certain products, such as chlorine bleach and ammonia cleaners, can lead to serious injury or even death.
The staff of each nursery or kindergarten should follow the standard procedures for handling waste left after cleaning. The basic rule is to wear gloves, also goggles / helmet. It is good that the waste bins are easy to open without touching. The person in charge of emptying the rubbish bins should avoid contact with waste materials soaked in disinfectants. Disposable products for cleaning surfaces are discarded immediately after use.
The personal protective equipment of the employees who sanitize is disinfected by soaking or wiping, and if they are for single use, they are discarded. After removing masks, gloves, apron and / or others by the cleaning staff, hands must be washed with soap and water or disinfected with an alcohol product.
Quality, regular and safe disinfection of nurseries and gardens is key to maintaining the health of children and all those working in these institutions. That is why we, from Pachico’s team, advise to approach the tasks related to cleaning and disinfection – seriously and responsibly. In case you need products for hygiene of a kindergarten, contact us for a consultation.