How to Clean and Disinfect a Daycare Safely

Cleaning a daycare is a balancing act. You need to control the germs that spread quickly among young children, while avoiding harsh chemical residue on the surfaces and toys they touch and mouth. Here is how to keep a daycare both clean and safe.

Clean First, Then Disinfect

Disinfectants work best on a clean surface. Remove visible soil first, then apply disinfectant and let it sit for its full dwell time. Skipping the cleaning step or wiping disinfectant off too soon are the two most common mistakes.

Focus on High Touch and Shared Items

• Tables, chairs and high chairs after meals and activities
• Door handles, light switches and railings
• Toys, especially shared and mouthed items
• Diaper changing areas, sanitized after every use
• Restroom and handwashing fixtures

Why Steam Helps in a Daycare

A steam cleaner sanitizes with heat and very little chemical, which is ideal around children. Steam cleans and sanitizes toys, mats, cribs, carpets and high chairs without leaving chemical residue, and it reaches into crevices that wiping misses. For washable toys, steam is a practical way to sanitize in batches.

Floors and Soft Surfaces

1. Vacuum carpets and rugs daily with a HEPA vacuum to capture fine dust and allergens
2. Damp mop or scrub hard floors with a child safe cleaner
3. Deep clean carpets and nap mats on a regular schedule
4. Address spills and accidents immediately

Choose Safer Products

Where you do use chemicals, choose products appropriate for child care and follow the label for dilution and dwell time. Combine smart product choices with steam sanitizing and HEPA vacuuming for a routine that controls germs without overloading the space with chemicals. Explore our steam cleaners and HEPA vacuums for child care settings.