5 crucial student- and teacher-focused reasons for keeping a school professionally clean

Educational leaders and administrators must manage many responsibilities when running a school, educational business, or building.

It can be a heavy burden from meeting standards to overseeing curriculum and school safety. After all, you are responsible for the lives of children, administrators, and teachers. It’s not a small position to be in.

However, one task tends to get pushed to the bottom of the list. What is it? School cleanliness.

School cleanliness isn’t just necessary for sanitation purposes. Cleanliness in schools or places of learning has a significant effect on the overall ability of students to learn and teachers to teach. In fact, recent studies show that emotional health and cleanliness are more closely related than previously understood.

All those stories you’re hearing about teacher burnout? Keeping a professionally clean school can help prevent it.

Yes, really. When teachers and administrators can show up to their schools, feel they are being taken care of, and have a clean and organized place to teach, they can do their best.

Here are 5 ways a clean school can help keep all employees safe, productive, and happy.

‍1. Improves Student and Teacher Attendance

The average American spends around 180 days during the year at school, with the average hours of a school day at 6.64. That comes to an average of 1,195.2 hours per year spent in one building.

Keeping it clean is essential because we are all influenced by the environments we live and breathe. In fact, school cleanliness helps reduce the number of sick days and absences teachers and students take. A healthy student is a ready-to-learn student.

Covid-19 raised awareness of the importance of regular cleanings. The risk of encountering germs increases as the school day moves from morning to late afternoon. This means it’s vital that your school gets frequent cleanings throughout the day.

2. Keeps Kids and Teachers Focused

Most people become stressed out and anxious when their environment is less-than-clean. The human brain can hold an exorbitant amount of information, but it can also be thrown off by the most discreet distractions.  

Cleanliness reduces clutter. And when clutter is reduced, the brain can better concentrate on a task. Bottom line: learning in a dirty and cluttered environment is impossible.

3. Improves Assessment Scores and Ratings

The cleanliness of your facility is a direct reflection of your school or institution. Your visitors expect a clean environment, and unkept buildings indicate the quality of education you provide. Many schools are governed by state or federal regulations, and not cleaning may turn into fines or shutdowns.  

Parents have a choice as to where they send their children to school. And often, they will turn to their friend group or online ratings. Schools that do not perform or aren’t welcoming to children and families will receive a low rating.

4. Keeps Injury at Bay

Sickness isn’t the only damage brought on by a dirty school. Injury can be triggered as well. This is true whether the kids are in a gym or math class.

Reduce injury risk in your school by keeping it clean and tidy. For instance, regularly removing slick and slippery substances from your floors significantly reduces the risk of kids and teachers slipping and falling. A professional cleaning services company can make sure your floors are cleaned correctly.

5. Increases Retention

Employees are less likely to want to stick around if your school is not kept clean regularly.  

When employees feel stressed, lack motivation, get sick often, or are just downright disgusted by working in a dirty office, they’re more likely to look for a job in greener pastures. Keep your current teachers happy and healthy by keeping a clean work environment.  

Need Help Improving Cleanliness in Your Educational Environment?

Interested in improving cleanliness in your school with the help of a cleaning services company? Partner with a dedicated facility management provider or hire a professional cleaning service. Since 1983, OpenWorks has helped countless schools and institutions improve their productivity.

Contact us now to discuss your needs!