Housekeeping Tips for Safe Cleaning

In the past decade, the number of children suffering from allergies and asthma has increased to the point that asthma is one of the leading causes of absenteeism for school children. Many children are sensitive to dust, pollen, and animal dander as well as chemicals and solutions commonly used in cleaning.

Keeping the childcare setting clean and using products that are non-irritating can help reduce asthma attacks and allergy symptoms and improve children's health. Here are some suggestions for keeping your center clean while reducing irritants:

• Keep sidewalks, porches and entrances to your center clean; dust on the sidewalks can be carried inside; sweep or hose with water at least twice a week.
• Use dirt-catching entrance mats inside and outside the doors to decrease particles entering the building. Mats should be cleaned or replaced regularly.
• Vacuum carpets, upholstered furniture, and draperies regularly as these are major dust "reservoirs" for dust, dust mites, and biological pollutants. Vacuum carpets twice a week and furniture and draperies twice a month with a high quality vacuum cleaner fitted with a double-lined paper filter bag or a filter designed to capture and retain its contents (many filters are so porous that the captured dust is promptly blown back into the area). Filter bags should be changed when they become half full (a full filter bag is not as efficient and dust particles can escape).
• Clean carpets, furniture, and upholstery at least twice a year, hot water extraction is a popular method, although the wet carpeting can lead to mold or mildew if it is not dried properly. The dry method of cleaning, where a cleaning solution and a small amount of detergent are used, reduces the chances of mold or mildew but may leave detergent residues on the carpet if it is not vacuumed thoroughly after the cleaning.
• Dust weekly-more often if windows are opened-using a moist cloth or static dust cloth to collect the dust. Avoid feather dusters which distribute the dust back into the room.
• Change the heating and air-conditioning filters regularly; pleated filters (not the blue, mesh screens) are more efficient in capturing particles. Check filters monthly and keep a schedule posted on the furnace or air-conditioning units that notes when the filter was last changed. Keep weeds, standing water and trash receptacles away from air conditioners and other fresh air intakes.
• Manage temperature and humidity to control mites, molds, and other allergens; high humidity levels help feed molds and mildews; use of dehumidifiers, keeping windows open when outside conditions allow, and using fans to increase ventilation can all help limit the growth of unwanted contaminants.
• Mattress and pillow covers reduce dust mite infestations and protect children from sleeping in an environment where millions of dust mites may exist. The covers encapsulate the mattress and pillow but still allow the mattress to breathe. Wash bedding and blankets once a week in hot water to kill dust mites.
• Minimize clutter to make cleaning easier and reduce dust and hiding places for cockroaches and other pests. Stuffed animals and cloth-covered pillows are great breeding ground for dust mites and other disease-causing organisms. If stuffed animals are allowed in the childcare program, they should be limited to the individual child's crib, and should be washed in hot water every week.
• Keep food areas clean and store all food in sealed containers. Minimizing crumbs and cleaning the food area immediately after food preparation helps keep cockroaches and other pests away.
• Select cleaning products carefully as some can contribute to an unhealthy environment. Replace solvents, aerosols, chlorine bleach, and ammoniated cleaning products with detergent-based cleaners and disinfectants. While chlorine bleach solutions have been shown to be effective for sanitizing, often they are mixed incorrectly and are too weak so that they are not effective as a disinfectant, or are mixed too strongly and can be almost toxic. If chlorine bleach solution is used, fresh solution should be mixed daily using one tablespoon of bleach with one quart of water. Any solution that has not been mixed on the day of use should be discarded as it is not effective.
• Clean frequently and pay particular attention to food preparation areas and areas where moisture and condensation collect such as under sinks, and near toilets and bathtubs. Clean up spills immediately.
• For pest control, traps and adhesive strips are effective. However, they should be placed only in areas where children do not have access. If chemical pesticides are necessary, use species-specific products and use only where and when necessary.
• Pets can cause allergy and asthma problems. It is best to keep dogs and cats outside; some common indoor pets such as hamsters or rats can cause allergic and asthmatic reactions.
• The effects of second hand smoke are well know--smoking should never be allowed in a childcare setting or in the building as smoke will travel through ventilation systems. Even allowing smoking outside can cause problems if the smoke enters the windows or doors.

Cleaning in the childcare setting is more than vacuuming and washing dishes. Keeping the childcare setting clean and reducing irritants can help the children and staff stay safe and healthy.