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Carpets can harbour dust mites or other allergens
that can cause health problems for staff and children.
Dust mites are microscopic insects that ingest
the tiny particles of skin humans shed normally every
day. They live in carpeting and fabric but can be
killed by frequent washing and use of a mechanical,
heated dryer, so it is helpful to use only carpeting
that can be cleaned regularly by professionals.
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Childcare and
cleaning
One of the most important steps in reducing the spread of
infectious diseases
between children and childcare providers is the cleaning and
sanitizing of surfaces. Any surface that is within reach of
children or adults has the potential to be contaminated with
infectious disease agents, and no surface is more at risk of
contamination than the floor. Routine cleaning with detergent
and water is useful for removing visible dirt and germs from
surfaces, but some floors require an additional step after
cleaning to reduce the number of germs. This step is called
sanitizing.
One of the surfaces that children touch and contaminate is right
under your feet--literally! Keeping the floors clean and safe
for children is easy if you follow the steps below.
Wood, Vinyl, and Tile:
Hard flooring surfaces, such as vinyl, tile, and wood, should be
cleaned and sanitized daily as well as any time they are soiled
by spills or body fluids. This is a two-step process of cleaning
and sanitizing.
To clean floors, first remove soil by sweeping and damp
mopping using water and a dash of dishwashing detergent. (For
wood floors, try a solution of 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar
mixed with 1 gallon of warm water.) Scrub areas as needed with
nylon netting to loosen stubborn, ground-in soil. Be sure to get
dirt hidden in corners or under furniture.
Rinse thoroughly, especially if using a cleaner that contains
ammonia. Mixing these chemicals with the bleach used in the next
step can produce hazardous gases.
Sanitize floors using a household bleach and water mixture, or
an industrial product. By itself, bleach is not a good cleaning
agent because it is too strong. But using a fresh bleach
solution on the clean floor will effectively kill most germs.
Combine 1/4 cup of liquid bleach that is 5.25 percent
hypochlorite with one gallon of tap water (or, for a smaller
amount, one tablespoon of bleach plus one quart of tap water)
and damp-mop the clean floor. (Most household bleach is 5.25
percent hypochlorite; "ultra" bleach contains 6 percent
hypochlorite.) Since chlorine evaporates into the air leaving no
residue, surfaces sanitized with bleach may be left to air dry.
(For wood floors, check with a flooring specialist about using
bleach solution or other disinfectant.) Remember that vinegar is
not a disinfectant!
The use of industrially-prepared detergent/sanitizer solutions
or cleaning with detergent, rinsing, and then applying a
non-bleach sanitizer is acceptable as long as these products are
non-toxic for children and are used according to the
manufacturer's instructions. Industrial products that meet the
standards for "hospital grade" germicides (solutions that kill
germs) may be used for sanitizing.
Be
sure to clean and sanitize mops and cleaning equipment! After
each use, wash mops and rags in detergent and water, rinse in
water, immerse in sanitizing solution, and wring as dry as
possible. After cleaning and sanitizing, hang mops and rags to
dry. Detachable mop heads and reusable rags may be cleaned in a
washing machine and dried in a mechanical dryer.
Occasionally, floors will be soiled by spills of body fluids,
including urine, feces, blood, saliva, nasal discharge, eye
discharge, injury or tissue discharges, and human milk. These
spills must be cleaned up immediately! Put on your gloves and
remove the fluid by blotting with paper towels or clean rags
that can be laundered. Clean the area with a detergent solution,
and sanitize with a bleach solution. Mix one tablespoon bleach
solution with one quart water in a spray bottle and keep this in
a place that is accessible to staff, but out of reach of
children. Remember, a solution of bleach and water loses its
strength very quickly and must be mixed fresh each day to be
effective. NEVER mix bleach with anything but fresh clean water!
Carpets and Rugs
Few construction materials offer the advantages of carpet. It is
colorful, comfortable, generally easy to maintain, and is often
the most economical choice for floor covering. However, carpets
and rugs trap soil and potentially contaminated materials, and
they are difficult to clean and sanitize. Therefore, they should
not be used in toilet rooms, diaper changing areas, or areas
where food handling occurs.
Carpets can harbour dust mites or other allergens
that can cause health problems for staff and children.
Dust mites are microscopic insects that ingest
the tiny particles of skin humans shed normally every
day. They live in carpeting and fabric but can be
killed by frequent washing and use of a mechanical,
heated dryer, so it is helpful to use only carpeting
that can be cleaned regularly by professional caret
cleaners. Other children may have allergies to animal
products in carpeting, such as feathers, fur, and wool, or to
latex found in carpet.
Small rugs should be vacuumed or shaken outdoors daily
and laundered weekly. Carpets and large area rugs should be
vacuumed daily either before children arrive or after they
leave. Carpets should be thoroughly cleaned at least monthly in
infant areas, every three months in other areas, and, of course,
whenever soiled.
All carpet cleaning methods, whether do-it-yourself or
professional, offer various advantages. The standard cleaning
methods include:
Hot water extraction (steam cleaning). A hot water
cleaning solution is sprayed on the carpet and immediately
extracted, taking dissolved soil with it, using a wet/dry vacuum
cleaner.
Shampooing. The cleaning solution is showered onto the
carpet through several openings in a circular brush. The rotary
action of the brush whips the detergent into a foam and provides
agitation or rubbing action on the carpet. This suspends the
soil, and the wet/dry vacuuming that follows removes it.
Foam cleaning. A cleaning machine produces a foam
detergent, which is agitated on the carpet by brushes. The foam
and trapped soil are removed by an extraction/vacuum pickup.
Dry cleaning (absorbent compound). An absorbent, dry
compound containing solvents and detergent is sprinkled on the
carpet and worked into the pile by a machine. It is vacuumed off
after about half an hour, removing the soil suspended by the
compound.
Cleaning and sanitizing rugs and carpeting that have been
contaminated by body fluids is challenging. Wearing gloves,
quickly try to blot or remove as much of the contaminating
material as possible before it penetrates the surface to lower
layers. Check with the health department or ask a carpet
cleaning professional about products that can be used to
quickly spot clean and sanitize.
Courtesy: Healthy CHILDCare
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