The Ultimate Cleaning Guide for Childcare Programs
Use this guide to create safe and healthy spaces for children, staff, and families.
Why is a cleaning checklist important?
A cleaning checklist helps childcare programs maintain a consistent routine, reducing health risks for children and staff. It ensures compliance with state guidelines, minimizes exposure to toxins by tracking safe product usage, and prevents the buildup of bacteria in high-traffic areas.
The importance of cleaning and sanitizing
Cleaning and sanitizing are crucial to running a high-quality childcare program. Children are messy, and as a result, childcare programs can become a breeding ground for germs. If you don’t attend to these everyday messes, germs can easily spread among children, educators, and workers.
Here is why cleaning is such an essential aspect of your daily operations:
Promotes a healthy learning environment
By prioritizing a regular cleaning and sanitizing routine you can keep your children, staff, and families healthy. Cleaning removes visible dirt and germs from surfaces, while sanitizing is typically done with weaker bleach solutions or sanitizing sprays to reduce the number of germs on surfaces to levels that public health codes consider safe. All of this helps to reduce the spread of germs and bacteria at your program.
Follows state guidelines
Proper cleaning and sanitizing are important not only for the health of your staff and children but also for compliance with state licensing guidelines. Guidelines will vary from state to state and are detailed in each state’s licensing requirements. Your state may also have guidelines for the proper storage of cleaning supplies and equipment to ensure that they are not accessible to children.
Establishes a consistent cleaning routine
Your childcare facility needs to be cleaned and sanitized on a consistent basis. Certain surfaces or items will need to be cleaned and sanitized daily, while others, such as food preparation countertops and feeding bottles, will need to be cleaned and sanitized after each use.
To prevent buildup of bacteria and dirt, it’s also important to deep clean certain surfaces on a weekly basis. This may include the outdoor playground, refrigerator, pantry, sink, toilet, and more. Look for hidden surfaces and nooks and surfaces that are behind or underneath different objects.
You may also choose to hire a professional cleaning service on a weekly or monthly basis if you have a larger facility that is difficult for you and your staff to thoroughly clean. They will also be able to reach some surfaces you may not have access to, such as ceiling fan blades, high windows, and the areas behind appliances.
Minimizes exposure to toxins
As you plan for cleaning and sanitizing your daycare, also be aware of the products you, your staff, or a cleaning service is using. In addition to surfaces the children can touch, you must also consider the toxic, hazardous chemicals found in some cleaning products that the children will breathe in.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides resources for green cleaning in childcare settings, which entails using products without the most potentially toxic ingredients. When you are shopping for cleaning products, look for statements that say things like “non-toxic,” “biodegradable,” or “water-based,” and be wary of those that say “corrosive,” “irritant,” “caution,” or “wear gloves during use.”
Anytime cleaning products are used, even green ones, ensure that surfaces are thoroughly dried before children touch them and be sure to open windows as you clean to keep fresh air circulating.
Step-by-step cleaning guide for childcare programs
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides recommended procedures for cleaning and disinfecting early care and education settings. To manage your cleaning checklist effectively, assign specific staff to each cleaning task to ensure crucial areas are cleaned as needed.
Daily cleaning checklist
Daily cleaning focuses on high-touch surfaces and areas that see frequent use to prevent immediate germ transmission.
Surfaces that need to be cleaned daily include:
- Infant and toddler toys
- Countertops
- Doorknobs and cabinet handles
- Drinking fountains
- Napping blankets (if shared)
- Toilets and sinks
- Floors
Surfaces that must be cleaned and sanitized after every use:
- Potty chairs
- Isolation areas
- Diapering spaces
- Dining tables after meals
- Food prep areas
- Kitchen sinks
- Mouthed toys
- High chairs (before and after meals)
- Dishes and utensils
Other daily cleaning tasks include:
- Wiping liquid spills and splashes
- Dusting furniture
- Vacuuming both sides of carpets or rugs
- Opening windows for clean air circulation
- Cleaning the fridge
- Cleaning storage rooms
- Defrosting the freezer
- Cleaning out food trapped in the dishwasher
- Scrubbing kitchen floors
- Emptying garbage cans
Weekly cleaning checklist
Weekly tasks focus on deeper cleaning of items that accumulate dirt over time but may not need daily attention.
Areas that require weekly cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting include:
- Walls
- Refrigerators
- Books and bookshelves
- Older children’s toys
- Art rooms and art supplies
- Nap mats and blankets
- Trash cans
- Cribs and bedding
Monthly or quarterly cleaning checklist
These tasks target deep-cleaning areas often missed in the daily grind, ensuring the facility's long-term maintenance.
Surfaces safe to clean monthly or quarterly include:
- Curtains, blinds, and windows
- Furniture, windowsills, and baseboards (deep cleaning)
- Shelves, closets, storage containers (clean, wipe, and disinfect)
- Plumbing (check for leaks)
- Clean carpets (twice a year)
Handling illness outbreaks
In the event of an illness outbreak, such as the flu or hand-foot-and-mouth disease, having a clear cleaning and sanitization protocol is essential. Follow these steps to ensure a safe and healthy environment:
- Isolate affected areas: Close off any areas used by the ill individual. Limit access until thorough cleaning and disinfection are complete.
- Use proper cleaning supplies: Disinfect surfaces with EPA-approved cleaners effective against viruses and bacteria. Pay close attention to high-touch areas like doorknobs, light switches, toys, and shared equipment.
- Wash linens and soft items: Machine wash any bedding, blankets, or plush toys on the highest heat setting allowed.
- Promote hygiene practices: Ensure all staff and children wash their hands frequently. Provide hand sanitizer where soap and water are unavailable.
- Communicate with families: Inform families about the outbreak and share the steps being taken to address the situation. Encourage them to monitor their children for symptoms and keep sick children home.
By implementing these measures, childcare providers can reduce the spread of illness and maintain a safe environment for everyone.
Top tips for cleaning your childcare program
Here are some clever hacks to make cleaning easier and more effective:
- Use color-coded cloths: Designate specific colors for different rooms to avoid cross-contamination (e.g., red for the kitchen, yellow for classrooms, black for bathrooms).
- Label cleaning products by area: Prevent the use of harsh chemicals on children's toys by clearly labeling products for specific zones.
- Set up recurring orders for cleaning supplies: Schedule recurring orders for detergents and sanitizers to ensure you never run out.
- Set up several sanitizing or hand washing stations: Encourage staff and families to wash hands frequently by making stations accessible near entrances and diaper changing areas.
- Shuffle cleaners every few weeks: Rotate staff cleaning duties to prevent boredom and ensure fresh eyes catch neglected surfaces.
Daycare cleaning supplies checklist
To save on cost and avoid delays, keep your inventory stocked with these essentials:
- Hand sanitizer: Place in entrances, bathrooms, kitchens, and eating areas.
- Wet wipes: Keep handy in play areas and near trash cans for quick cleanups.
- Paper towels: Stock up heavily for cleaning mouths, drying hands, and wiping spills (expect to use 2–3 rolls daily).
- Bleach: Use for stubborn stains and disinfecting (rinse thoroughly afterwards).
- Disinfectant spray: Use child-safe sprays like Lysol for sanitizing areas when children are present.
- Dishwasher: Essential for efficiently sanitizing large volumes of dishes and utensils.
- Vacuum cleaner: Use with attachments to remove dirt and bacteria from hard-to-reach places.
Frequently asked questions
How often should toys be cleaned in a daycare?
Toys that go into children's mouths must be cleaned and sanitized immediately after use. Other toys, particularly those for infants and toddlers, should be cleaned daily.
What is the difference between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting?
Cleaning removes visible dirt and germs with soap and water. Sanitizing lowers the number of germs to a safe level, while disinfecting kills bacteria, viruses, and fungi on non-porous surfaces.
Do I need to use green cleaning products?
While not always mandatory, the EPA recommends using green cleaning products labeled "non-toxic" or "biodegradable" to reduce children's exposure to harsh chemicals and fumes.
Conclusion
Keeping your daycare clean is a top priority for your entire team. A daycare cleaning checklist ensures that any staff member or cleaning crew can step in and follow the same standards, and it helps you track all the areas that need attention so nothing gets overlooked. With a clear, thorough checklist in place, you can maintain a healthy, safe environment for children, staff, and families every day.
