5 Steps to a Clean and Healthy Classroom

Quick ‘germs in schools’ statistics:

Kindergarteners get around 12 colds in a year, whereas adolescents will only have about two to four.¹
A classroom keyboard has 3,300 bacteria per square inch.²
A classroom water fountain has 2,700,000 bacteria per square inch.³
It only takes 2-3 days for school-desk bacteria levels to get back up to what they were before a cleaning.⁴
Cold season hits right during the school year — September to March/April.⁵

Why should we keep our classrooms clean?

It’s fundamentally important to keep school classrooms clean for a number of reasons. Most obviously, a group of kids plus a confined area can equal a breeding ground for germs. Fighting the constant runny noses, coughing, sneezing and dirty hands is a never-ending battle.

It is every teacher and Lysol’s mission to curb the spread of illness in the classroom. Children miss nearly 60 million days of school a year in the US, which means that they are at home and not in the classroom learning and growing.

It’s crucial to recognise that school is not only the place that children learn and grow but also create strong and lasting relationships with lifelong friends. Simply put, if they miss school, they miss out.

Poor hygiene comes in a variety of forms and often leads to the spread of viruses and bacteria including cold and flu germs. Encouraging healthy hygiene habits at a young age can leave a lasting impression and have a dramatic effect on overall long-term health.

How to Keep a Clean Classroom

Sing-along

Teach your students how to wash their hands properly. Get them to sing the ABC’s twice to make sure they know how long to wash for.

Child in apron washes hands at classroom sink

Daily Germ Buster

Clean and disinfect desks, shared objects and doorknobs at least once a day with a good disinfectant like Lysol® Disinfectant Spray or Lysol® Disinfecting Wipes.

Person wiping the chrome doorknob of a white door

Know the Drill

Teach students what germs are and why it’s so important to keep things clean. Covering a few students hands in glitter and getting them to shake hands and touch objects can visually demonstrate how germs spread.

Child on second row of desks raises hand to alert teacher at front of classroom

Be a Vampire

The “Dracula sneeze” involves sneezing into your elbow like a vampire covering their face with a cloak. This is a better hygiene habit than sneezing into hands that spread germs easily.

Thumbs Up

Praise good behavior from students, such as practising good hygiene habits and helping to keep the classroom tidy and easier to clean by putting equipment away after using it.

Teacher and six children sitting at school table talking with hands held out

Remember that a healthy classroom also needs parents to get involved. In particular, encourage parents to keep their children home when sick. Let them know that they won’t get in trouble, and that they’re helping to keep other kids safe.

Our Infographic is a good reminder of the 5 steps for a healthy classroom.

Text says "Lysol Healthy Habits for your classroom"

Keeping your classroom clean is imperative not only to keeping it safe and hygienic, but to ensuring it’s a pleasant environment for students to be productive in. Just remember that with the right sanitizing products and a bit of common sense, it needn’t be a chore!

View the Infographic

Participating Teacher Bloggers

Amy Marshall: The Resourceful Room

Sam Kelly: Mrs. Kelly's Klass

Cassie Thompson: Adventures in Teaching

Aimee VanMiddlesworth: Pencils, Books & Dirty Looks

Angie Rubin: Rulin' the Roost

Mrs. Leeby: Learning with Mrs. Leeby

Dana Lester: Common to the Core

Diane Roethler: Fifth in the Middle

Gina Szczodrowski: Third Grade Tidbits

Hadar Maor: Miss Kindergarten