Project Cleaning For Schools And Universities

This article was originally published in Cleaning & Maintenance Management.

"Well begun is half done” says the axiom, and starting projects before the need becomes critical is an important way to be sure these tasks are done while manageable.

That is why successful systems, such as team cleaning programs and the nonprofit Process Cleaning for Healthy Schools® (PC4HS) program recommend incorporating project work into weekly and monthly schedules.

For example:

• Routine Cleaning is performed Monday through Friday and completed daily.
• Detail Cleaning is performed in quadrants Monday through Thursday and completed weekly.
• Project Work is performed on Fridays and completed monthly.

However, if you reserve projects for the "Big Summer Cleaning Push" — there are suggestions for making these projects easier to manage.

One thing to do is to create a task list. Otherwise, knowing what work must be done is the first step to completing it. A sample list could include:

• Scrub, strip and refinish floors
• Perform high dusting
• Clean vents and grilles
• Perform low dusting
• Wash blinds
• Replace lights, clean covers and lenses
• Wash windows
• Replace ceiling tile
• Wash walls
• Remove ink and other substances (e.g., chewing gum) from desks and tables
• Clean trash receptacles
• Clean recycle containers
• Extract carpet
• Clean lockers and gym mats
• Paint walls and other areas as needed

Check back next week as we cover additional suggestions for project cleaning.