Keeping a childcare facility in Wyndham Vale clean and safe requires consistent systems, not occasional effort. Children touch everything, spread germs quickly, and are more vulnerable to illness — so cleaning standards need to be higher than in most other settings.
Cleaning and Disinfecting High-Touch Surfaces
High-touch surfaces are where germs spread fastest in a childcare environment.
- Door handles and push plates: Touched constantly by children, staff, and parents
- Light switches and taps: Often missed during routine cleaning
- Tables and chairs: Need wiping after every meal, snack, and activity
- Cot rails and sleep mats: Direct contact with children’s hands and faces
- Shared toys and equipment: Regularly handled and frequently mouthed by younger children
Clean these surfaces first with a general cleaner to remove visible dirt, then apply a child-safe disinfectant and allow proper contact time before wiping or rinsing.
Proper Handwashing Techniques for Children and Staff
Handwashing is the single most effective way to reduce illness in childcare.
- When to wash: Before eating, after toileting, after outdoor play, after nose-blowing or coughing, and after handling messy materials
- How to wash properly: Wet hands, apply soap, scrub for at least 20 seconds including between fingers and under nails, rinse, and dry with a clean paper towel
- Make it accessible: Sinks should be at child height or have step stools, with soap and paper towel always stocked
- Staff must model it: Children learn from watching adults, so staff need to follow the same routine consistently
Hand sanitiser is a backup, not a replacement. Proper handwashing with soap and water is more effective.
Safe and Effective Cleaning Products
- TGA-listed disinfectants: Hospital-grade and appropriate for childcare environments
- Low-fragrance products: Strong scents can trigger asthma and sensitivities in young children
- Food-safe sanitiser: For tables and surfaces where children eat
- Colour-coded cloths: Separate colours for bathrooms, kitchens, and play areas to prevent cross-contamination
- Secure storage: All chemicals must be locked away and completely out of children’s reach
Choose products that are effective but appropriate for the setting. Strong industrial chemicals are not suitable for spaces used by young children.
Creating a Daily Cleaning Schedule
- Before opening: Check bathrooms, restock supplies, wipe entry points and commonly touched surfaces
- After each use: Nappy change areas, food tables, bodily fluid incidents
- Throughout the day: Spill cleanup, high-touch surface sanitising, toy rotation for cleaning
- End of day: Full floor vacuum and mop, bathroom disinfection, kitchen cleaning, bin emptying, toy sanitising
The schedule should be visible, written down, and signed off by staff so there’s accountability for every task.
Maintaining a Healthy Indoor Air Quality
- Ventilate regularly: Open windows and doors where safe to do so, especially during and after cleaning
- Clean air vents and filters: Dust and allergen buildup in HVAC systems affects air quality over time
- Avoid aerosol sprays during operating hours: Spray chemicals in the air are an unnecessary exposure for children
- Control moisture: Fix leaks quickly and address any damp or mould to prevent spore circulation
- Reduce dust sources: Regular vacuuming with HEPA filtration, wiping shelves, and washing soft furnishings
Children breathe faster than adults and are closer to the floor, so air quality at low levels matters more than people often realise.
Educating Children about Hygiene and Cleanliness
- Build routines: Handwashing before meals, pack-away time after activities, and wiping up small spills become habits when repeated daily
- Keep it simple and positive: Songs, visual reminders near sinks, and clear expectations work better than lectures
- Let them participate: Children can help with age-appropriate tidying — returning toys, carrying cups, putting away craft materials
- Staff consistency: If adults follow the same routines every day, children learn faster
For Wyndham Vale childcare facilities, a clean and safe environment comes from clear systems, good products, trained staff, and daily consistency. When cleaning is treated as part of the centre’s culture rather than a chore, the results are better for children, families, and educators alike.
Check out our featured post: End of lease cleaning Melbourne