Buzz
Maintaining school cleanliness isn't just the responsibility of the janitorial staff. By keeping the school environment clean, you can take pride in your school's appearance and gain valuable experience in caring for your living space. Whether it's doing small tasks daily or participating in school-wide cleaning campaigns, you'll contribute to keeping the campus clean and beautiful!
Steps
Develop a daily cleaning habit
Clean your shoes on the mat before entering the school. Dirt, pollen, and leaves can stick to students' shoes, making the floors dirty. Avoid this issue by cleaning your shoe soles before stepping into the school.
- If the school doesn't have a shoe mat, you can gently rub your shoes on the curb before entering.
- Suggest to the principal to purchase shoe mats for the school if none are available. You can propose setting up a donation fund to buy mats if the school lacks the budget.
Dispose of trash in the bin. It may seem insignificant if a candy wrapper falls out of your pocket, but over time, litter accumulates and makes the school look untidy. If you see someone dropping something, pick it up and throw it in the trash.
- If you notice used tissues or other items on the ground, use a trash picker to avoid touching them directly.
- Encourage your friends to pick up litter just like you do.
Recycle paper, glass, and plastic. Recycling helps reduce waste going to landfills, so you’re not only keeping the school clean but also protecting the environment.
- If your school doesn’t have a recycling program, suggest starting one to your teacher or principal.
Organize items neatly after use. If you take a book from the classroom shelf or use a microscope in the lab, make sure to return it to its original place. Leaving items scattered around makes the classroom look messy and disorganized.
Wipe down the lunch table before leaving. Don’t leave behind milk cartons, crumpled napkins, or food crumbs on the table. Push in your chair neatly when you leave, and check the floor to ensure you didn’t drop anything.
Clean up spills immediately. If you spill a drink, clean it up right away. Use paper towels or ask your teacher for a mop to wipe up the mess.
Be careful not to damage displays around the school. Sometimes teachers place landscape paintings, art pieces, or science projects around the school to celebrate students' hard work. If you see these displays, be extra cautious not to bump into or drop them, as this could lead to serious messes.
Organize a school-wide cleaning day
Request permission from the school to organize a cleaning event. Plan an event where students, teachers, and even parents can help clean the school grounds. This event can take place during lunch, after school, or on weekends.
- Visit the office and ask the secretary if you can meet with the principal to discuss organizing such an event. Prepare notes on specific tasks you plan to accomplish during the event.
- For example, you could say, “We need a group of students to pick up trash on the field and clean classroom windows on Saturday.”
- Before the meeting, ask teachers and friends to sign a petition to show their support for the event.
Gather cleaning supplies. If the school already has these supplies, you can borrow them for the cleaning event. Otherwise, you might need to raise funds to purchase the necessary cleaning tools. Depending on the cleaning needs, you may require the following items:
- Rubber gloves
- Spray bottles with cleaning solution
- Clothes
- Trash bags
- Brooms
- Toilet brushes
- Gardening tools
Susan Stocker
Cleaning Expert
Cleaning Expert
Expert Tip: Mix one teaspoon of castile vegetable soap with one liter of deionized water in a spray bottle to create an all-purpose cleaning solution. Deionized water has had its charged atoms and molecules removed, making it a powerful cleaning agent that can tackle almost any stain.
Promote the event. If you’re allowed to organize a school cleaning day, ask if you can distribute flyers to spread the word. You can also announce the event during assemblies or morning announcements.
- Don’t underestimate the power of word-of-mouth. Ask your friends to recruit other students to sign up for the event.
- Try saying something like, "Hey, we’re cleaning up around the school on Saturday. There’s going to be a pizza party afterward. Come join us and help out!"
Assign groups to students on the day of the event. Each group will be responsible for completing a specific task. This ensures no one is wandering aimlessly or cleaning something someone else has already done.
- For example, one group could clean stains in the bathroom, while another removes weeds and clears debris from the schoolyard.
Focus on cleaning overlooked areas. It’s a waste to spend the cleaning day on tasks the janitorial staff already handles daily. Maximize the impact of this meaningful day by tackling neglected tasks, such as wiping down lecture hall chairs or dusting the tops of cabinets.
- You could also request permission to plant flowers around the campus, like a flower bed near the school entrance.
Practice safe cleaning methods. When cleaning, ensure you carefully read and follow all instructions on cleaning products. Wear rubber gloves when handling chemicals like bleach.
- To avoid getting sick, don’t touch used tissues when emptying trash bins. Always wear disposable gloves or wash your hands with soap and water after cleaning.
Establish a club to organize this event regularly. If the event is successful, consider requesting permission to form a school cleaning club that meets consistently. Members could gather weekly, daily during lunch, or every six months, depending on the need and the frequency approved by the principal.
