Back to School: A Campus Cleaning Guide for Healthier Schools

Unger Enterprises Marketing | July 25, 2025

As students gear up for a new school year, it’s time for campuses to shine — literally. From classrooms and cafeterias to dorms and gyms, every space needs a reset. But today’s school and university cleaning protocols aren’t just about looking clean, it’s about creating a healthier, safer space for everyone who walks through the door.

High foot traffic, shared spaces, and dense populations make schools breeding grounds for germs and illness. That’s why institutions are adopting cleaning strategies based on processes and best practices from organizations such ISSA and methodologies and training from companies such as OS-1 Innovations.

Why Should Schools & Universities Follow Guidelines?

Universities and educational campuses are high-risk environments due to crowd density and shared surfaces. Effective cleaning protocols to help prevent outbreaks and maintain hygiene are critical. A defined process helps campuses to:

• Prevent outbreaks through infection control
• Improve hygiene protocols campus-wide
• Prepare for emergencies with effective disinfection plans

Benefits of Following These Standards:

• Reduces risk of illness transmission
• Enhances student and staff confidence
• Aligns with CDC infection prevention standards
• Brings greater cleaning effectiveness, efficiency and safety to your cleaning team
• Supports long-term hygiene and emergency preparedness

What Is an Ideal Campus Cleaning Schedule?

An effective campus cleaning schedule should be phased and strategic, starting weeks before reopening and encompassing all areas of campus, from classrooms to residence halls to lesser-used spaces. Planning in advance not only ensures readiness for student return but also improves hygiene compliance and operational efficiency.

4–6 Weeks Before Students Arrive: Deep Cleaning & Maintenance

Focus on areas that are harder to access once school is in session.

• Gyms & Athletic Facilities: Deep clean locker rooms, weight rooms, equipment, and floors
• Residence Halls (Unoccupied Areas): Clean storage closets, utility rooms, and unused dorm suites
• Mechanical & Utility Spaces: Service and clean boiler rooms, HVAC units, and custodial closets
• Floors & Carpets: Strip and refinish hard floors; shampoo or extract carpets in low traffic buildings
• Air Quality Systems: Clean air ducts, replace HVAC filters, and check air purification units
• Specialty Spaces: Clean out inactive science labs, art studios, and music rooms

2–3 Weeks Before Opening: High-Use Spaces & Health Protocols

Shift the focus to public-facing, high-traffic areas. This phase supports both hygiene and operational preparedness.

• Classrooms & Lecture Halls: Disinfect desks, touchscreens, podiums, and doors
• Restrooms: Deep clean and sanitize all restroom fixtures; check ventilation and supply dispensers
• Dining Areas & Cafeterias: Sanitize tables, seating, food service lines, tray returns, and drink stations
• Dormitories: Clean communal areas, hallways, shared kitchens, and bathrooms
• Libraries & Study Spaces: Sanitize workstations, group tables, and computer terminals

1 Week Before First Day: Final Touches

This final phase ensures every corner of campus is clean and safe. Emphasis shifts to touchpoint disinfection and team coordination.

• Administrative Offices: Disinfect staff desks, reception areas, meeting rooms
• Building Entrances & Lobbies: Clean glass doors, floor mats, handrails
• Event Spaces & Auditoriums: Sanitize seats, stage areas, audio equipment
• Final Dorm Room Check: Spot clean and sanitize move-in ready dorm rooms and bathrooms
• Outdoor/Common Spaces: Clean benches, trash receptacles, bike racks, and entrance steps
• Walkthroughs: Conduct building-by-building inspections with facilities staff to ensure readiness

What Are the Best Practices for University Cleaning?

1. Establish a Consistent Cleaning Schedule

• Daily cleaning for high-use spaces (classrooms, restrooms, dining halls, dormitories, libraries, student centers, and building entrances where large numbers of people gather or pass through daily)
• Weekly/monthly cleaning for lower-traffic areas (storage rooms, mechanical and utility spaces, unused labs, faculty offices during breaks, and infrequently accessed / off-season athletic or conference facilities)

2. Use Commercial Grade Cleaning Tools

• Improved Cleaning Effectiveness: High-quality tools like microfiber cloths and durable mop systems trap more dirt and germs, reducing the risk of cross-contamination.
• Consistent Results: Commercial-grade equipment ensures a higher standard of cleanliness, especially in demanding campus environments where tools are used daily and across large square footage, as opposed to consumer-grade products that can often wear down quickly and deliver inconsistent results.
• Long-Term Cost Savings: Investing in the right tools minimizes the need for more frequent replacements and boosts productivity by enabling staff to clean more thoroughly in less time.

3. Train Staff Regularly

• Frequent training on safety, disinfecting, and chemical use: Regular instruction ensures cleaning staff stay up to date on the safest and most effective cleaning practices, including proper dilution of disinfectants and PPE usage. This reduces the risk of injury, property damage, or ineffective cleaning.
• Emergency response protocols: Preparing staff for potential health emergencies, such as exposure to biohazards or infectious outbreaks, enables fast, dependable action and helps prevent campus-wide disruptions.

4. Prioritize Greener and/or More Sustainable Cleaning

• Choose sustainable products: When possible, use cleaning solutions that are biodegradable and low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These products are safer for staff, students, and the environment, and reduce harmful chemical residue in high-use areas. At the very least, you can choose cleaning tools that require less chemical cleaning solution, if any at all, such as pure water window cleaning systems.
• Reduce water and chemical waste: For example, you can implement microfiber mop systems and microfiber window cleaning tools to avoid overuse of water and cleaning agents. Microfiber uses significantly less water than traditional cotton mops and retains more soil.

Contact Unger’s Commercial Cleaning Experts

As campuses prepare to welcome back students, faculty, and visitors, cleaning professionals play a vital role in shaping a healthier, more resilient learning environment. By following a structured cleaning schedule, using the right tools, and staying aligned with CDC guidelines, your facilities team can dramatically reduce the risk of illness and ensure every space feels safe and ready. But don’t just take our word for it.

Schools like the University of Maryland have seen real, measurable results by upgrading to Unger’s commercial cleaning equipment. The improved cleaning efficiency and enhanced environmental health created meaningful impact to their bottom line.

At Unger, we’re proud to support education facilities with scalable, smart cleaning solutions that work. Contact Us.