11025 - Cleaning Products Brought From Home
School custodial staff is responsible for cleaning schools. If teachers or other staff choose to do additional cleaning the cleaning supplies should not be brought from home. School district employees should only use cleaning products provided by the school district.
Why should teachers not bring common cleaning products (including bleach) from home into the classroom?
● Some common cleaning products are dangerous when mixed. Never mix bleach with ammonia, acids, or other disinfectants. An example: Comet, containing bleach, would react with Windex, which contains ammonia, to form poisonous vapors.
● Common household cleaners and disinfectants may not be appropriate for schools and may cause allergic reactions or have other health impacts.
● Schools and districts must have a Safety Data Sheet for each chemical used in the school. Custodial staff can make a simple all-purpose cleaner for classrooms. Mix one teaspoon of fragrance-free dish soap in a spray bottle filled with water. Spray on the surface and scrub with paper towels or a microfiber cloth. Rinse and wipe dry to remove any residue.
● Microfiber cleaning cloths improve cleaning – the removal of dirt and germs. Dampened with water they are great dust removers. With soap and water, they remove most germs.
● Disinfecting is the responsibility of school custodial staff. They are trained to use disinfectants in a safe and effective manner and to clean up potentially infectious materials and body fluid spills – blood, vomit, feces, and urine.
Contact your custodian or school nurse if students are ill and your classroom needs cleaning and disinfection. If teachers use disinfectants, the district must provide training and supply the appropriate cleaner and sanitizer or disinfectant.
Adopted April 14, 2020