Cleaning classrooms safely
Especially in elementary schools, teachers ask parents to bring supplies at the start of a semester. Wipes, kleenex and paper towels used to top the list when my kids were that age. But the wipes parents are donating can be all different brands and efficiency. If a wipe kills Covid in 4 to 10 minutes, is that good enough? I don’t think so.
We need to protect kids from the spread of colds, Covid and all viruses. The chemicals to do that need to be chosen carefully. Reducing chemical toxic exposure in classroom cleaning is proven to result in better test scores. Chronic exposures to common environmental factors in school buildings,
like indoor air pollution, mold, and pesticides impact performance and health. The U.S. EPA (2011) has estimated that more than 60,000 schools (i.e., 46% of U.S. public schools) have environmental conditions that contribute to poor Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ).
Regulations and common sense:
- Only custodians or other trained staff should use disinfectants.
- Disinfect only when necessary, such as when required by the health department, health code, or regulations.
- Avoid ingredients that are not safe for asthma, like bleach, ammonia, quaternary ammonium “quats” compounds (benzalkonium chlorides), and acetic acid (found in vinegar). Examples include Lysol® Disinfectant Spray, Multi-surface Cleaner, and wipes; Clorox Disinfecting Wipes and Clorox Total 360® Disinfecting Cleaner.
- Follow the label exactly for a disinfectant to work properly. Using a disinfectant for less time than specified on the label exposes school staff and students to chemicals in the product but may not disinfect the surface. By law, you must keep disinfectants out of students’ reach. Disinfectants should never be used by children or to clean skin, including hands.
ESG Safe recommended disinfectants are safer and more chemically efficient than most products on the EPA List N disinfectants for killing Covid. More than half of products on the EPA List N contain quats. We don’t sell any of them.
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/DEODC/OHB/WRAPP/Pages/Disinfectants-Schools.aspx
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/quaternary-ammonium-compounds
About ESG Safe: ESG Safe offers cleaning, environmental improvement and PPE solutions compatible with environmental social governance goals, while improving public safety and our planet. ESG Safe’s lead disinfectant has a Covid kill rate of 60 seconds and is safe for all commercial and residential needs. ESG Safe is a Women Business Enterprise, Small Business Enterprise.