Getting a classroom cleaned up for spring might seem like an overwhelming project. But the good news is you don’t have to tackle it all in one day. Instead, spread the tasks over 10 working days with the Schoolyard’s 2-week guide to spring clean your classroom.
Clean Your Whole Classroom in 10 Days
A classroom is a learning space. And with learning and creativity comes a bit of mess and chaos. Spring is a great time to clean things up and give the room a fresh start. Follow these steps and get things in shape for the arrival of warmer weather.
Try to fit in 30 minutes of cleaning each day. Whether this means arriving at school a little early, using lunch breaks, or staying a bit late, the goal should be 30 minutes of dedicated spring cleaning time. If you don’t have room in your schedule for cleaning outside of class, be creative and get some students involved!
Week One Cleaning Schedule: Organization
Day 1: Start with your workspace.
Throw away unnecessary papers and put away important documents and supplies. Gather all the pens, pencils, paper clips, and Post-it notes and put them in their designated holders and drawers.
Day 2: Move to the activity centers.
Are books and papers lying on the center tables and common areas? Are the tables and pieces of furniture where they should be, or has use moved them from their intended locations? Take some time to return items to their homes and tidy up areas around the room.
Day 3: Organize cabinets and drawers.
Toss anything that takes up space without being useful. Take a good look at the space available to you in the form of shelves and drawers, and reorganize items to consolidate space. Be sure that the items you use most often are still easy to reach, and that you take notes for organizing when back to school season starts in the fall.
Day 4: Focus on bookshelves and whiteboard.
Are the whiteboard markers and erasers all in one place? Do they need to be replaced before next school year? Have the bookshelves become a disorganized and poorly stacked mess? Gather anything that needs to be thrown away and toss them. Then spend some time making sure markers, erasers, and books are in the right place so that when you need them, you can find them!
Read Spring Cleaning Guide to a Completely Clean Whiteboard
Day 5: Update room décor.
Are some of the anchor charts looking a bit run-down? Have other charts and posters gotten curled edges and tears in them? Do an overall check of decorations in the room and get rid of or fix items that are out of shape. Take notes for the fall on what decorations could use replacing and what new things you’d like to add.
Week Two Cleaning Schedule: Surfaces
Day 6: Start by dusting tables, your desk, and shelves.
Dusting might seem pointless, but a quick dust of all the shelves, tables, and other surfaces of the room will help to make things feel a little fresher. Use a microfiber cloth or duster to pick up as much of the dust as possible, and eco-friendly cleaning supplies for places with fingerprints.
Day 7: Now wipe everything down.
Get out a little soap and water and wipe down table tops, chairs, the whiteboard marker tray, and the fronts of cabinets and drawers. The dust might be gone, but a quick wipe down of surfaces will help to remove any missed fingerprints or sticky spots. Also, be sure to look around at the walls where mud, paint, or other messes might have left their mark.
Day 8: Disinfect items used daily.
This could be as simple as giving whiteboard markers a quick once-over with a cleaning wipe, or going to every door and drawer handle in the room. Try to disinfect anywhere you know little hands go regularly. This will give you peace of mind and may even keep you and your students healthy.
Day 9: Spot-clean any rugs or fabric.
If you have rugs in the reading area or a welcome mat by the door, use this day to get rid of stains or dirt. Your classroom may be vacuumed, but dirty shoes and art projects tend to leave a longer-lasting mark. Try a scrubbing brush with dish soap and water for spills or stains, and trim any sticky spots from rugs.
Day 10: Add something new to the room.
If you made it this far, your learning space is looking great! As a reward for yourself and a surprise for your students, add something new to the room. Whether this means you create a new piece of décor to hang up, try a new furniture arrangement, or add a new book to the library, a reward for cleaning up the room is a great way to end two weeks of consistent effort and squeaky clean results.
More Classroom Spring Cleaning Tips and Tricks
For more ideas and resources to help you along your spring cleaning journey, check out these tips to get ready for thorough cleaning… you’ll thank yourself in the fall! Also, be sure to stop by the online store to find thousands of great classroom tools and products in one convenient location.
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