School changing rooms have to put up with an awful lot of wear and tear. Kids pile in there before PE lessons in order to change into sports attire. They may also spend time in the changing rooms after lessons, chatting and socialising, all of which can make it a tough area to keep clean. If changing rooms are also equipped with a shower block, you then have the added problem of high humidity in the atmosphere to contend with. So how can you ensure changing rooms are kept clean and tidy?

Regular Cleaning

Cleaning is essential. A dirty changing room can lead to the spread of disease and infection. Any area where lots of people are in regular close proximity can very easily become a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses. The best way to keep on top of this is to have a stringent cleaning program in place. This should involve the wiping down of hard surfaces and vacuuming up of dust and dirt at least once per day. In the case of shower areas, regular cleaning is essential to prevent the build up of mould and mildew, both of which can be hazardous to the health. Further deep cleaning should also be carried out on a weekly and monthly basis.

Keep Areas in Good Decorative Order

Peeling, flaking paint in changing rooms looks nasty and is bad for the health of those who spend time in there. It also makes surfaces difficult to clean and therefore decorative surfaces must be kept in good order. Walls and other areas of high traffic should be repainted regularly, although it may be preferable to clad walls in low maintenance Proclad PVC panels instead of using paint.

Efficient Ventilation

Ventilation is very important, but if there are high levels of humidity, it is even more important. When there is insufficient ventilation, mould and mildew will soon become a problem. Wiping down surfaces with cleaning solutions should help to keep mould and mildew at bay, but it is also a good idea to ensure painted and tiled surfaces are kept in good order. An alternative is to use PVC cladding instead of tiles to ensure a seamless, waterproof and easy to clean surface instead.

Effective Storage

Changing rooms are the dumping ground for all kinds of stuff: sports kit, coats, random fitness equipment and a few odd socks. Leaving stuff lying around in changing rooms is not good for anyone’s health, not least because people are likely to trip up over stray shoes and footballs. A dirty PE kit is also a breeding ground for bacteria and it has a nasty tendency to smell. Changing rooms need lots of storage space: hooks for hanging clothing, benches and seating areas, and lockers for secure storage.

Changing rooms, like any other part of a school, needs careful planning. Health and safety is an important issue when you are dealing with members of the public. Legislation should be adhered to in order to prevent accidents occurring. But most importantly, changing rooms need to be kept clean and tidy, just like the rest of the school.