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Daycare Cleaning Checklist
Daily, weekly and monthly cleaning tasks for a daycare, grouped by room and how often.
A real, editable checklist below — tick, tap a line to rewrite, drag to reorder.
Tick the circles, tap any line to change it, drag the dots to reorder.
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Daycare cleaning runs in three tiers: daily, weekly and monthly. Daily is the long one: toys, tables, diaper changing, mealtime surfaces, restrooms and the entrance. Weekly covers fabric, windows and the kitchen deep clean. Monthly covers toys not used daily, the sandbox and the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Each note starts with its tier, so you can see where one ends. It assumes a home daycare or small center and leaves out licensing rules, so check those with your local agency.
Why these items are on the list
- Sanitize toys and play equipment. Daily, in playrooms and classrooms. The monthly pass covers every toy, including ones not used daily.
- Wipe tables, chairs, high-touch surfaces. Daily. Use a child-safe disinfectant on tables, chairs and every high-touch surface.
- Sweep and mop floors. Daily. Use a non-toxic cleaner. Removing visible dirt is a critical step in the cleaning process.
- Disinfect diaper changing area. Daily, after each use, not once at the end of the day.
- Replace crib sheets and nap mats. Daily. Swap in clean ones after each use.
- Sanitize eating surfaces. Daily, in the kitchen and eating areas. Do it before and after meals.
- Wash dishes, utensils and bottles. Daily. Dishwasher or hot, soapy water by hand both work.
- Mop kitchen after snacks, meals. Daily. Sweep and mop after snacks as well as meals.
- Sanitize toilets, sinks, faucets. Daily, in restrooms. Restock hand soap, toilet paper and paper towels in the same pass.
- Empty restroom trash, replace liners. Daily. Sweep and mop the restroom floor with a disinfectant too.
- Disinfect doorknobs and light switches. Daily, at the entrance and common areas. Vacuum carpets and rugs there as well.
- Tidy shoes, coats, personal items. Daily. Keep them in designated areas.
- Wash fabric items, like costumes. Weekly, in playrooms and classrooms. Costumes, pillows and curtains are examples of the fabric to wash.
- Vacuum soft furnishings, deep clean carpets. Weekly. This goes beyond the daily vacuuming of carpets and rugs at the entrance.
- Clean windows and glass. Weekly. Glass surfaces in playrooms and classrooms.
- Check under furniture and corners. Weekly. Look for dust and debris, and clean it as you find it.
- Deep clean fridge and freezer. Weekly. Ovens and microwaves are on the same weekly list.
- Clear out expired pantry food. Weekly. Organize the pantry and food storage areas, discarding expired items.
- Deep clean restrooms. Weekly. Focus on spots where grime builds up, and check vents and fans for air quality.
- Sanitize every toy. Monthly. Include the toys that aren't used daily.
- Clean storage bins and shelves. Monthly. Clean and sanitize both the bins and the shelves.
- Clean indoor play structures. Monthly. Inspect indoor play structures and equipment as well as cleaning them.
- Clean, sanitize outdoor toys, structures. Monthly. Sweep and wash the playground surfaces too.
- Cover and clean sandboxes. Monthly. Keep them covered when not in use, and clean as needed.
- Dust light fixtures and high surfaces. Monthly. It reduces dust and allergens.
- Check first aid kits. Monthly. Inspect safety equipment and first aid kits, and restock as necessary.
- Test smoke and CO alarms. Monthly. Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms both go on this list.
Tick it on your phone as you go from room to room, and the less frequent jobs stay visible instead of getting forgotten.
When to use it
Use it as a standing routine for a daycare, or to set up a cleaning rota when you open one.