Defining “Normal” Cleaning Tasks for Educators in Centres Without Dedicated Cleaners

When a service operates without external cleaning staff, it’s reasonable to expect educators to maintain day-to-day hygiene. However, there’s a clear boundary between routine surface-level cleaning that supports children’s health and deep-cleaning or maintenance tasks that should be outsourced or allocated separately.

Routine Educator Responsibilities

These tasks support the National Quality Framework’s requirement for a safe, hygienic environment but do not constitute professional cleaning duties:

Wiping and sanitising tables, chairs, cots, and high-chairs after each use
Sweeping floors daily and spot-mopping spills immediately
Emptying and sanitising nappy bins, rubbish bins, and wiping toilet seats/handles between groups
Restocking bathroom supplies (soap, paper towels, toilet paper)
Cleaning up bodily fluids (vomit, blood, etc.) according to centre policy
Washing small mats, floor cushions, and soft toy covers on a weekly rota
Sanitising toys, manipulative equipment, art trays, and sand/water tables as per your service’s schedule

Daily Cleaning Duties Required in Childcare Centres

Maintaining a safe, hygienic environment in childcare settings hinges on consistent daily cleaning. Below is a structured checklist—organized by area—that outlines essential tasks staff should complete each day to reduce germ spread and meet health regulations.

Classroom & Play Areas

Wipe and sanitize all hard surfaces (tables, chairs, shelves, windowsills) after each session
Sweep or vacuum floors; spot-mop spills immediately
Clean and disinfect toys, manipulatives, and play equipment; any item placed in a child’s mouth must be sanitized before returning to rotation
Empty and clean bins; replace liners

Bathrooms & Nappy-Change Stations

Scrub and disinfect toilets (inside bowl, seat, handle) daily; more often if visibly soiled
Clean and sanitize sinks, faucets, countertops, and soap dispensers
Mop bathroom floors with disinfectant; change mop water between classrooms
Sanitize nappy-change surfaces and wash reusable mats after each use

Kitchen & Dining Areas

Clean and sanitize food preparation surfaces before and after each use
Wipe and disinfect high chairs, tables, and dining chairs after every meal
Sweep and mop floors daily; address spills immediately
Check and restock hand soap, paper towels, and gloves

Soft Furnishings & Laundry

Collect small mats, floor cushions, and washable soft toys for laundering on a daily rota rule
Air-dry or machine-dry items per care instructions before reuse
Inspect bedding, blankets, and linens; launder any soiled items immediately

Shared & Administrative Spaces

Wipe down doorknobs, light switches, handrails, and telephones with disinfectant
Tidy and sanitize staff room tables, chairs, and refrigerator handles
Empty and sanitize communal bins; replace liners

Summary Table of Daily Duties

Area	Task	Notes
Classroom surfaces	Wipe & sanitize	Use EPA-approved disinfectant
Play equipment & toys	Clean & disinfect	Daily; after mouth contact
Floors (classroom & lobby)	Sweep / vacuum, spot-mop	Immediate spill response
Toilets	Scrub & disinfect	Inside bowl, seat, handle
Bathroom sinks & counters	Clean & sanitize
Nappy-change surfaces	Sanitize between uses
Kitchen prep surfaces	Clean & sanitize before/after use
Dining tables & high chairs	Wipe & disinfect after meals
Soft toys & mats	Launder	Rotate daily
High-touch points (shared)	Disinfect knobs, switches, handrails
Communal bins	Empty & sanitize	Replace liners

By embedding this daily routine into your centre’s practice, you’ll minimize infection risks and ensure compliance with licensing guidelines while allowing educators to focus on quality interactions and learning.

Tasks Best Outsourced or Separately Scheduled

Deep-cleaning and maintenance activities typically fall outside the educator role—they require specialist equipment, time, and, in some cases, height- or safety-risk work. These include:

Scrubbing grout lines, tile joints, shower recesses, or heavily stained bathroom fittings
Cleaning or dismantling toilet cisterns and flush-box internals
Washing large indoor/outdoor mats (e.g., gym mats) that require industrial laundering or power-washing
Dusting and cleaning air-conditioning filters, exhaust fans, ceiling fans, vents, or high-level surfaces
Buffing or polishing hard-floor surfaces, steam-cleaning carpets, or exterior pressure-washing

Sample Cleaning Roster Framework

Task Category	Frequency	Assigned To
Surface wiping & sanitise	After each use	Educators on duty
Floor sweep & spot-mop	Daily	Educators on duty
Bathroom quick clean	Mid-morning, PM	Educators rotating
Toy/equipment sterilise	Weekly	Educator rota
Small mat laundry	Weekly (rotate)	Educator rota
Grout & deep tile scrub	Quarterly or as needed	Contracted cleaner
Toilet cistern servicing	Bi-annually	Maintenance technician
Mat power-wash	Monthly or as needed	Contracted cleaner
Air-con/fan filter clean	Quarterly	HVAC contractor
Floor buff/carpet steam	Annually or bi-annual	Professional service

Strategies to Balance Fairness and Compliance

Negotiate Dedicated Cleaning Time or Roles
– If deep-clean tasks must occur during operational hours, secure a relief educator or casual support to cover ratios.
– Clearly delineate “educator cleaning” vs. “deep cleaning” in your duty statements or staff agreements.
Rotate Light Cleaning Equitably
– Use a fair roster for routine wiping, sweeping, and toy-washing so no single educator carries the burden.
Engage Families for Periodic Help
– Host a “spring clean” parent volunteer day (according to your centre’s policy) for grout scrubs or mat washing.
Advocate for Contracted Services
– Present cost-benefit data to management showing how outsourcing deep-cleaning frees educators to focus on pedagogy and reduces workplace injury risks.
Document and Escalate
– Keep a simple log of non-educator cleaning tasks you perform. If it becomes unsustainable, share it with your service director or governing body to request additional resources or staffing.

By distinguishing routine hygiene duties from specialist cleaning and embedding clear rosters, educators can uphold health and safety standards without shouldering inappropriate workloads. When deep cleaning is outsourced or scheduled separately, everyone—from educators to children—benefits from a healthier, more focused learning environment.

Integrating Cleaning with Active Supervision in Early Childhood Settings

Maintaining a hygienic environment is essential, but educators must never allow cleaning duties to compromise active supervision. Under Element 2.2.1 of the National Quality Standard, educators are required to take reasonable precautions and maintain supervision to protect children from harm at all times. By thoughtfully combining cleaning routines with supervision strategies, services can uphold health standards while ensuring every child remains safe.

Fundamentals of Active Supervision

Active supervision involves a continuous cycle of scanning, positioning, and engaging to observe all children and respond immediately to their needs.

Scan the environment regularly to have all children within sight and hearing range.
Position yourself strategically—near high-risk areas like bathrooms or sandpits—so you can clean while still monitoring children.
Engage with children verbally or with body language to maintain connection and be aware of emerging hazards.

Strategies for Cleaning While Supervising

Schedule Micro-Rotations
- Divide the group into small, independent play zones.
- Assign one educator to lead activities in Zone A while the other wipes down surfaces or sweeps in Zone B, then swap roles.
Leverage Independent and Parallel Play
- During blocks of sustained independent play (e.g., puzzle time), mobilise one educator to perform quick disinfecting tasks at nearby tables, keeping children in view.
Use Child-Friendly Cleaning Tasks
- Invite older preschoolers to help with simple wiping or toy rinsing. This supports hygiene education and extends your capacity to clean without losing supervision.
Deploy Mobile Cleaning Kits
- Equip a caddy with all necessary supplies (spray, cloths, gloves) so you can move from area to area without leaving children unsupervised.
Integrate Cleaning into Transitions
- While children wash hands or line up for meals, use the brief pause to sanitise high-touch surfaces nearby.
Maintain Clear Lines of Sight
- Always clean facing into the play space rather than with your back to it. This positioning ensures you can see children while you work.
Coordinate with Sleep-Time Supervision
- If children rest, one educator can tackle more intensive floor-level cleaning, while another remains alert to any child needing attention.
Reflect and Adapt with Peers
- Use peer observation to audit how well cleaning routines align with supervision. Debrief and refine your approach regularly.

Cleaning & Supervision Task Matrix

Cleaning Task	Supervision Technique
Wiping tables and chairs	Position yourself at table edge, scanning the room
Sweeping floors and spot-mopping	Sweep from periphery inward, keeping children ahead
Sanitising toys and manipulatives	Clean items on a low tray—children continue play nearby
Disinfecting bathroom surfaces	Station at doorway; maintain line of sight into room
Laundry of small mats and cloths	Rotate between play areas; supervise through glass panels

By embedding these strategies, educators can meet hygiene requirements without sacrificing the safety and well-being of children. Thoughtful planning, strategic positioning, and collaborative routines ensure cleaning and supervision go hand-in-hand.