Winter Break Cleaning Strategies Every School Facility Team Needs

Winter break provides schools with a critical window to reset. With empty classrooms and fewer daily disruptions, facility teams have a rare opportunity to tackle deep cleaning projects that protect health, improve safety, and extend the life of school assets. The right winter break cleaning strategies can help schools start the new semester cleaner, safer, and better prepared without adding unnecessary strain to custodial teams.

At BradyPLUS, we know that effective school cleaning isn’t just about looking clean. It’s about working smarter and safer while minimizing disruption and long-term costs.

Key Winter Break Cleaning Priorities

Here's how top facility teams make the most of the winter break window:

Control Entryway Soil and Slip Hazards

Winter weather means snow, ice, salt, and moisture enter buildings on shoes, and those elements become slip hazards and damage interior surfaces if left unchecked.

• Use high-performance scraper mats to remove soil at the door
• Pair with snow/ice deicers on exterior walkways to keep surfaces safe and dry
• Collecting soil at the door also boosts indoor air quality by trapping pollutants before they circulate

Clean + Disinfect High-Traffic Touchpoints

Winter is peak season for flu, RSV, and other viruses that spread quickly through shared spaces. A proper cleaning sequence matters: 

• Clean first with a general-purpose cleaner to remove dirt and grime
• Then, disinfect with EPA-approved products following label directions and dwell times
• Train your team on proper disinfecting techniques to ensure consistent pathogen control

This two-step approach helps schools kill microorganisms more effectively instead of just masking them.

Leverage Winter Break for Deep Carpet Care

Regular vacuuming throughout the year doesn’t reach soils embedded deep in carpet fibers, but winter break does. Take advantage of the empty halls by:

• Extracting deep-seated soils with carpet extractors
• Addressing spots that just vacuuming can't handle
• Using walk-off matting at entrances year-round to reduce soils tracked in

These tasks prolong carpet life and improve appearance while reducing future cleaning costs.

Go Beyond Routine; Schedule Strategic Projects

With classrooms empty, now’s the time to tackle tasks that often get postponed: 

• High dusting (vents, fixtures, light fixtures, and ledges)
• Window washing (inside and out)
• Equipment maintenance (vacuum filter changes, machine servicing)

Completing these projects during break means fewer disruptions and a cleaner, healthier environment for students and staff.

Long-Term Benefits of a Winter Break Cleaning Plan

A structured winter cleaning program can:

Extend the life of floors, carpets, and other surfaces, reducing replacement costs.  

Reduce illness-related absences by targeting high-risk areas for sanitizing before school resumes.

Enhance safety by improving slip resistance and controlling contaminants. 

When you approach winter break cleaning with strategy and purpose, you unlock measurable improvements that benefit your facility throughout the entire year. 

Real Results in Action

See how one major school district reduced odor complaints, paper waste, and vandalism with just three smart upgrades: a Kaivac system for deeper cleaning, high-capacity towel dispensers to minimize waste and runouts, and tamper-resistant dispensers to prevent damage and downtime.

The Result?

Faster cleanups, fewer complaints, and a noticeably better restroom experience.

 

View the Case Study

Ready to Elevate Your School Cleaning Program?

School custodial teams deserve smarter tools and workflows that make deep cleaning efficient, safe, and repeatable. From entryway matting systems and high-efficiency extractors to disinfecting solutions and IAQ products, BradyPLUS partners with managers to find the solutions that fit your unique challenges. 

Schedule a facility assessment with BradyPLUS today and discover how to turn winter break cleaning into a competitive advantage for your school.