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In our previous blogs, we explored the flow‑on benefits of reducing illness rates in childcare, including When Clean Enough Isn’t Enough: The Childcare Health Crisis, which highlighted the alarming impact of staff illness on retention. We also examined why commercial cleaning is not childcare cleaning in Behind the Playtime: The Alarming Health Risks for Childcare Staff, and raised the question of whether childcare should adopt healthcare cleaning protocols in Reforming Cleaning Standards: A Leadership Responsibility for Childcare Owners.

Together, these discussions established a clear truth: educators deserve better cleaning services, and children deserve safer learning environments.

Defining Responsibilities: Educators vs. Contract Cleaners

One of the most pressing challenges in reforming childcare cleaning standards is managing expectations. Who should be responsible for what?

• Educators’ Responsibilities:
  Educators should focus on daily touch‑point cleaning that supports their teaching environment—wiping down tables after activities, cleaning up spills, and maintaining immediate hygiene in play areas. These tasks are part of creating a safe learning space but should never extend into infection‑control cleaning.

• Contract Cleaners’ Responsibilities:
  Contract cleaners must go beyond “basic services” like emptying bins, cleaning bathrooms, and mopping floors. Their role should extend to infection‑control cleaning protocols that align with health standards, including sanitising high‑risk surfaces, managing illness‑tracking records, and ensuring compliance with the National Quality Framework (NQF).

By clearly defining these boundaries, centres can avoid the dangerous assumption that “clean enough” is sufficient.

The Big Questions for Centre Directors

As we reform childcare cleaning standards, directors must grapple with several critical questions:

1. Scope of Service:
   Should contract cleaners be limited to basic tasks, or should they deliver a health‑standard infection‑control service?

2. Time Impact:
   Infection‑control cleaning requires additional time per service, often extending shifts or requiring more staff.

3. Cost Considerations:
   In Sydney, basic childcare cleaning rates start from around $45 per visit cleantastic.com. For an average‑sized centre, comprehensive cleaning contracts typically range between $20,000–$40,000 per year, depending on size and frequency JBN Cleaning perfectlyclean.com.au. Infection‑control cleaning adds cost, but the investment is offset by reduced illness rates and improved staff retention.

4. Budget Benchmarks:
   Directors should benchmark cleaning budgets at 5–10% of operational costs, aligning with healthcare cleaning standards rather than general commercial cleaning advancedns.com.au Jani-King.

Why This Matters

The answers to these questions are not just operational—they are leadership decisions. Choosing to invest in infection‑control cleaning is choosing to protect educators, children, and families. It is also choosing to reduce illness rates, improve staff retention, and strengthen the reputation of your centre.

Conclusion

Reforming childcare cleaning standards is not about shifting more responsibility onto educators. It is about recognising that childcare cleaning is a specialised service, one that requires contract cleaners to operate at a higher standard than general commercial cleaning.

As we move forward, centre directors must ask themselves: Are we satisfied with “basic cleaning,” or are we ready to adopt infection‑control protocols that truly safeguard our community?

Key Figures Integrated:

• Basic childcare cleaning: $45 per visit

• Comprehensive contracts: $20k–$40k per year for an average centre

• Recommended budget: 5–10% of operational costs

  Sources: JBN Cleaning perfectlyclean.com.au cleantastic.com advancedns.com.au Jani-King

At BLB Childcare Cleaning, our comprehensive 12‑month cleaning package is tailored to the unique needs of each centre. Directors gain confidence knowing that services are delivered exactly as promised, with transparent reporting, delivery tracking, and compliance documentation built into our Cleaning Management Workbook — supplied at no charge for every room. Educators enjoy peace of mind, free from the burden of infection‑control cleaning, so they can focus on what matters most: supporting children’s learning and wellbeing.

With up‑front fixed pricing, there are no surprises — only clarity and accountability. For centres seeking even greater value, we offer the option to pre‑pay and save between 5%–20% off annual cleaning costs, making compliance not just achievable but cost‑effective. This combination of reliability, transparency, and savings ensures that BLB Childcare Cleaning is more than a service provider — we are a trusted partner in creating safer, healthier learning environments.

Contact BLB Childcare Cleaning today to discover how our 12‑month tailored program can deliver compliance, transparency, and real support for your centre.