School Holiday Deep Cleaning Guide

By Famous Cleaning — Adelaide’s trusted commercial cleaning team since 2009

When the final bell rings in December, most schools breathe a sigh of relief. Students scatter, staff finally exhale, and the campus gets a rare moment of quiet. But for you — the person responsible for keeping the school clean, safe, and healthy — Christmas holidays aren’t downtime. They’re the only window to get the deep cleaning done properly.

At Famous Cleaning, we’ve handled school holiday cleaning across Adelaide for more than a decade. Every December, we step into classrooms that look like they’ve survived a mild tornado: glitter stuck to carpets, mystery stains on desks, forgotten lunches in lockers, and handprints on every surface. All normal. All fixable — with the right approach.

This guide walks you through how to prep your school for the Christmas break, what to clean (and what people usually forget), and why holiday deep cleaning makes a huge difference for student and staff health in Term 1.

Why Christmas Is the Best Time for School Deep Cleaning

Simply put:
No students.
No interruptions.
No rush.

During the year, you can’t exactly steam-clean carpets during recess or scrub toilets during lunchtime chaos. Christmas break gives you space to treat the entire school as a single project rather than a daily sprint.

And because Adelaide summers are dry, warm, and predictable, carpets dry faster, windows stay cleaner longer, and mould doesn’t stand a chance. It’s the perfect storm — in a good way.

Your School Holiday Deep Cleaning Checklist (Designed for Real Schools, Not Theory)

Here’s the exact checklist we use when planning a holiday school deep clean. You can use this whether you're managing a small childcare centre, a primary school, or a big secondary campus.

1. Classrooms — Start Where the Mess Lives

You'll want to focus on:

• Carpet steam cleaning (Christmas is peak carpet-refresh season)
• Desk sanitisation — especially where students sit in groups
• Whiteboards and glass boards — you'd be amazed what actually comes off
• Chair legs and table undersides — gum, stickers, the occasional science experiment
• Windows and sills
• Fans and A/C vents — dust loves to camp here

A quick tip from experience:
Classrooms with carpeted floors trap more dust than anyone expects. When we deep clean school carpets, the dirty water can look like chocolate milkshake. It’s… yeah. Not ideal.

2. Toilets & Washrooms — The Places Kids “Forget” to Aim

If there’s any space that benefits from a Christmas shutdown clean, it’s this one. You’ll want:

• Full disinfectant treatment
• Floor scrubbing (mechanical preferred)
• Grout cleaning
• Urinal deep cleaning
• Odour neutralisation
• Touchpoint disinfection (doors, latches, taps, flush buttons)

Because here’s the thing schools learn fast:
If toilets smell bad on Day 1 of Term 1, they’ll smell bad all year.

H3: 3. Libraries & Computer Rooms

Kids touch everything in these rooms. Even the books they don’t read.

Make sure you include:

• Dusting shelves, tops, corners
• Screen cleaning (using safe wipes)
• Keyboard and mouse sanitation
• Carpet or flooring deep clean
• Upholstered seating steam cleaning

Bonus: clean behind electrical equipment. Dust builds up like it’s paying rent.

4. Staff Rooms — Because Teachers Deserve a Fresh Start Too

We’ve seen staff rooms more chaotic than Year 2 art classes. Christmas is the time to tackle:

• Kitchenette and appliances
• Fridges (every school has at least one forgotten yogurt tub)
• Sofa and chair cleaning
• Deep floor clean
• Cupboard wipe-downs

A fresh, clean staff room genuinely boosts morale in January. Teachers notice. And appreciate it.

5. Hallways, Gyms & Common Areas

These are heavy-traffic zones, and it shows.

• Machine scrubbing for hard floors
• Polishing where needed
• Wall mark removal
• Entryway mat cleaning
• Window and glass-panel cleaning

Shiny hallways really do set the tone for the year ahead.

6. Outdoor Areas — Adelaide’s Summer Helps Here

You’ve got:

• Covered walkways
• Playgrounds
• Outdoor furniture
• Rubbish collection zones
• Window exteriors

Because Adelaide summers are dry, this is the easiest time to remove built-up dust and grime.

What Schools Often Forget to Clean Over Christmas

Over 10+ years, we've spotted the same blind spots in schools across Adelaide:

• Locker interiors (kids leave everything)
• Behind curtains in libraries and theatres
• Light switches and door handles
• Fans and ceiling vents
• Edges of mats and rugs
• Behind classroom cubbies

One time, we found a teacher’s missing shoe behind a reading corner shelf. True story.

The Health Benefits — Why This Isn’t Just “Nice to Do”

Let’s talk about germs.
During term, schools become micro-cities of bacteria. Deep cleaning during Christmas reduces:

• Dust mites
• Mould spores
• Flu viruses
• Allergens
• General odours
• Dirt buildup

Which means fewer sick days for students and staff in Term 1.

And because we use plant-based, eco-friendly solutions, you don’t get harsh chemical smells lingering in classrooms when everyone returns.

How We Handle School Deep Cleaning at Famous Cleaning

Here’s what we’ve learned after years of handling school cleaning across Adelaide:

We plan like it’s a construction project.

We map your school, prioritise rooms, and create a day-by-day cleaning plan.

We send trained, insured cleaners with school experience.

Working around school setups is different from cleaning regular commercial spaces — we know where the hazards are… and where kids like to hide things.

We work 24/7 during December if needed.

Schools often have tight turnaround times. We’re used to it.

We do carpets, windows, upholstery, and high-touch disinfection in one go.

One team. One timeline. No juggling different contractors.

We’re South Australian owned and operated.

Which means we understand the climate, the buildings, the surfaces, and the expectations.

How to Prepare Your School for a Deep Clean

Here’s what makes your Christmas cleaning smoother:

• Clear classrooms of loose items
• Empty fridges
• Provide access to all blocks
• Let us know if you’ve had recent renovations or building works
• Share any “problem areas” (there’s always at least a few)

Schools that prep ahead save time — and money.

 Final Takeaway — Make Term 1 Start Fresh, Not Funky

Christmas holidays are your golden window to reset the whole campus. Not just the carpets. Not just the toilets. The whole environment. When students and staff walk back in January and the place looks (and smells) brand new, it sets a tone:

“This year’s going to be good.”

And if you want help making that happen, we’re here.
At Famous Cleaning, we’ve cleaned hundreds of classrooms, halls, labs, play areas, and staff rooms across Adelaide since 2009. We know what works — and what schools really need.