There is a lot of learning in the classroom, but it can also get pretty messy. Sometimes it feels like any surface is going to get downright gross fast – especially during cold and flu season! Whether you’re dealing with glue, glitter, or germy hands, you need the right classroom cleaning supplies to get you through the school year. Not sure what you need? Don’t worry, we’re here for you! Let’s look at our top 25 cleaning supplies.
Tip: Educators can save money by buying cleaning supplies in bulk from Boxed. No membership required!
(Just a heads up, WeAreTeachers may collect a portion of sales from the links on this page. We only recommend items our team loves!)
1. Hand Sanitizer
What did teachers do before hand sanitizer? Well, our generation survived (mostly), but it sure is nice to have a pump in the classroom. It also helps make those heartwarming high fives and card games a little less contagious. (Maybe you should grab some bottles.)
Buy: Hand Sanitizer on Amazon
2. Clorox disinfectant wipes
It’s as simple as taking a Clorox wipe and cleaning up a germy mess. These disinfecting wipes work great on so many surfaces including wood, granite and stainless steel. Keep a few containers in your classroom and your car, and don’t forget about school parties and field trips!
Buy it: Clorox Disinfecting Wipes at Boxed
3. Wet
Sometimes our hands need more scrubbing than the sanitizer can do, but using a sink isn’t always possible. Soap and water are best, but Wet Ones can also help remove stubborn dirt and grime. These could be especially useful before and after snacks or lunch.
Buy it: Wet Ones on Amazon
4. Tissue
Have you seen how gross things can get when kids don’t have tissues in the classroom? Suddenly her sleeves are covered in slimy residue and you have to watch it for the rest of the day. Save yourself the headache and have some Kleenex on your desk to use.
Buy: Kleenex Tissues at Amazon
5. Paper towels
Clean up in aisle five! Jokes aside, there will be moments when something spills and you don’t want to be crawling around. One of the most important cleaning supplies in the classroom is definitely paper towels. Whether it’s spilled milk or worse (or much, much worse), you probably have something to clean up before the bell rings.
Buy it: paper towels on Amazon
6. Prince & Spring scrubbing pads
Need to use a little elbow grease on a hard clean? These scrubbing pads will do the trick (and help you save on paper towels)!
Buy it: Prince & Spring Scrubbing Pads at Boxed
7. Scrubbing dad
How adorable are these colorful smiley face sponges? They’re perfect for getting your students to help out when it’s time to clean up the classroom. In addition, they are gentle and do not scratch sensitive surfaces.
Buy it: Scrub Daddy Sponges at Boxed
8. Prince & Spring Ultra Powerful Exfoliating Eraser
You can’t change the past… but you can erase some mistakes! Get rid of scratches and scribbles easily with this handy mop. It’s a lifesaver!
Buy it: Prince & Spring Ultra Strength Scrub Eraser at Boxed
9. Microfiber Cloth
Would you like to reduce your consumption of paper products? While there will be times when you practically cannot avoid using paper towels, for every other moment you can use a microfiber towel. Instead of adding to our growing landfills, just throw it in the washing machine and use it again!
Buy: Microfiber Cloth on Amazon
10. Lysol All Purpose Cleaner
This versatile, all-purpose cleaner eliminates viruses and bacteria on desks and counters, as well as washable walls, chairs and trash cans.
Buy it: Lysol all-purpose cleaner at Boxed
11. Multi-purpose green spray
A day of crafting, kids doodling on desks, and more might have you reaching for the next spray bottle. Try to choose something that is effective but also non-toxic and environmentally friendly. A good multipurpose spray is a must on any classroom cleaning supplies list!
Buy it: Multipurpose Green Spray on Amazon
12. Air Freshener
You already know that classrooms can get pretty smelly for so many reasons. When odors linger, it can become a real distraction. A neutral air freshener can make life so much easier – just check with your students if anyone is sensitive to smells.
Buy: Air Freshener on Amazon
13. Swiffer mop
During the day, many things can contribute to clutter on your classroom floor. From food crumbs to confetti, nobody wants to feel their feet crunching as they walk across the room. A conventional broom is also very helpful, but a Swiffer can remove very small particles even faster!
Buy: Swiffer Mop on Amazon
14. Shaving cream
It might seem strange if you’ve never heard of this hack, but many teachers stock up on shaving cream at the beginning of the year. Why? Because it can take a dingy, boring desk and restore it to its former glory. It’s really magical!
Buy: Shaving Cream on Amazon
15. Magic eraser
The Magic Eraser is one of the best things about cleaning. Add a little water and use it to remove marker or crayon marks from almost any surface. Doors, desks, seats… You’ll be amazed at how quickly the doodles are gone.
Buy: Magic Eraser on Amazon
16. Nail polish remover
Stock up on classroom cleaning supplies? Grab some nail polish remover. No, you won’t be giving your students manicures, but removing permanent markers from desks can help. If you’re wondering which brand to buy, some teachers swear by Sally Hansen!
Buy: Nail Polish Remover at Amazon
17. Vinegar and hydrogen peroxide
Want an easy DIY solution to sanitizing your classroom without bleach? Some teachers use a combination of vinegar and hydrogen peroxide to spray down contaminated surfaces. There are some research suggest it works!
Buy it: Vinegar and Hydrogen Peroxide on Amazon
18. Clorox Clean-Up all-purpose cleaner
It’s hard to beat the power of bleach! Reach for this fantastic spray whenever you need to deep clean your classroom (e.g. for post-holiday germs and sickness)!
Buy it: Clorox Clean-Up All-Purpose Cleaner at Boxed
19. Protective gloves
As a teacher, you are on the front lines when something goes wrong with students. From toilet accidents to an upset stomach and bloody noses, you’re more likely to come into contact with some type of bodily fluid. Because of this, it’s a good idea to have gloves nearby to protect yourself in such situations. Some kids are sensitive to latex, so opt for the non-allergenic kind.
Buy: Protective gloves on Amazon
20. Supply Caddy
It’s so much easier to grab a caddy full of classroom cleaning supplies than trying to carry each item individually. Do yourself a favor and get one! Take a look around and find the right size for what you need.
Buy: Supply Caddy on Amazon
21. Carpet sweeper
It seems like the floors are constantly covered in pencil shavings, scraps of paper, and crumbs. These carpet sweepers are great for picking up dirt quickly and they work on tile and hardwood floors too.
Buy: Carpet Sweeper on Amazon
22. Magnetic Bars
This may seem like a better item for your STEM supplies, but it’s also a handy tool for quickly picking up paper clips, staples, pins, and other metal objects that have fallen into the carpet.
Buy: Magnetic Bars on Amazon
23. Toothbrushes
This one isn’t for brushing your teeth, it’s for removing earwax from earplugs! Keep one for each student or discard after use. Either way, your students will be grateful the next time they need to listen to an audio book or online lesson.
Buy: Toothbrushes on Amazon
24. Q-Tips
Q-Tips are perfect for getting into those hard-to-reach places like laptop and desktop keyboards. If you run out of Q-Tips, you can also use sticky notes to clean the keyboards. Simply flip the note – sticky side down – and slide it between the rows of buttons.
Buy: Q-Tips on Amazon
25. The custodian number
You can’t do everything even if you wish. For those moments when you need to call in backup, make sure you know how to contact your manager quickly.
Comments are closed.