lurker here - daycare question - chemical free? do they exist?

Rochell

Hey ladies,

I live in Union and have interviewed/toured about 10 daycares in the area - some nicer than others but I have a real big issue with aerosal sprays, chemical cleaners and such DURING the "school" day - I know by law they have to clean with hot water and bleach but I don't want 409 sprayed around my kid when he's eating lunch. Any daycares out there in Essex, Hudson or Union county? I'm willing to travel.

TIA!

 

amarriedbttrfli

I have never seen anything but bottles of beach/water at my daycare. They are Bright Horizons. Dif you look at one?

debfife

amarriedbttrfli:

I have never seen anything but bottles of beach/water at my daycare.

ditto. we use a small private school but we're in middlesex county.  

vicki21

I've never seen a bottle of 409... bottles of bleach/water, yes - but I can't imagine that 10 different DCs would 1.) use 409 and 2.) actually be spraying it while the kids are eating?!! What kind of places are you looking?!

Rochell

vicki21:

I've never seen a bottle of 409... bottles of bleach/water, yes - but I can't imagine that 10 different DCs would 1.) use 409 and 2.) actually be spraying it while the kids are eating?!! What kind of places are you looking?!

409 was just an example...but automatic air freshners and other cleaners and such are used - they don't have ethem out but if you ask your daycare provider they will tell you the other cleaners they use....

 

 

Rochell

vicki21:

I've never seen a bottle of 409... bottles of bleach/water, yes - but I can't imagine that 10 different DCs would 1.) use 409 and 2.) actually be spraying it while the kids are eating?!! What kind of places are you looking?!

409 was just an example...but automatic air freshners and other cleaners and such are used - they don't have ethem out but if you ask your daycare provider they will tell you the other cleaners they use....

 

 

Rochell

amarriedbttrfli:

I have never seen anything but bottles of beach/water at my daycare. They are Bright Horizons. Dif you look at one?

Thanks! I'll def. look into them

sapphireprinces

As a center director I can tell you that anyone who is spraying any type of cleaner around kids who are eating are brekaing a law and you should stay away from them.  They are required to clean mats, toys, tables, etc, with a soap and water and then an antibacterial cleaner (bleach & water, fantastik, etc.)

vicki21

If they're not spraying while the kids are in the room, I honestly really don't care.  The amount of germs that swirl around daycares need something a little stronger than lemon juice and fragrant oils. I use cleaning products in my home.... some stuff is "green"... but not all.

Rochell

vicki21:

If they're not spraying while the kids are in the room, I honestly really don't care.  The amount of germs that swirl around daycares need something a little stronger than lemon juice and fragrant oils. I use cleaning products in my home.... some stuff is "green"... but not all.

I agree, which is why bleach and water is fine ,  I just have an issue with the smell from other stuff like air freshner and "fantastik" - they should clean all the time and wash hands...etc. I just feel there are better alternatives than 409 and fantastik and definitely no need for air fresheners - I'm very sensitive to smells and have asthma like reactions and so do other people in my family so in my home we only clean with vinegar based cleaners and tea tree oils (which both have disinfecting properties).

I went to a daycare and got a tour towards the end of their day and the bleach smell was overwhelming that I had to stop the tour short. They didn't open windows (which is recommended if you use bleach) and the kids were still in there - might seem minor for some parents, but not for me

sapphireprinces

Rochell:

vicki21:

If they're not spraying while the kids are in the room, I honestly really don't care.  The amount of germs that swirl around daycares need something a little stronger than lemon juice and fragrant oils. I use cleaning products in my home.... some stuff is "green"... but not all.

I agree, which is why bleach and water is fine ,  I just have an issue with the smell from other stuff like air freshner and "fantastik" - they should clean all the time and wash hands...etc. I just feel there are better alternatives than 409 and fantastik and definitely no need for air fresheners - I'm very sensitive to smells and have asthma like reactions and so do other people in my family so in my home we only clean with vinegar based cleaners and tea tree oils (which both have disinfecting properties).

I went to a daycare and got a tour towards the end of their day and the bleach smell was overwhelming that I had to stop the tour short. They didn't open windows (which is recommended if you use bleach) and the kids were still in there - might seem minor for some parents, but not for me

 They are using a mixture that is way to strong, the mixture should be 1:10 and this way it would not smell at all and also will not leave a bleach residue.  As far as the air freshener I have no idea since we don't use them but I am assuming they are using them to avoid diaper smells. 

I know you are not allowed to clean with vinegar becasue it is something that I wanted to switch to and our state inspector told us it was not allowed.  You may want to look into a home based daycare becasue they fall under different licensing laws so they may be able to do that.  Good Luck in your search. 

sapphireprinces

 

sapphireprinces

 

Rochell

sapphireprinces:

Rochell:

vicki21:

If they're not spraying while the kids are in the room, I honestly really don't care.  The amount of germs that swirl around daycares need something a little stronger than lemon juice and fragrant oils. I use cleaning products in my home.... some stuff is "green"... but not all.

I agree, which is why bleach and water is fine ,  I just have an issue with the smell from other stuff like air freshner and "fantastik" - they should clean all the time and wash hands...etc. I just feel there are better alternatives than 409 and fantastik and definitely no need for air fresheners - I'm very sensitive to smells and have asthma like reactions and so do other people in my family so in my home we only clean with vinegar based cleaners and tea tree oils (which both have disinfecting properties).

I went to a daycare and got a tour towards the end of their day and the bleach smell was overwhelming that I had to stop the tour short. They didn't open windows (which is recommended if you use bleach) and the kids were still in there - might seem minor for some parents, but not for me

 They are using a mixture that is way to strong, the mixture should be 1:10 and this way it would not smell at all and also will not leave a bleach residue.  As far as the air freshener I have no idea since we don't use them but I am assuming they are using them to avoid diaper smells. 

I know you are not allowed to clean with vinegar becasue it is something that I wanted to switch to and our state inspector told us it was not allowed.  You may want to look into a home based daycare becasue they fall under different licensing laws so they may be able to do that.  Good Luck in your search. 

I figured it was a state thing - thanks for the information! some daycares had air freshners (for the diaper smells) and others didn't - and as for the bleach smell, i think the daycare i toured recently had more bleach in the bottle than water...they're off my list lol

 Thanks!

CM1206

I work for a very popular chain day care. We use a soap and water mixture for cleaning things and then once the children (in the room, not necessarily the whole center) are gone for the day we spray everything down with a bleach/water mix. Like pp said, the ratio is so low that it shouldn't smell and it shouldn't stain clothing. Plus all toys and anything else that went into mouths, gets put into a sanitizer. We're not allowed to use air fresheners (not even in our staff only bathroom).

Mrs.JBW

I am pretty sure that the use of aerosol air fresheners is not permitted in daycare centers as per the State.

mrs.jjinqueens

Hey - my former daycare was, but it is on Sandy Hook, way out of your way.  (Sandy Hook Child Care Center).  Try parent run co-ops? 

MrsRyan61804

I work at a Learning Experience and can tell you they do not have aresol air fresheners, and we use a green friendly spray to clean toys and surfaces. I am not a 100% sure what it is but I know it's a citrus mix and is kid friendly. 

Hope this helps

Rochell

MrsRyan61804:

I work at a Learning Experience and can tell you they do not have aresol air fresheners, and we use a green friendly spray to clean toys and surfaces. I am not a 100% sure what it is but I know it's a citrus mix and is kid friendly. 

Hope this helps

Thanks a bunch! I'm going to check them out this week