Have you ever looked at your students’ desks? I mean, really, really looked at them? They are pretty disgusting by the end of the day. The custodial staff is so busy at most schools do not regularly clean desks or other classroom surfaces so that leaves you to your own devices. At least, that has been my own experience. I will tell you what I went through as a new teacher and then I will share with you how I keep my classroom clean without spending a lot of money to do so.

My first year at my current school was rather hectic. I started in the middle of the year and I was always flying by the seat of my pants, one page ahead of the students. Whenever I had a spare moment, I was working on lesson plans and trying to get to know my students’ textbooks. I rarely had time to think about my students’ desks or the other surfaces in my classroom, for that matter. After a month or two, I noticed how dirty the desks had gotten. When I was a student teacher, I remembered the school custodian washing down the desks after school and quickly sweeping and mopping. However, at my school, that never happened. I realized that the kids were sitting in filthy desks and that I had been touching those gross desks as well. I went straight to the grocery store after school and picked up a pack of Clorox wipes and cleaned up all the desks the next day.

The problem was that I used up almost a whole tub of the wipes cleaning my classroom. I thought it would be just a one-time thing and that I wouldn’t have to use so many next time. So I went out and bought the big tub, some all purpose cleaner, and some rags. The big tub was gone in about 3 weeks and the all purpose cleaner was making my elbows and hands itch. I can’t imagine how the kids felt sitting in those chemical-covered desks for 55 minutes… All of this got me thinking about the products I was using in the classroom.  Clorox wipes are not cheap and they also create a lot of waste.  They are okay for home use, but to be used in the classroom on a regular basis, they aren’t that practical.  Additionally, the cleaners I was using were full of chemicals, which were probably not great for me, my students, or the environment either.

Now, I am much more mindful about this things. I recommend purchasing cleaning products that are all-natural or organic. They are much gentler on our students’ skin, have less chemicals, and are better for the environment. One company that I just recently started using is The Honest Company. They are dedicated to making safe, all-natural and organic products for the home and personal care. Their products work quite well and they smell amazing!

Here is The Honest Company’s  multi-surface cleaner that you can use in your classroom:

Honest Multi-Surface Cleaner
Advanced plant-based formula tackles dirt, grease, and grime anywhere, anytime! Super versatile and ultra effective – leaving nothing behind but the fresh smell of grapefruit.

A cool thing that The Honest Company is doing right now is their “bundle” program. You create a list of 5 essential items and they bundle it for $35.99 and send it to you monthly. It ends up being awesome for me because I can put things like this cleaner in the bundle, but I can also put things like laundry soap and toothpaste, which I know I will need anyway. It ends up saving me money and time, which are both extremely important to me.

I seriously love this new brand. I used to use Meyer’s Clean Day because it was better for the environment and it was effective, but it is too pricey and sometimes, I was dissatisfied with the results at home. The Honest Company, on the other hand, is fantastic! I switched my shampoo and conditioner to this brand, I use their lotion and skin balm regularly, and I’ve been slowly changing all my cleaning products with the monthly bundle they have. I’m turning into an Honest Company groupie, I guess. But in the classroom, it’s excellent. So if you are looking for a new classroom cleaner, I can’t recommend The Honest Company enough.