As part of an effort to support National Healthy Schools Day, Process Cleaning for Healthy Schools (PC4HS) offers custodial managers a worksheet & checklist for decluttering classrooms and promoting cleaner, healthier indoor environments.

Decluttering makes classrooms healthier, easier to teach in and clean. Sources of clutter include:
• Items from home
• Objects from other classes, teachers, students
• Unneeded supplies (markers, pens, pencils, glue sticks, etc.)
• Hoarding or stockpiling (just-in-case)
• Gifts
• Extra or old, off-topic books
• Unused or partial board games (missing pieces)
• Stuffed animals, pillows

To help reduce clutter, managers can ask these questions of students and teachers in an effort to identify clutter:
• Has it been used in the last year?
• Does it inspire or help teach?
• Is it required?
• Is it bulky?
• Does it collect dust?
• Can I find it online?
• Can I borrow one?
• Who needs it more than me?

PC4HS offers this 10-minute decluttering secret:
Get three large plastic tubs and label them, “Put Away,” “Give Away or Sell” and “Throw Away.” Take 3 minutes to fill each one in sequence.
• Ask the custodian to empty the “Throw Away” tub
• Take the “Give Away” tub to a local charity; Post Sellable items on Craigslist.
• Work through the “Put Away” tub during class breaks.