Steve Hanson

Many companies who clean schools or daycares are responsible for cleaning chalkboards. Chalkboards need both daily cleaning and periodic detail cleaning in order to prevent permanent marks from developing on the boards.

Chalkboards have a porous, irregular surface. If you look at it under a microscope it looks like it has ridges, or high and low points. When chalk is moved across the surface, the high points capture the chalk and it is then deposited into the the low points. Because of this, daily erasing won't completely remove the chalk from the board. Over time, chalk, dust and oil from hands build up in the pores of the chalkboard. This build-up makes the surface smooth, which makes it difficult for the chalk to deposit in the low points. This is when detail cleaning is needed.

Daily Cleaning Procedures:

1. First, make sure the erasers are clean by either vacuuming them with an eraser cleaning machine, or rubbing them clean with white towels.

2. Erase the whole chalkboard with the erasers. Clean the erasers as needed with the white towels.

3. Wipe the board with white towels. It's best to move the towels either vertically or horizontally - don't do both and don't move them in a circular motion.

Detail Cleaning Procedures:

1. When detail cleaning chalkboards, do small sections at a time. Don't attempt to clean an entire length of wall at a time.

2. Use a mild detergent cleaning solution and a clean, white cloth. Start at the bottom and work your way up. That way you'll avoid drips that could dry before you can clean the lower areas. *Note: it's important that you don't let the board dry out before you've had a chance to wipe it dry, or you could see permanent streaks or drip marks.

3. Rinse the section with a clean cloth.

4. Dry the section by hand, using a dry, white towel. As in the daily cleaning procedures above, move the towel either vertically or horizontally.

5. After cleaning, "chalk" the entire surface.

"Chalking" the surface: New chalkboards need to be broken in by washing the board using the detail cleaning procedures listed above. After cleaning, you should "chalk" the surface. Do this by laying a piece of chalk on its side and run the chalk over the entire surface of the board. Now work the chalk into the board with a clean, dry, felt eraser. Clean the eraser and erase the board again.

If you have the job of cleaning chalkboards, it's best to put the cleaning on a schedule. For boards used more frequently, you may need to do the detail cleaning procedures more often. If this sounds like a lot of work, you might want to check into a blackboard cleaning eraser. This is an eraser especially made for detail cleaning.

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Steve Hanson helps owners of small cleaning companies build a more profitable and successful cleaning business through his online community at TheJanitorialStore.com. Read inspirational cleaning success stories at http://www.cleaning-success.com;, and sign up for weekly cleaning tips at http://www.TheJanitorialStore.com;.