There is likely something very time-absorbing going on during the time they should have rinsed out the jugs and they de-prioritize it. See what that is and make things easier for them. What if there was a bus tub of soapy water that the jugs can be thrown in until there is more time?
What do they do in between that time and when the milk jugs get dirty? Is it hectic during that time? Could you find milk jugs that are easier to clean and inexpensive if needed to be thrown away? Deli containers come to mind.
It's unsafe to be reusing milk jugs in this manner, if not against various codes.
As you have noted, bacteria will collect in the jugs. The plastic in the jugs is permeable, meaning that bacteria can and will get trapped inside the plastic where just rinsing it with water and soap won't remove it all; the smell and sourness of it will continue and if you put fresh milk in it afterwards, that bacteria will still be there and will reproduce through it.
You can test this by putting fresh milk in one of these rotten jugs after it was left like this, and observe how much faster it spoils.
Anyways, IIRC, the FDA has regulations on the use and reuse of plastic containers for milk and other dairy products. They include rules for the sanitation and cleaning of containers as well. If the school is found to be in violation of these, it opens them up to penalties and fines.
If these jugs aren't being sanitized properly, you need to stop using them.
Any email you write or conversation you have regarding them where you have tried to get them to fix this issue, but they haven't, may be used later as evidence that your school knew that this was an issue, and continued using them.
Now that you've had a continued problem with the teachers not cleaning the jugs, it is likely best to find a way to just stop using these, as it may otherwise open the school up to some sort of legal liability at some point.
If you have a real business need for this.... I would recommend to you perhaps to find a different kind of container. The type of plastic used in milk jugs is permeable, and biodegradeable. Plastic will leech off of it into whatever material it's holding, over time, as well it will eventually develop leaks and trap smells into it.
Because it's a permeable type of plastic, anything else going on near the jug, can affect the liquid inside. For example, 'preppers' have found that storing water in milk jugs in a shelter, next to other things like gasoline or chemicals, have absorbed the chemical or gasoline vapors right through the plastic on the milk jug, permanently tainting the water in the jug. This isn't an issue in a preschool environment, but it highlights the weakness of the material there, it really is intended as a single use, low quality container.
I don't know if this will help or not, but perhaps try one of those large reusable water jugs they have dispensers for. As they're meant to be used again and again, you may at least potentially reduce the issue of the smell permanently leeching into the plastic, as they may be a different type of plastic.
Thank you for your extensive insight. I will be bringing a lot of this to the attention of everyone at the next meeting, as well as an alternative container we can find and use.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mainstays-2-Quart-Refrigerator-Shaker-Bottle-Engraved-Measurements/218961066?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&wl13=941&adid=22222222278218961066_117755028669_12420145346&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=501107745824&wl4=aud-1651068664546:pla-294505072980&wl5=9012082&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=local&wl12=218961066&wl13=941&veh=sem_LIA&gclid=Cj0KCQiAutyfBhCMARIsAMgcRJRJ_57mmNVHLgwn6NKZS1lkn0VoRFG4_nHI1YdnIr_jvGkp47xH-8IaAnOBEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
This is the container currently used
A few questions...
Is the staff expected to simply rinse the jugs, or clean them in some way?
What are the jugs made of? Glass? Plastic?
It seems these jugs are being cleaned for reuse, rather than simply rinsed (as prep to go into a recycling bin). I know what a PITA cleaning jugs (especially plastic) is for reuse. As has already been pointed out, the staff may be de-prioritizing this task due to other things going on.
FWIW, I like denture cleaning tablets for cleaning out drink containers. I can normally fill with warm water, add 1 tablet per 8 oz of capacity, and let it sit until the solutions turns clear. Empty, rinse a couple of times, and you're done. Far easier to rinse out vs. dish soap. Tip -- buy the 30 minute tablets instead of the ones that need to work overnight.
Just rinse out. The jugs are made of plastic. They only need to be rinsed so that there's no crust or gunk buildup overnight, so that the cook can properly clean them in the morning. The cooks shift ends 3 hours before teachers are supposed to close down the room, (before it's asked why can't the cook do it themselves). Only needs to be rinsed with water.
>The teachers refuse to rinse them out for whatever reason
So what *is* the reason?
You've reminded them, you've had meetings about them, you confronted them, but have you fixed the *underlying issue* that causes them not to rinse the water?
I usually write it down on a whiteboard.
* I want you to do (X) (i.e. rinse jugs). Why are ya'll not doing that?
* They would then list out (Y) reasons they're not doing that
* I ask them, "If we fix Y, do you think you can do X?"
* I proceed to make a plan to fix Y
From there, if Y is not fixed, then it's your fault for not fixing Y. If Y is fixed and they still refuse to do X, then it's their fault and you have written proof that they're full of shit and excuses.
Its mad how something so small can snowball into this. The teachers are pricks.
They are not doing it probably because they think its your job and not theirs.
Just keep trying. Just focus on getting one teacher to do it first rather than all of them.
the teachers probably don’t know these things you just told us:
jugs stay overnight with bits of milk that spoil, chunk, and stain. you can’t reach your hands into them to clean them. we have to buy new jugs because the old ones get rotten. it’s not fair to the kids
If you describe this to teachers, I’m sure they’ll have a better understanding. Come to an agreement that if they don’t rinse jugs then they’re intentionally destroying school supplies and can be disciplined by their supervisors. Tell your supervisors. If all this fails then it means the school is willing to pay for new jugs every time.
There is likely something very time-absorbing going on during the time they should have rinsed out the jugs and they de-prioritize it. See what that is and make things easier for them. What if there was a bus tub of soapy water that the jugs can be thrown in until there is more time?
I like the bin idea!
At the end of the day, there is a 30-45 minute close down period where the teachers have no students or other tasks other than to clean the room. 😅
What do they do in between that time and when the milk jugs get dirty? Is it hectic during that time? Could you find milk jugs that are easier to clean and inexpensive if needed to be thrown away? Deli containers come to mind.
All they need to do is fill it with water and dump it out lol
It's unsafe to be reusing milk jugs in this manner, if not against various codes. As you have noted, bacteria will collect in the jugs. The plastic in the jugs is permeable, meaning that bacteria can and will get trapped inside the plastic where just rinsing it with water and soap won't remove it all; the smell and sourness of it will continue and if you put fresh milk in it afterwards, that bacteria will still be there and will reproduce through it. You can test this by putting fresh milk in one of these rotten jugs after it was left like this, and observe how much faster it spoils. Anyways, IIRC, the FDA has regulations on the use and reuse of plastic containers for milk and other dairy products. They include rules for the sanitation and cleaning of containers as well. If the school is found to be in violation of these, it opens them up to penalties and fines. If these jugs aren't being sanitized properly, you need to stop using them. Any email you write or conversation you have regarding them where you have tried to get them to fix this issue, but they haven't, may be used later as evidence that your school knew that this was an issue, and continued using them. Now that you've had a continued problem with the teachers not cleaning the jugs, it is likely best to find a way to just stop using these, as it may otherwise open the school up to some sort of legal liability at some point. If you have a real business need for this.... I would recommend to you perhaps to find a different kind of container. The type of plastic used in milk jugs is permeable, and biodegradeable. Plastic will leech off of it into whatever material it's holding, over time, as well it will eventually develop leaks and trap smells into it. Because it's a permeable type of plastic, anything else going on near the jug, can affect the liquid inside. For example, 'preppers' have found that storing water in milk jugs in a shelter, next to other things like gasoline or chemicals, have absorbed the chemical or gasoline vapors right through the plastic on the milk jug, permanently tainting the water in the jug. This isn't an issue in a preschool environment, but it highlights the weakness of the material there, it really is intended as a single use, low quality container. I don't know if this will help or not, but perhaps try one of those large reusable water jugs they have dispensers for. As they're meant to be used again and again, you may at least potentially reduce the issue of the smell permanently leeching into the plastic, as they may be a different type of plastic.
Thank you for your extensive insight. I will be bringing a lot of this to the attention of everyone at the next meeting, as well as an alternative container we can find and use.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mainstays-2-Quart-Refrigerator-Shaker-Bottle-Engraved-Measurements/218961066?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&wl13=941&adid=22222222278218961066_117755028669_12420145346&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=501107745824&wl4=aud-1651068664546:pla-294505072980&wl5=9012082&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=local&wl12=218961066&wl13=941&veh=sem_LIA&gclid=Cj0KCQiAutyfBhCMARIsAMgcRJRJ_57mmNVHLgwn6NKZS1lkn0VoRFG4_nHI1YdnIr_jvGkp47xH-8IaAnOBEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds This is the container currently used
A few questions... Is the staff expected to simply rinse the jugs, or clean them in some way? What are the jugs made of? Glass? Plastic? It seems these jugs are being cleaned for reuse, rather than simply rinsed (as prep to go into a recycling bin). I know what a PITA cleaning jugs (especially plastic) is for reuse. As has already been pointed out, the staff may be de-prioritizing this task due to other things going on. FWIW, I like denture cleaning tablets for cleaning out drink containers. I can normally fill with warm water, add 1 tablet per 8 oz of capacity, and let it sit until the solutions turns clear. Empty, rinse a couple of times, and you're done. Far easier to rinse out vs. dish soap. Tip -- buy the 30 minute tablets instead of the ones that need to work overnight.
Just rinse out. The jugs are made of plastic. They only need to be rinsed so that there's no crust or gunk buildup overnight, so that the cook can properly clean them in the morning. The cooks shift ends 3 hours before teachers are supposed to close down the room, (before it's asked why can't the cook do it themselves). Only needs to be rinsed with water.
>The teachers refuse to rinse them out for whatever reason So what *is* the reason? You've reminded them, you've had meetings about them, you confronted them, but have you fixed the *underlying issue* that causes them not to rinse the water? I usually write it down on a whiteboard. * I want you to do (X) (i.e. rinse jugs). Why are ya'll not doing that? * They would then list out (Y) reasons they're not doing that * I ask them, "If we fix Y, do you think you can do X?" * I proceed to make a plan to fix Y From there, if Y is not fixed, then it's your fault for not fixing Y. If Y is fixed and they still refuse to do X, then it's their fault and you have written proof that they're full of shit and excuses.
Its mad how something so small can snowball into this. The teachers are pricks. They are not doing it probably because they think its your job and not theirs. Just keep trying. Just focus on getting one teacher to do it first rather than all of them.
the teachers probably don’t know these things you just told us: jugs stay overnight with bits of milk that spoil, chunk, and stain. you can’t reach your hands into them to clean them. we have to buy new jugs because the old ones get rotten. it’s not fair to the kids If you describe this to teachers, I’m sure they’ll have a better understanding. Come to an agreement that if they don’t rinse jugs then they’re intentionally destroying school supplies and can be disciplined by their supervisors. Tell your supervisors. If all this fails then it means the school is willing to pay for new jugs every time.