Museum Cleaning Procedures

Prior to COVID-19, Explore More maintained stringent cleaning and sanitizing standards due to the interactive nature of the Museum experience. With our re-opening, we are taking additional steps to provide cleaning at the highest level possible. Our procedures are based on state guidelines for reopening as set by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Virginia Department of Health (VDH).

Here are details and steps we are taking to help prepare children and families for the safest play experience.

1. We have increased cleaning frequencies throughout the Museum. Cleaning will happen before, during, in-between, and after visitors enjoy the exhibits. The time between visitation time slots also now allows us to completely sanitize the Museum.

2. We have added a new hand washing station upon entry and additional hand sanitizer stations throughout.

3. All loose parts and manipulatives in each exhibit area will be removed and replaced with a fresh set at the end of the day and throughout the day as needed.

4. The Museum will conduct a deep cleaning between the play sessions. During this time Museum guest services staff will work together to get the Museum ready. All high touch areas such as tabletops, countertops, buttons, magnet walls, benches, seats, handrails, elevator buttons, trash cans, doorknobs, light switches, and restrooms will be cleaned and disinfected. All surfaces will be cleaned to reduce germs and disinfected per guidelines issued by both CDC and VDH for spaces with small children.

5. Consistent with existing practices, the Museum will conduct a similar deep cleaning at the end of each day. The Museum will continue to source and use cleaning and disinfecting products that are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and are EPA-approved and safe for use with children.

6. Some Museum exhibit areas have been modified to promote greater safety (i.e. the slide in the barn will not be open, rain wall has been taken down, face paint stations closed). Our visitors are welcome to make additional recommendations and notify Museum staff if an area or object needs attention.

In addition to cleaning, we will strive to ensure that visitors do not enter the Museum with known symptoms. When registering, families will be asked to verify the following: Has your child or anyone in your household had a fever in the last 24 hours; experienced any cold or flu-like symptoms; suffered from a chronic cough; tested positive for the COVID-19 virus or been around anyone that has tested positive?

Museum staff will also be asked to answer these questions and will have temperatures taken daily, prior to the start of the workday. They will also be washing hands repeatedly throughout the day.