I don't take the day off to clean, no. It's a bit of a hassle, but I do it that day/evening. Yes, I do inform the parents of any significant illnesses that pop up, paying particular attention to pink eye, hand/foot/mouth, roseola, ringworm, head lice, Fifth and, of course, stomach bugs. If I get pink eye, I just continue on with life and work as usual. As adults, we can usually refrain from rubbing our eyes, then touching everything in sight. If you're concerned about getting it, it might not hurt to have a bottle of Polysporin (eye/ear) drops on hand. I've used it for years on my kids, myself, and at the request of parents, on daycare children. If you start using them at the very first indication of pink eye, it is sufficient, if used properly and for adequate length of time, to stop the pink eye from progressing. I know for myself and my children, we've never had to go to the doctor for a prescription since I discovered these drops.