Restrooms are one of the most visible and most scrutinized areas of a facility. Plus they potentially harbor more bacteria than any other space. It is imperative to clean restrooms frequently to maintain a clean look and prevent cross-contamination and infection.
How clean are your restrooms? Most people would agree their restrooms could be cleaner and better smelling. Restroom odors can exist in numerous areas:
- Toilets/Urinals that need flushing
- Sinks and drains
- Grout Lines
- Soiled toilets, urinals and partitions
- Baby Changing Stations
- Trash/Sanitary Napkin Receptacles
Clean, disinfected and odor-neutral restrooms are a must. Dr. Charles Gerba, an environmental microbiologist with the University of Arizona, who has studied restroom cleanliness for years, reports microorganisms, such as Shigella, Salmonella, Hepatitis A, E.Coli and Norovirus, are routinely found in restrooms and have been associated with outbreaks of illness.
“Effective restroom cleaning programs help minimize the spread of these infectious agents. But what makes up a good cleaning program? Following are six steps to help put the cleaning operation on the road to better restroom health.” Here are six steps to consider in properly cleaning your restroom:
- Use PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)
- Focus on the Hot Spots (sinks, floors, towel, tissue and soap dispensers, sanitary napkin holders, receptacles etc.)
- Use disinfectants and understand the contact time needed for properly killing germs and bacteria.
- Tools for the job: review the mop heads, cloths, wipers that you use. Discover the advantages of micro fiber.
- Go touch-less products to consider: automatic flush valves, faucets and receptacles, hand towel and soap dispensers.
- Police the restroom: the cleaning teams needs to make timely visits to each restroom.