According to various studies, public restrooms are the perfect habitats for different germs and bacteria.
The warm and humid environment of washrooms makes them suitable homes for various microorganisms. Examples of harmful pathogens that thrive in such areas include Escherichia coli, Shigella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and the norovirus, which could be lurking on steel surfaces, doorknobs, and toilet handles.
Cold and flu particles can also live on hard surfaces for hours.
It is also worth remembering that the coronavirus, which caused the recent global pandemic, can survive for a short period on certain surfaces inside restrooms.
Unfortunately, the bad news doesn’t stop here; the toilet itself can also be a reservoir of various microbial hazards. Flushing causes aerosols formed from the contents in the bowl (from you and other people before you) to be released into the air.
This aerosol, which can be found in the “toilet plume” released when you flush, is filled with various types of bacteria, including E. coli.
Keeping Public Washrooms Sanitized and Hygienic
When you have restrooms on your premises that anyone can use, keeping them safe at all times is crucial to ensure the health and safety of your customers and your employees.
Below are five of the best strategies you can implement in your establishment to keep your public washrooms germ- and virus-free:
1. Establish strict social distancing practices in the restroom.
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the benefits of practicing social distancing in public places. Even with relevant restrictions being reduced, you would do well to continue implementing the basic rules in your establishment, especially in your washrooms.
This is something that you have to prioritize if your public restrooms are not too spacious.
Using the right people-counting technology can help you manage washroom occupancy before overcrowding becomes a huge problem.
A good people-counting system set up in the washroom entrance allows your staff and the customers themselves to know how many people are currently inside it. It can be connected to a display screen outside the lavatory, which will inform employees and visitors of the capacity status of the space and prevent unnecessary entry and contact.
This type of technology prevents people from entering a cramped space unknowingly, which can have unsafe and unhealthy consequences for your customers and your team.
2. Invest in automated solutions.
Aside from a people-counting system, there are other technologies that you can invest in to help keep your public washrooms clean and virus-free.
Automated systems, such as self-flushing toilets and motion-sensor faucets, and soap dispensers, are handy tools to have in public washrooms.
These modern features remove or reduce the likelihood of users touching the handle, water tap, and other fixtures that facilitate the spread of germs on these surfaces and other people.
There are also smart soap dispensers that can alert your team when the product is running low so that it can be refilled immediately and ensure all users wash their hands correctly.
3. Ensure the janitorial team is trained to clean the washroom thoroughly.
Your cleaning staff has the important job of keeping the lavatory clean and sanitized. As such, make sure they are fully trained to do it correctly.
Some of the cleaning practices your janitorial team should focus on are:
- Disinfecting high-touch surfaces, including the toilet bowls and handles, faucets, sink, and door handles
- Sanitizing other frequently overlooked areas and fixtures, such as partitions and light switches
- Mopping floors regularly and keeping them dry
- Always cleaning from top to bottom, beginning with mirrors and walls, moving to countertops, and ending with the floors
- Ensuring surfaces are debris-free before spraying them with or using disinfecting products
- Working or cleaning their way toward the exit to prevent cross-contamination of already clean areas
- Emptying rubbish bins regularly
4. Choose the right restroom cleaning products.
Aside from providing the janitorial team adequate training, you also have to ensure they use effective cleaning and disinfecting products.
Select cleaning products with disinfecting ingredients that are tough on grease, grime, and soap film. However, make sure they won’t damage the surface and flooring materials you have in the washroom.
Additionally, make sure you choose cleaning products that won’t leave streaks or film on glass, mirrors, and other fixtures.
Lastly, consider stocking up on and letting your cleaning staff use toilet seat sanitizer spray regularly throughout the day to remove harmful germs and bacteria.
5. Create and maintain a cleaning schedule.
A cleaning log or schedule details the date and time of restroom cleaning, the list of tasks, and the staff responsible for carrying them out.
With this simple log, you and your managers or supervisors will be able to know when the restrooms were last cleaned and restocked with soap, toilet paper, paper towels, and other essential supplies.
If you have an RFID document tracking system, make sure to include your cleaning log in the program since these records can pile up quickly. Doing so can also help you and your team monitor and stay on top of all schedules.
This, in turn, will ensure your janitorial staff stick to their cleaning schedule and do their job correctly.
With the right technology and practices, you can be assured that your public restrooms are always clean and virus-free, thereby providing your customers with a safe and convenient room where they can go about their personal business.
Speak with one of our sales staff to get more details about our people-counting system.