Making Public Washrooms Personal
By PAUL GOLDIN, Director of Marketing and
Customer Satisfaction, Avmor Ltd
While many people feel that public
washrooms are germ-ridden, few realize the true risks and “hot spots.” For
instance, hot water taps are more of a danger zone for fecal bacteria than
toilet seats and, flushing the toilet causes bacteria to propel around the
washroom.
Though it is difficult to link catching a
disease to a visit to the bathroom, scientists have found infectious agents for
diseases such as Hepatitis A, Meningitis, Bacterial Dysentery, the Norwalk
Virus and various forms of diarrhoea in public washrooms.
Regular cleaning and upkeep of washrooms
requires time and resources, but the extra effort is worth it. A clean washroom
can even contribute to the good reputation of an establishment. For instance,
studies have shown that in the food service industry, both inspectors and
customers use the cleanliness of a washroom as an indicator of the cleanliness
of the establishment.
Mike Crosby, the head of marketing for
Irving Oil, takes this seriously. In order to build loyalty to his chain of gas
stations, Crosby has made it his business to have the cleanest washrooms of any
gas station. Many Irving Oil stations have taken this initiative one step
further and decorated their restrooms with fresh flowers, houseplants,
magazines, antiques and knick-knacks in order to make their customers feel more
at home.
Avmor, an industry leader in the
development and manufacture of professional cleaning products for 55 years,
suggests the following tips to help stay on top of washroom cleanliness:
- Schedule regular maintenance – don’t let the mess get out of
control.
- Train employees to use the right products on each surface. A
colour-coded cleaning system and charts with pictograms is helpful.
- Pay special attention to areas of the washroom which are prone
to carry germs, such as toilet and urinal handles, sanitary napkin
receptacles, knobs on doors and faucets.
- Consider switching to automatic taps and flushers in order to
minimize user contact.
- Adding hand sanitizer stations outside of washrooms in public
areas can also help reduce germs and bacteria.
In Figure One is a diagram indicating the
high traffic areas in washrooms, which should receive special attention when
cleaning.
An effective cleaning system does not have
to be a costly one. Look for products that have dilution control to maximize
their effectiveness, make cleaning easier on your employees and prevent waste.
Also, consider using sustainable cleaning
products like Avmor’s Biomor and EcoPure lines. These work just was well or
even better than conventional products, and are also environmentally
responsible. They help prevent the spread of germs without harming workers,
customers or the environment.
Avmor’s Biomor Biological Cleaning
Solutions harness nature’s own processes to recycle waste into simple and
essential substances in order to meet demands for cleaning, odor control, and
waste elimination with the use of potentially harmful chemicals.
Another environmentally responsible
cleaning alternative is Avmor’s EcoPure line of chemical-based products. These
products use the chemical properties of hydrogen peroxide to break up organic
matter and to prevent grease from sticking onto surfaces.
All users share the responsibility to keep
public washrooms clean. Consider this guideline: when you use a public
washroom, treat it like your own:
- Pick up after yourself.
- Wash your hands with soap and scrub thoroughly for at least 30
seconds.
- Try not to touch surfaces and knobs with your hands; use paper
towels instead.
- Use hand sanitizer after leaving the washroom.
For more information, contact Avmor at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
or call 1-800-387-8074 or visit
the web site at www.avmor.com.
