The who, what, why and where of Washroom Hygiene

It’s time for my next blog post and this week I’m here to make sure you know the specific cleaning regimes to practice in any washroom area.

Toilets and hand washing facilities are known to be hotspots for harmful germs and bugs, therefore the highest standards of hygiene need to be maintained to prevent these pesky bugs spreading to other parts of your workplace.

Did you know that the condition and cleanliness of the washroom facilities in any pub or restaurant Is dependent on whether or not customers return to that specific venue? Taking this into consideration it’s clear you should take no prisoners when meeting cleaning standards in these areas.

I’ll touch base on all of the different hazards created by processes that occur within a washroom and how you and your employees can deal with them effectively.

I also have a nifty instruction manual up my sleeve to help you clean thoroughly, minimising the spread of infection and to keep you on top of your washroom hygiene game.

Define hygiene!

Hygiene is the practices and procedures that are essential to the maintenance of health and the quality of life.

I’d say there are two classes of hygiene, which are of equal importance.

These are:SM10-image_a

It wouldn’t make sense if the person cleaning didn’t have the highest standards of cleanliness themselves. If their personal hygiene is to a low standard there may be the risk that they are introducing further germs and bugs to the washroom.

It’s important to note that normal, day-to-day, cleaning products aren’t strong enough when it comes to killing harmful bacteria found in washrooms. Typically, Germicidal or Bactericidal cleaners will kill 99.99% of all bacteria found on a washroom service.

With this in mind, you still need to consider the following when choosing the correct product:

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These factors will have an impact on of the level of disinfectant you will use as well as how frequent the processes should be implemented.

Jangro Genius’ approach to washroom cleaning

Reducing the spread of harmful bacteria is the main aim when it comes to washroom cleaning. A long as this is your overall objective when implementing your regime I don’t think it really matters what procedure you and your employees use.

But to ensure your approach is adequate in effectively removing bacteria I have a few simple steps that if carefully followed show give you the basis for a tip-top regime whether you follow it daily or periodically.

  1. SM10-image_c Preparation

Make sure all the equipment and products you are going to need are placed within easy reach.

The area that is being cleaned should be prohibited during this time. Cleaners should ensure warning signs are in place before anything else.

  1. Anti-bacterial cleaner

You should flush all toilets before you start cleaning, using the loo brush to make sure no dirty water lines build up.

The solution should be sprayed and left for a reasonable amount of time on all toilets, urinals, surfaces, fittings and fixtures in the washroom to allow the surfaces to be treated.

  1. Empty bins

Keep yourself busy whilst the anti-bacterial solution works its magic and use this time to remove all rubbish from the area and empty all the waste bins.

  1. Clean toilets and urinals

Use a toilet brush to work the solution into the surface of the bowls and urinals. Urinals should flush automatically but remember to flush the loo with fresh water to rinse away any residual products.

It’s important toilet brushes are rinsed using the flushing water rather than a separate bucket or bowl.

  1. Clean all fixtures and fittings

The solution should be wiped off using a well wrung-out colour coded cloth. Remember to pay close attention to areas that come into close contact with the body such as toilet seats and flush handles.

Other typical fixtures and fittings within the washroom include hand-dryers, light switches, sanitary boxes, toilet roll and towel dispensers.

Cleaning products should be applied to a colour-coded cloth rather than directly to the surface when cleaning light switches or electrical appliances. With stubborn stains and marks put your back into it with a nylon abrasive cloth.

  1. Clean wash hand basins

You’re now ready to clean the remaining items in the washroom. Clean sinks and drink fountains using the same techniques I have mentioned above ensuring you thoroughly rinse the cleaning product from the tap.

  1. Check list

Time to admire all your hard work and check you have covered all of the different areas within the washroom. You might have a checklist at your workplace, these are great and provide evidence to users of your cleaning standards.

  1. Clean the floors

Finally, you can clean the floor. Use a dust control mop to dry mop the floor to remove any dust and then sweep up and empty into the bin.

Mop the floor with appropriate disinfectant solution, starting from the furthest point away from the door, making sure you have covered all areas evenly. You should then rinse the floor using clean water and leave to air dry.

Biohazard breeding ground

Washrooms are a paradise for germs and bugs to fester. Why not read my Biological Hazards blog here to understand the who, what, where and when of any biohazard?

I hope I’ve given you all the tips and tricks on how to clean a washroom properly and efficiently.

Remember, I’m always around on my social media pages so don’t hesitate to ask me any questions you may have about washroom hygiene.

https://www.facebook.com/JangroLtd

https://twitter.com/JangroLtd

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