CINCINNATI – November 7, 2011 – It’s no surprise that
dirty restrooms can lead to lost business. In fact, a recent Harris Interactive
survey revealed that 94 percent of U.S. adults would avoid a business in the
future if they encountered dirty restrooms. However, there is a common
misconception that cleaning and disinfecting are the same. To alleviate any
confusion on proper cleaning protocol, Cintas Corporation today issued a list
of best practices to help business owners create a pleasant, sanitary and
healthy restroom atmosphere.
“Cleaning and disinfecting are vital steps for successful
restroom maintenance,” said Mike Thompson, Senior Vice President, Cintas
Facility Services. “Many often think they are one in the same. However, if both
steps are not completed properly, surfaces may appear clean, but infectious
germs could be lurking.”
Best practices for maintaining a healthy restroom
include:
- Know the difference between cleaning
and disinfecting. The first step to provide a clean restroom is to understand
the difference between cleaning and disinfecting. Cleaning removes visible
soil, dirt, stains and other debris from surfaces. It is typically performed by
wiping surfaces using soap and water or a multi-purpose cleaner. Disinfection
destroys viruses, bacteria, germs and other harmful microorganisms. It is
accomplished by using a chemical designed specifically to kill bacteria.
- Always clean before disinfecting. An unclean
surface cannot be disinfected. Dirt is a hiding spot for bacteria and rapidly
depletes the sanitizing capability of disinfectants. Therefore, thoroughly
clean all surfaces to remove soil and stains before applying a disinfectant.
- Identify all restroom touch points. Before
cleaning a restroom, identify all “touch points.” Touch points include objects
that people touch on a regular basis such as door handles, soap dispensers,
stall locks, paper towel dispensers, etc. At minimum, these surfaces need to be
cleaned and disinfected on a daily basis to prevent the spread of germs. Areas
in restrooms that users do not generally come in contact with, such as windows,
may only require cleaning.
- Select the right chemicals. There are several
cleaning chemicals on the market and it is often difficult to identify the
best-performing products. For cleaning purposes, select an ammonia-free glass
and multi-surface cleaner that is highly concentrated and Green Seal certified.
An ammonia-free product is ideal as it has a lower odor than other products.
For both cleaning and disinfecting, select a heavy duty, non-acid washroom
product that is cleaner and disinfectant in one. This will kill bacteria and
reduce odors commonly found in restrooms. The product should also have high
alkalinity for easy soap scum removal. When using a two-in-one product, users
must spray the chemical twice to work properly - once for cleaning purposes and
once for disinfecting.
- Allow disinfectants to dwell for the
appropriate amount of time. All
disinfectants have a dwell time and must sit on a surface for the allotted time
to work at maximum efficiency. Simply spraying and wiping doesn’t give the
chemical the time it needs to kill 99 percent of the bacteria. Most products
require a dwell time of 10 minutes or longer. Read all labels and educate
cleaning personnel to follow the guidelines. Encourage employees to spray the
disinfectant and complete another task, such as emptying the trash, to allow
the appropriate amount of time.
“Cleaning and disinfecting correctly ensures that
restrooms look and smell their best, but are sanitary as well,” said Dave
Mesko, Senior Director of Marketing, Cintas. “Business owners should review
their restroom chemical program to allocate the right chemicals to the right
task. Doing so will provide restrooms that are truly clean and appealing to
customers.”
