Businesses have realised that keeping their washrooms clean is just the start, and that
creating a pleasant and hygienic environment will have a positive effect on customers,
guests, and employees.
In-house and contract cleaning teams are also facing increased pressure to get their work
done more quickly with fewer resources while also reducing
energy, water and chemical consumption. In short, they need to be more sustainable while
providing the best possible washroom environment.
But therein lies the problem: the range of facilities and equipment required to do all this can
fall beyond the capabilities of in-house teams or the remit of building service contractors.
One solution is to work with specialist service providers who have the expertise and
resources to complement and enhance daily washroom cleaning.
Diversey meets these objectives with its fully-featured, integrated washroom service that brings together key
products, equipment, amenities, and services to create a highly effective, cost-efficient and
sustainable solution.
The service is featured on the company's stand at The Cleaning Show.
Washrooms always have a significant impact on customer perceptions. And the pandemic
has heightened and highlighted the importance of hygiene. Building on the base of good
cleaning with additional amenities and facilities can make a real difference that customers will
notice and appreciate. This is doubly important when the washroom is part of the customer
experience, for example in restaurants, hotels, pubs and shops, because its state has a
major impact on perceptions and behaviour that directly affect the business.
Research by Diversey and others shows that customers who experience a bad washroom
during a visit are less likely to come back. They are also more likely to tell their friends and
colleagues or give the establishment a bad rating on Internet and social media sites.
Separate research suggests more than 80 per cent of shoppers would avoid a retail store
with a dirty washroom - not just avoid the washroom but the store altogether. Loss of
reputation caused by poor hygiene can result in lower levels of repeat business and fewer
new customers. But maintaining the appearance, cleanliness and hygiene of a washroom
need not be onerous if the right processes and products are employed.
Good washroom management will always be based around regular cleaning to maximise
hygiene, remove unsightly soiling, and prevent unpleasant odours. Choosing the right
combination of products is important, whether these be for routine or problem-solving tasks.
Ready-to-use products can be convenient, especially for occasional use, but using
concentrates to prepare solutions on-site for routine tasks can help to reduce costs with
many other sustainability benefits. These typically include reduced wastage, reduced
chemical consumption, and lower volumes of packaging such as cardboard and plastics but
there are others. Many in-house and contract cleaning teams have already taken this
approach.
Product formulation is an important sustainability consideration. Traditional products will be
effective when used correctly. But alternative formulations can offer additional sustainability
benefits. Cleaner disinfectants which incorporate Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide (AHP) as
the active ingredient, for example, can be used on a wider range of surfaces and materials
and eliminate a wider range of viruses, bacteria and other common pathogens than
traditional products. They generally have a lower safety classification ? which makes them
safer to use ? and are often easier to use. The active ingredient breaks down to water and
oxygen alone as part of its normal action and they can be used without rinsing the surface
but leave no residues. On-site systems which generate cleaning solutions containing ozone
as the active ingredient offer many similar sustainability and safety-in-use benefits.
Another option for cleaning teams seeking the best possible sustainability is to switch to
formulations which are manufactured using plant-based ingredients, such as Diversey's
SURE range. This plant based, 100 per biodegradable range includes a full set of products
for daily washroom cleaning.
Further sustainability gains can be realised by switching to products which are effective at
lower temperatures, thereby saving energy costs. Multipurpose formulations remove
complexity and, when supplied as concentrates, also offer the aforementioned benefits.
Floorcare is a major part of daily washroom cleaning. The latest generation of machinery is
generally more water and energy-efficient than existing models and compact machines can
easily replace inefficient and wasteful old-fashioned mopping, all of which is good for
sustainability.
Microfibre cloth and mop systems and innovative pads for floorcare machines
can be used with water alone, reducing ? and sometimes removing - the need for chemicals.
Hand hygiene is also critical in washrooms. As we all know, we should always wash our
hands after going to the toilet so washrooms must provide reliable and effective facilities.
Products such as hand soaps, washes, and disinfectants must be effective.
Diversey, for example, offers a wide range of products that meet key hand hygiene standards. These
include formulations for frequent use and with or without perfumes to meet specific
requirements in sectors such as healthcare and food service. Many of these products are
available as concentrates (and with formulations such as the SURE range) to offer various
sustainability benefits. They are designed for use with accurate dispensers to control usage
and maintain maximum product availability to ensure the highest possible compliance levels.
In many facilities the daily and routine cleaning processes that can benefit from these
products are likely to be undertaken by an in-house or contract cleaning team. But alongside
traditional washroom amenities it is now commonplace, especially in retail and hospitality, to
find baby changing facilities, air fragrance devices, vending machines, and a whole range of
other equipment designed to improve the ambiance and enhance perceptions of cleanliness.
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, for example, many businesses have introduced ways to
eliminate viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens from the air while also improving its overall
quality and adding pleasant fragrances. This can create a safer and enhanced environment
but requires specialist equipment that must be configured and serviced correctly by qualified
technicians to maintain efficient performance.
Demand for improved sustainability is also driving change, as typified by the growth of
waterless urinals. The switch is rarely simple and effective solutions might incorporate
devices to deal with the urine and residues, prevent splashback, and eliminate odours.
Solving washroom problems like this is an increasingly specialist task.
Another key issue is waste disposal and management, which is covered by numerous
regulations. Feminine hygiene waste and used nappies can only be disposed by registered
carriers who ensure compliance and keep on top of any necessary paperwork. It is a burden
that most businesses will want to pass on to experienced service providers.
These examples perhaps explain why in-house and contract cleaning teams turn to specialist
suppliers such as Diversey. The team can maintain focus on its core cleaning tasks without
the need to manage specialist and often complex equipment. The opposite is also true
because the specialist provider can manage its equipment and services without having to
worry about the cleaning. Specialist washroom solutions providers like Diversey are used to
working and integrating their operations with in-house and contract cleaning teams to provide
a seamless service. Both parties can do what they do best to deliver an enhanced outcome
for the facility.
There are also some sound business reasons. In particular, a washroom solutions specialist
can offer some or all products and services for a fixed monthly or annual fee. That provides
customers with transparency and predictability in their budgets with no hidden extras.
Solutions providers will also generally work to agreed service levels. These might include the
frequency waste is removed, when equipment is checked and refilled, and response times
for maintenance visits. Working this way offers customers the assurance of service continuity
and the peace of mind that unexpected issues will be dealt with promptly. Reports and
information provided by the washroom specialist can be used to verify performance and
demonstrate compliance.
Diversey's Washroom Service forms part of its display on Stand E30 at The Cleaning Show.
Other sustainable products and services featured on the stand include the TASKI Swingo
250 and TASKI ULTIMAXX scrubber driers, the SURE range of plant based, 100 per
cent biodegradable cleaning products, the SafePack ultra concentrate system, and a full
range of washcraft ? warewashing and laundry ? solutions.