It may be time to move restroom cleaning to the top of the business cleaning checklist. Though it may seem like a small task, a clean bathroom is an important part of every customer experience—and one they relate directly to your business (even if the space is rented).
Not scheduling periodic restroom checks
Even when a business is busy, it’s important to ask an employee (or employees) to clean the restroom. Customers aren’t going to return to a business if the restroom is dirty, and most customers don’t make allowances for businesses in rented spaces or for a busy time.
To prevent a dirty bathroom, don’t just ask employees to check the restroom; make your expectations clear to prevent any misunderstandings (and dirty restrooms). Provide employees with a complete restroom cleaning checklist that they need to complete when finished. In addition to cleaning, periodic restroom checks should also include refilling paper towels, soap, toilet paper, and other essentials. If that is not possible, or during an incredibly busy event, hire a local cleaning service to periodically clean the restroom during the day.
Not sanitizing the restroom
Restrooms are a hot bed for the germs that cause illnesses. When cleaning, every business should use products that clean and sanitize to prevent the spread of illnesses and diseases. Though many illnesses are associated with winter (“cold season”), sanitizing a restroom should be a year-round effort.
Sanitizing a restroom is not just for businesses where customers visit regularly. Restroom disinfection should also be a major part of restroom cleanings at businesses with employees. Employee illness can disrupt productivity and service (or product) delivery. In addition to restroom sanitizing, businesses should also put out disinfection products in common areas that can help employees stay healthy (i.e. hand sanitizers, keyboard wipes, etc.)
Not providing protective equipment for employees
Many restroom cleaning products come with warnings about health hazards that can come from repeated exposure or contact. One of the top restroom cleaning mistakes companies make is to ignore these warnings and not provide adequate protective equipment for employees. Every business should provide a restroom cleaning kit that includes masks, gloves, and other protective equipment when needed.
Ignoring restroom deep cleaning
A regular restroom deep clean is an essential part of keeping a restroom neat and in good working order. Unfortunately, many businesses skip this important part of restroom sanitation. A restroom deep cleaning should include all the elements of a regular cleaning plus:
- grout and tile scrubbing,
- thorough cleaning of all toilets (top to bottom) and any spaces that don’t get cleaned often (behind toilets, toilet stall walls, sanitary containers, etc.),
- disinfection of all restroom surfaces,
- cleaning and removing graffiti,
- washing down walls.
These restroom deep cleanings should be scheduled for times when traffic is low in the building, such as after hours or during holiday breaks by cleaning staff or outsourced to a commercial cleaning service.
