New year … same washroom problems – 6 strategies that will fix persistent issues

Back in the saddle after the summer holidays, and the same questions that plagued your washrooms before the break, jolt you back to reality:

Our washroom has a persistent bad odour. We have tried everything to get rid of it … and nothing works.

We keep getting blocked pipes. What is the reason?

Are all urinal block, mat and screen solutions the same?

We’ve been using a disinfectant-based cleaner in the washroom to try and get rid of the lingering odour but the problem remains.

We have too many cleaning chemicals in our cupboard and it is confusing to work out which ones are better suited to particular cleaning jobs. How can we reduce the number of different cleaning chemicals and get the same result?

Simple

Any solution that is going to quickly gain traction with sales staff, operations managers and cleaning technicians has to be easy to implement. Removing unnecessary steps in the process, and minimising the time required in between cleaning jobs, whilst using as little product as possible, warrants serious consideration.

Works first time

Time pressures and reduced resources demands that any cleaning solution works the first time. And if the solution produces sustained results, it is a welcome addition to the cleaner’s arsenal. With leading-edge technological advances available to anyone in the cleaning-and-services industry these days, workers rightfully expect immediate results. Any cleaning product that does not meet this standard will quickly gather dust in the cleaners’ cupboard.

Asset protection

There are many cleaning products on the market that claim to deal with a particular washroom problem, but it comes at a cost. These harsh and often toxic chemicals slowly eat away pipes and fittings, decreasing its lifespan while at the same time requiring fittings to be replaced more often.

On the other hand, some chemicals purely mask the problem, allowing uric scale to build up in drains over time. The result is costly plumbing bills. Any solution that is going to both protect valuable assets, and condition pipes and drains, has to take a different approach to nasty traditional cleaning products.

Proven results

A plethora of cleaning products on the market makes it near impossible to determine which ones actually work. Every day another product is made available on the shelves but insufficient time has lapsed for feedback of its effectiveness. And it often seems that the same product is simply dressed in another jacket, cleverly marketed as a different targeted solution. Only cleaning solutions with a proven track record merits consideration.

Cost effective

The old adage that you get what you pay for is equally applicable in this industry. Quality cleaning products are often sacrificed for cheaper ones applied in large quantities; we’ll keep throwing cheap product at the problem until it goes away. And the funny thing is that usually a small amount of superior cleaning product is required to do the job of a range of cheaper ones. Concentrated products, which can be diluted when needed, are gaining in popularity. The cost savings that are derived from using quality concentrated cleaning products are boosted when water savings are taken into consideration.

Environmentally responsible

Toxic and harsh cleaning chemicals are no longer acceptable in the cleaning-and-services industry. Education has ensured that everyone is thoughtful of the impacts our activities are having on the natural environment. While in many quarters green credentials are still only lip service, local governments are legislating change and progressive businesses are taking responsibility. Laisse fair attitudes that exclude environmentally friendly and proven alternatives in favour of the same-old-same-old are impacting businesses’ credibility.

The best solution

Biological cleaning products tick all the boxes. One product is all that is often needed to replace an assortment of chemical alternatives. A simple application or dosage quickly goes to work eradicating the problem at the source. Because this approach targets organic waste, and not mask the associated odour and staining, the problem is responsibly tackled without harming natural habitats. Containing friendly bacteria that continues to reproduce over time until the problem has dissolved, biological cleaning solutions also save money and water in the process.