http://www.btaloos.co.uk/?page_id=850 http://www.btaloos.co.uk/?p=1937 https://www.initial.com/blog/smelly-public-washrooms/


GOING PUBLIC


Jamie Woodhall, UK Technical & Innovation Manager at Initial Washroom Hygiene, discusses the considerations necessary before opening your toilet to more users.


The number of public toilets has been declining in the UK for several years. The British Toilet Association (BTA) has estimated that in the past decade, 40% of public toilets have disappeared across UK high streets and tourist hot spots.


The good news is that the BTA’s ‘Use Our Loos’ campaign has been set up to encourage private organisations to make their washrooms accessible to the communities they serve. This has benefits for the business in terms of increased footfall and a stronger connection with local residents and visitors to the area they trade in, as well as addressing ‘toilet stigma’, elevating the conversation around access to washrooms.


While unlocking the loos hidden in coffee shops, cafés, restaurants and bars will help provide a better community experience, these businesses must also ensure their washrooms are as hygienic and germ-free as possible. Smell matters too, as Initial Washroom Hygiene’s research found that 73% of Britons say an unpleasant smell in the washroom would negatively affect their perception of a venue. Almost two thirds of respondents said that a bad smell would make them less likely to spend money with that company, so it’s important that standards don’t slip.


Equipped environment With increased footfall to the washroom areas, the level of bacteria and therefore the risk of germs being passed from person to person can increase, so it’s important to make sure all precautions are taken.


It may sound simple, but equipping washrooms with enough sinks, soap dispensers and hand drying options is a vital way to minimise the spread of bacteria and illnesses. A swabbing experiment conducted by Initial Washroom Hygiene found that the level of bacteria present on peoples’ hands decreased by 83% after they were encouraged to wash their hands prior to eating, so providing the facilities for users to wash their hands properly is vital.


12 | WASHROOM HYGIENE


Cleaning schedules Another way to minimise the spread of bacteria and illness is to intensify the regularity of cleaning procedures in washrooms. We recommend implementing a clearly documented hourly cleaning schedule, so you can monitor the checking and cleaning of your washrooms on an ongoing basis.


You may also want to consider drafting in the help of a specialist cleaning service to carry out a deep clean of your washroom at least twice a year, when any build-up in your washroom pipes or urinal traps can be removed. We’d recommend doing this when your public toilet is likely to see less footfall – so avoiding school or public holidays.


Scenting is an area that is often overlooked, but if your washroom harbours unpleasant smells, this may prevent visitors from returning to your premises. The easiest way to address this is by installing air fresheners that automatically dispense fragrance. These products help neutralise odours that come from malodour-producing bacteria and create a pleasant-smelling environment.


Sanitary services Providing all female washroom cubicles with sanitary disposal units is fundamental in maintaining a clean and pleasant washroom environment, but also in ensuring a safe and discreet way for females to dispose of sanitary items. It’s also important to employ a feminine hygiene waste disposal service, so you can discard sanitary waste in a secure, sensitive and environmentally friendly way.


Businesses can play an important role in ensuring the communities they serve have access to a toilet when they need it. Yet it’s also important that these facilities are not just accessible, but as clean and hygienic as possible.


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