WASHROOM HYGIENE Preparing for the summer surge


Paul Mulready, Marketing Manager at Northwood Hygiene Products, lets us know how to get washrooms ready for the summer months.


Winter is behind us and we can look forward to warmer days and longer evenings. However, the summer also invites various germs and bugs to multiply, with warmer weather providing the ideal conditions for infectious diseases like sickness bugs, chickenpox, measles and meningitis to spread and make people ill.


COVID-19 can also spike. Every summer since 2020, COVID rates have risen in July and August, with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting a peak in COVID-19 cases. Last year, COVID cases jumped to their highest level in August with almost 1,500 people testing positive for the virus in the UK – 20% higher than the previous week. It’s likely that COVID spreads because more people are gathering in the warmer weather.


Many washrooms will be under heavy use with more visitors frequenting them during the summer months, especially if they are in busy tourist hotspots, visitor attractions, shopping malls or town centres.


With infectious diseases ramping up in summer, it’s important for washroom providers to take preventative steps to stop the occurrence and spread of them. With the right protocols, these risks can be effectively managed, resulting in less sickness and transmission of viruses. Here’s how to defend against summer illnesses.


Prioritise hygiene


Frequent and thorough handwashing and drying is still one of the best ways to combat infection. Good hand hygiene is essential in reducing the spread of viruses, with the CDC citing that washing hands with soap and water can reduce deaths from diarrhoeal disease by up to 50%. A clean and inviting washroom is therefore a must to encourage people to use it.


Convenience and capacity


Handwashing products should be readily available in washrooms, and soap and paper dispensers should be quick and easy to operate. Dispensers should be well- stocked at all times and be easy to refill to avoid run-outs, which are common in the summer.


Soap dispensers should be high capacity and deliver a generous shot to encourage single, efficient use. They should ideally be non-drip to help keep spaces clean and each new soap cartridge should include a new nozzle to minimise the likelihood of bacteria harbouring.


Hand drying


We almost completely lose the benefits of handwashing if we don’t dry our hands after washing, so dispensers should provide a long-lasting supply of paper towels to enable people to dry their hands thoroughly.


The type of paper towel dispenser is important too. For instance, dispensers for folded towels will run out more quickly, so maintenance staff may be tempted to overfill dispensers with more than the recommended towels, making it difficult for people to pull out a single towel from the bottom. C-fold towels can frequently dispense in clumps, meaning users can often take multiple towels to dry their hands, which can be wasteful.


A mechanical hands-free roll towel dispenser could be a better alternative. As well as optimising hygiene because the user doesn’t need to touch the unit, these dispensers tend to offer a higher paper capacity than folded towels.


Reducing waste


Providers should choose controlled-use dispensers that restrict the use of consumables and prevent overuse. This helps to reduce costs and reduces waste, which is more environmentally sustainable. Sealed and splashproof dispensers keep products safely stored inside, helping to prevent the contents becoming contaminated.


Thinking sustainably, providers should also always ensure that paper products are made only from raw materials that have been responsibly sourced – either from recycled materials or from sustainably managed forests. Northwood Hygiene manufactures Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper within its UK-made Raphael range, as well as offering 100% recycled paper options.


Washrooms do play a vital role in preserving people’s health and wellbeing – is yours match fit for the summer?


www.northwood.co.uk


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