High touch hygiene Kärcher UK explains why regular cleaning is vital in high touchpoint areas like washrooms.
Changing rooms and public toilets are visited by many people, making them prone to the spread of germs and infection. Regular cleaning of high touchpoint areas in line with facility regulations is a must.
Toilet seats must be treated with an all-purpose or alcohol- based cleaner, as acids can dissolve dye pigments and leave stains. Furniture that frequently comes into contact with skin, such as benches, should be washed using a light alkaline cleaning agent or everyday cleaner, then rinsed and dried with a cleaning cloth. Doors, door frames, and separating walls should also be scrubbed with an all- purpose or alcohol-based cleaner using scratch-free pad sponges. If left unmaintained, microorganisms will grow and multiply, so thorough cleaning is key.
However, it’s not just these commonly touched areas that need care. Ensuring that fittings, flooring, and grouting are cleaned contributes to the overall hygiene of a washroom and it’s these areas that can often be forgotten. With changing rooms and washrooms being frequented by many people, they can be breeding grounds for germs if neglected, especially with moisture and heat helping microorganisms thrive and multiply.
Tiles
Wall tiles should be cleaned with an acidic deep cleaner and rinsed with fresh water. During the indicated contact time, the surface should be scrubbed with a green manual pad to help with the removal of dirt and dust. For a flawless and professional finish, the tiles should be wiped with a rubber squeegee after rinsing.
The removal of black mould in crevices can only be achieved with the use of hydrogen peroxide. After treatment it’s essential to rinse with plenty of clear water and, in stubborn cases, the joint material will need replacing. For much larger surfaces, a high-pressure cleaner on cold operation with a foam device is an economical solution,
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while stubborn lime deposits should be treated with products containing phosphoric acid.
Fittings Limescale-dissolving cleaning agents, usually including citric acid and/or amidosulfuric acid, are effective whilst avoiding damage to fittings, such as taps, shower heads, and mixing valves. To avoid damage in the long-term, it’s essential to apply acidic deep cleaner to a cleaning cloth or pad sponge rather than spraying directly onto fittings, and only use with non- abrasive pad sponges (white pad) to avoid scratches.
Floors
Highly textured or rough fine stone tiles with high slip resistance (R 12) are generally the flooring of choice in showers and toilets. A roller scrubber is the best way to clean these uneven surfaces such as Kärcher’s BR 30/4 C BP, which is a light and compact battery-powered scrubber dryer and has a contact pressure that is 10 times greater than the use of a conventional mop. This can be used with the addition of the acidic Deep Cleaner RM 751 (pH value 0.7, dosage 5-25%) in the two-step method, and then rinsed with clear water for best results.
Once the floor has been completely cleaned, the second step is to disinfect using a misting machine for even coverage, as they use a spray gun under pressure. Spray misting machines, such as the Kärcher ES 1/7 Bp, are ideal for large surface areas, reaching inaccessible nooks where wiping would struggle to achieve the desired result. For maintenance cleaning, a cleaning agent with both a fungicidal and an antibacterial effect is recommended to keep the number of microorganisms at bay long term.
The cleaning measures explained here are effective for ensuring that changing rooms, showers, and fitness facilities are hygienic to support the health and safety of people, which is a non-negotiable in the current climate.
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