Bacteria Found In St. Louis Restrooms

Facility managers know what they are up against when trying to keep restrooms clean in their facility. One of the hardest areas is the restroom. It is a fact that when nature calls, we expect those restrooms to be clean, functional and operational.

You might think that the facility manager at your building will know about customer complaints over the quality of cleanliness in your restrooms. A study published in “Applied and Environmental Microbiology” did an assessment of the microbes in public restrooms and found that genetic traces of more than 77,000 distinct types of bacteria and viruses were in these spaces. It that shocking to you? It should be!

The Importance of disinfecting

It is stats like this that support the importance of cleaning and disinfecting restrooms and kitchens. It doesn’t take long for a restroom or kitchen to be recontaminated. According to the San Diego State University, within one hour of disinfecting a bathroom will be contaminated with microbes and fecal bacteria.

Here are the top spaces in your restroom that you should be cleaning.

• Radiator
• Tap (faucet)
• Handrail
• Toilet
• Toilet Paper dispenser
• Floor
• Side wall
• Waste basket
• Door handles

These are some of the top 10 things in a bathroom that must be cleaned daily and often in high traffic areas multiple times a day.

How to fight germs without cleaning

To minimize bacteria, viruses and other contaminants in your restrooms you should clean on a regular basis and adopt some practices that reduce touching and cross-contamination.

Go Touchless Sinks

Touchless fixtures such as faucets and soap dispensers are a great way to reduce contamination. If your occupants can avoid touching the sink faucet and soap dispenser it will greatly reduce the spread of germs.

Go Touchless Dispensers

Touchless dispensers for paper towels and air dryers further reduce the spread of germs. Regardless over the debate of air dryers or paper towels any touchless device will reduce contamination.

Good Ventilation

Ventilation is one of the most important aspects of any restroom. The last thing you want to smell is fecal matter or urine when you walk into a bathroom. Good air circulation that meets or exceeds building codes for air flow per minute is essential to reducing germs. The lack of moisture reduced by air flow will further reduce germs and contamination in your restrooms.

Good Drainage

It is key to keep your floors as dry as possible. Not just for safety reasons over people slipping on a wet floor, but a wet floor is a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses. A proper drain trap should be installed and treated on a regular basis with a broad germicide to any living bacteria in that moist enviroment.

Self-Flushing Toilets

Another step towards touchless is self-flushing toilets and urinals. These devices can minimize cross-contamination as can the user of toilet seat covers in any of the stalls in your restroom.

All of these steps to disinfect and prevent the spread of bacteria will help to keep your restrooms a pleasant experience for your patrons and prevent the spread of sickness. If you don’t have a regular staff taking care of these things, give us a call at Grimebusters.  (866) 272-7847