Even on a good day restrooms can be a nightmare for Facility Managers. Not only do they require ongoing maintenance in order to stay clean, but more often than not, they are a host to bacteria, viruses and other pathogens that can result in unpleasant odors and even the transmission of infectious diseases. Now, in the middle of the first serious pandemic of the modern era, poorly cleaned restrooms can become a ground-zero for a coronavirus outbreak in your facility.
One study found that “within an hour of normal use, there were 500,000 bacterial cells per square inch on the bathroom surfaces, on average.” This massive bacterial and viral load should be a good indicator that COVID-19, which the CDC, National Institutes of Health and other institutions suggests that the 2019 novel coronavirus can live for two to three days on plastic and stainless steel surfaces, poses a significant safety and health concern if your restrooms are not being cleaned and disinfected properly.
If there ever was a time you and your facility need a professional restroom cleaning, it is now. Don’t take risks with a high risk room in your facility - let an industry professional safeguard the health of you, your employees and your patrons.
Reducing the bacterial and viral load in a restroom starts with using CDC and EPA approved cleaning and disinfection techniques. First and foremost, if your commercial restroom cleaning service provider isn’t scrubbing a surface before disinfecting it, it hasn’t been properly disinfected. Many bacteria and other pathogens survive under microscopic dirt and filth on a surface. Without first physically removing it, disinfection will not adequately kill bacteria and viruses.
Using the right chemical disinfectant is also important to proper surface disinfection. For instance, only List-N disinfectants are rated to kill the novel coronavirus. If your commercial cleaning service isn’t using one of the EPA approved disinfectants, they are not adequately protecting your people and your facility from SARS-CoV-2.
Your restroom cleaning service also needs to be observing chemical dwell times and other manufacturer recommendations in order to actually remove the virus from a given surface. Simply spraying and wiping a disinfectant is not enough; most disinfectants need to sit on a surface for a specific amount of time in order to be most effective. If your office restroom service isn’t meeting the data-backed recommendations provided by the EPA and CDC, it might be time to make a switch.
Sometimes, things happen that are outside of our control, despite our best efforts - the hallmark of an industry professional is their ability to handle the worst when it does happen while still providing an exceptional service. Here at Stathakis, we come prepared with a coronavirus outbreak plan to handle infection without impairing the day to day function of your facility.
In the event that someone is found to be ill, we are prepared to respond to minimize the risk to everyone else in your facility. The key is rapid isolation, proper disinfection and careful reopening of areas that were exposed to the virus. Without a plan, it isn’t possible to assess which areas need to be closed down and in what ways they need to be treated to be opened as soon as possible. This often leads to an inability to control the outbreak and a slow recovery time for your building. If your commercial restroom cleaner isn’t ready to handle the worst, consider switching to the industry professionals that are prepared for whatever the current threats require.
Even with the best commercial cleaning companies, things can get off track. N0 one is immune to mistakes and the best of plans can still be insufficient when disaster strikes. When issues arise, do you know who you are going to call? Is your restroom cleaning company clear about responsibility, accountability and who to contact? You should always know who to call or email when there is an issue because small issues are much easier to solve before they become big problems.
Open channels of communication are the key to smooth facility operation coupled with effective and efficient restroom cleaning. Coordinating things like usage patterns, cleaning times and restocking information is invaluable for providing a seamless service. Even if you aren’t regularly contacting your janitorial company, they should periodically check in with you to see how service is going and if there is anything that they can do to improve it. Rarely does a facility stay the same month-to-month, year-to-year, so communicating changes is key to providing a consistent service.
Finding the right commercial cleaning company can make all of the difference with your restroom cleaning, restroom disinfection services and the overall condition and cleanliness of the entire facility. Don’t risk your reputation or the health of your customers and staff during the middle of a pandemic. If your commercial restroom cleaning services company is either unable or unwilling to deliver a professional, quality and effective service that leaves your restroom both visually and microscopically clean, it is time to consider other options.
Here at Stathakis, we have over thirty years of industry relevant experience, in short, we know how to clean restrooms right, the first time. We deliver the best in facility maintenance and restroom cleaning for the businesses of southeastern Michigan. If you are a Facility Manager in Ann Arbor, Detroit, Royal Oak, Farmington Hills, Farmington, Dearborn, Livonia, Troy, Auburn Hills, Novi, Plymouth, Downriver or surrounding areas, please contact us to learn more about how we can help you maintain clean restrooms and protect yourself, your staff and your customers in this time of crisis.