Professional Washroom Services: Everything You Should Know!

Washroom services or restroom services are a wide range of cleaning and sanitation services for toilets, showers and similar areas. They are often included in commercial cleaning services, but in the case of public washrooms or washrooms in areas with high foot traffic, like in an airport, shopping centre or a large office, they are outsourced to washroom cleaning and facility maintenance contractors.

In this article, we’ll explore everything you should know about washroom services, what is included and why it’s important.

What are Washroom Services?

Washroom services are a range of tailored commercial cleaning services for toilets, showers and, of course, washrooms. They include cleaning tasks throughout to improve hygiene and sanitation standards for those using the washrooms. Washroom services also include commercial support services relevant to washrooms, such as air fresheners, plumbing, feminine hygiene dispensers and sanitary bins.

Benefits of Washroom Services

Washrooms, according to colour coding guidelines, are considered high-risk areas. This risk refers to cross-contamination. Cleaning areas with a high risk of cross-contamination requires skills and dedicated cleaning equipment, usually colour-coded in red.

Having a dedicated professional washroom service can help contain and stop cross-contamination and provide a sanitised and safe washroom for occupants to use. Therefore, several complications of unclean and unsanitised toilets and washrooms that appear in other areas on the premises, like sick building syndrome, will be prevented.

What Premises Need Washroom Services?

Almost all areas that have washrooms, toilets or showers need proper washroom services. However, washroom cleaning is often included in the regular cleaning services. But in cases where washrooms are located in public areas or in areas where several people use them during a typical day, dedicated washroom services are required.

The following list highlights some of the premises that require washroom services:

• Public washrooms in crowded areas like shopping centres, airports, parks, etc.
• Washrooms & showers in sports facilities, gyms, museums, galleries, cinemas, etc.
• Washrooms & toilets in large offices with several employees, like an open-plan office space.
• Washrooms, toilets and showers in nurseries, schools and universities.
• Shared washrooms, toilets and showers in student accommodations and dormitories.
• In properties where toilets and washrooms are shared between several tenants and occupants, like communal washrooms in hotels, residential estates and corporate buildings.
• In hospitals, clinics and medical centres, where washroom sanitation standards should be very high.

What is Included in Washroom Services?

Washroom services come with a wide variety of sub-services to fit the requirements of every premises. What follows are the detailed services a professional washroom service contractor should offer.

Cleaning & Sanitation

General cleaning and sanitation, as well as periodical deep cleaning, are inseparable parts of washroom services. Tasks included in washroom cleaning and sanitation are commonly found on general & daily cleaning checklists. They include scrubbing and disinfecting sanitaryware, cleaning and polishing taps and sinks, cleaning air vents, emptying rubbish bins and mopping floors.

Sanitaryware Maintenance

Sanitaryware maintenance tasks include descaling toilet basins, urinals, sinks and showerheads as well as cleaning behind sanitaryware and underneath toilet rims to prevent mould and grime.

Washroom Supplies & Consumables

Washroom service contractors provide their clients with premium-quality washroom supplies and consumables. This includes hand soap, toilet paper, linen roller towels, nappy dispensers and feminine hygiene dispensers, which they will restock on a regular basis or whenever the stock is low.

Sanitary Bins

One of the best features of washroom services is fully managed sanitary bins. Cleaning contractors rent specialised sanitary bins. This rental sanitary bin service includes installation, maintenance and disposal and is dedicated to specific types of waste and rubbish. Sanitary bin services usually include the following types:

• Nappy bins
• Feminine hygiene product bins
• Sharps & Needles bins (for clinics, GP surgeries, medical centres & hospitals)

Air Fresheners

Many washrooms use air freshener systems as a way of odour control and to get rid of bad smells in toilets. Commercial cleaning contractors provide air fresheners and reed diffuser systems as part of their washroom services. This includes installation, maintenance and refill on a regular basis.

Air Purifiers

Many public washrooms and toilets in crowded areas use industrial air purifiers to improve air quality and eliminate floating particles, viruses, dust and grime that may cause serious health issues.

Washroom services also include installation and maintenance of air purifiers for such areas. The washroom cleaning staff will inspect air purification systems to ensure it is working as intended. They will also replace air filters if needed and report issues to the maintenance team.

Hand Dryers

Electric hand dryers are one of the equipment found in several washrooms in public areas or office toilets. Whether for reducing waste output or their efficacy compared to paper towels, washroom service providers offer electric hand dryers as a part of their service. They will install and maintain hand dryers on a regular basis, giving facilities managers peace of mind that electrical equipment in washrooms is always in good working condition.

Other Services

Washroom service contractors also provide several other relevant services that are mostly niche and specific to certain premises. Here’s a list of other services they offer if their clients require them:

• Plumbing and commercial handyman services for washrooms.
• Floor maintenance and floor scrubbing services.
• Providing janitorial supplies and cleaning products for premises cleaning.
• Nanocoating surfaces in washrooms, like mirrors, changing tables, etc.

Conclusion

Washrooms and toilets in public and crowded areas or in large offices and commercial buildings require extra attention when it comes to cleaning and sanitation. Thankfully, commercial cleaning companies provide professional washroom services as part of their regular cleaning service. Washroom services have several benefits for the premises and include many vital features that can help with the cleaning and hygiene standards of the premises. We explore the included services and benefits of washroom services in this article.

The information provided by this article can help you decide whether your premises require washroom services or what you should include in the contract when you’re about to outsource washroom services to a commercial cleaning contractor.