there
was hands-on, mop-and-bucket restroom cleaning performed by a
custodial staff armed with rubber gloves, a brush and a spray
bottle full of cleaning chemical. This often resulted in sore
backs, sore knees and a sore attitude toward the job, and, oh,
by the way, results that have made restroom complaints the
number one source of customer dissatisfaction.
Over time, with studies showing that more
facility managers favor an entirely touchless restroom
experience for patrons (including touchless soap, paper and
water dispensing,) it was inevitable that the touchless trend
would grow to effect not only those who use the restroom but
also those who are responsible for keeping it clean.
Facilities managers recognize that traditional
spray-bottle and mop and bucket cleaning processes don’t always
do an adequate job at removing dirt and contaminates— very often
all that results from using these antiquated methods is a
redistribution of soil and a de-motivated and unproductive labor
force.
That recognition led to the introduction of
automated touchless cleaning. The
early
automated systems were typically high-volume/high-pressure
mobile spray and-vac cleaning equipment that required access to
an electrical outlet. These units certainly took restroom
cleaning to the next level—especially when used for restorative
cleaning of larger facilities— but are often considered to be
less than ideal for day-to-day maintenance cleaning of small to
medium sized restrooms due to the somewhat cumbersome nature of
their use.
Faced with the recognition that traditional mop
and bucket cleaning processes are often ineffective and
inefficient, coupled with a need for a simpler, quicker and
considerably less expensive alternative to the high flow/high
pressure spray and vacuum-recovery options available, facilities
managers are discovering an alternative
automated restroom cleaning process: low pressure, low flow
spray and-squeegee, which is an ideal format for the daily
maintenance cleaning of small to medium-sized restrooms. From
school districts to manufacturing plants to theme parks and
hospitals, the managers of these facilities are embracing this
new technology.
The design and operation of the new touchless
cleaning systems make them ideal for the job. Whereas earlier
generations of touch-free cleaning units typically dispense
large volumes of water (normally one gallon per minute or more)
and spray cleaning chemicals at pressures approaching 500 psi,
today’s units use only half-a gallon of cleaning solution per
minute which is dispensed at less than 100 psi.
This allows the cleaning chemical rather than
high pressure to achieve the desired results.
The large amount of water consumption inherent
in the use of legacy systems also requires the incorporation of
a wet/dry vac into the cleaning regimen whereas with the newer
generation systems the water remaining on the floor after
cleaning is removed by simply
squeegeeing it into a floor drain.
This application and design also means that the
system can be battery-operated thereby eliminating the need for
a power outlet. And, because there is also none of the noise
that is associated with wet/dry vac cleanup, the unit’s
almost-silent operation makes it perfect for day-time cleaning,
particularly in noise sensitive environments like schools and
health-care facilities.
