With heightened concerns about the spread of germs and viruses, it’s not enough for commercial restrooms and other spaces to just look clean. Now, more than ever, facility managers and service providers must make sure that cleaning is done properly and with the right materials.

While procedures for cleaning restrooms in a green maintenance program are similar to those in a traditional cleaning program, because of their heavy use and moisture, restrooms usually require frequent cleaning with appropriate products.

The Pennsylvania Green Building Operations and Maintenance Manual suggests making sure that cleaning is done thoroughly, including hard-to reach areas such as behind toilets and around urinals.

It recommends periodically machine scrubbing restroom floors with a sanitizer or disinfectant, ensuring that label directions for appropriate dilutions for necessary dwell times are followed and allowing for germ-killing activities to be thorough. Dwell time for many sanitizers and disinfectants is 10 minutes.

Action Items:

• Make sure sanitizing and disinfecting solutions are prepared and used properly (i.e. dwell time) and remix as required.

• Frequently clean surfaces that hands touch to eliminate the spread of germs (i.e. door knobs, light switches, handles, etc.).

• Frequently eliminate moisture.

• Keep floors dry to eliminate slip and falls and the build-up of bacteria, mold and mildew.

To reduce the frequency for policing the area, use large trash cans to minimize overflow and do dry work before wet work. When ready for wet work, the Manual says to clean from high to low, towards the doorway, but first consider the following procedures:

• Check supply cart for proper equipment and supplies.

• Prepare the area. Place a Restroom Closed sign at the door, if applicable.

• Clean the exterior of all dispensers and re-stock supplies, including paper towel dispensers, feminine hygiene dispensers, toilet tissue dispensers and hand soap dispensers.

• Remove trash from all waste receptacles. Clean receptacles with a sanitizer cleaner. Replace liners.

• Dust mop or sweep the floor, and pick up collected debris with dustpan.

• Clean all sinks using sanitizer cleaner and abrasive sponge. Leave sanitizer on surfaces according to manufacturer’s directions.

• Clean all mirrors with glass cleaner and soft, clean cloths.

• Clean and sanitize all toilets and/or urinals. Remove urinal screens from the urinals, and using a bowl swab, push water level down in stools. Apply bowl cleaner to the exposed interior surfaces of the bowls and/or urinals, specifically under the rim. Allow time for the chemical to work, while cleaning partitions and showers.

• Remove graffiti from walls and stall partitions. Clean stall partitions and walls as needed with disinfectant cleaner.

• Clean both sides of entrance/exit doors with a sanitizer cleaner, paying special attention to hand contact areas.

• Scrub the inside of the bowls and urinals with a bowl swab. Use an abrasive sponge for difficult soils. Clean the exterior of the bowls and urinals with disinfectant cleaner. Clean both sides of the toilet seat. Clean the walls around the bowls or urinals with disinfectant cleaner. Flush bowls and urinals. Polish all chrome surfaces with a dry cloth (after cleaning with sanitizer cleaner).

• Scrub the floor with a sanitizer cleaner using a wet mop, bucket and wringer. If needed, scrub floor grout with a tile and grout brush. Rinse with clear water. Squeegee or vacuum up water, if necessary.

• Treat sink, shower or floor drains with drain maintainer, if necessary. • Inspect your work. If you are satisfied with your work, allow the floor to dry and re-open the restroom. Return cart to supply area and restock.

Keep in mind that bathroom cleaners are often acids because of the need to remove mineral deposits from sinks, bowls and urinals. Frequently they are heavily dyed and strongly fragranced. The following are some of the specific issues to compare for this product category:

• pH: Prefer those with a more neutral pH as compared to those with extreme pH (closer to 1). Bathroom cleaners may fall more in the range of pH 4 as compared to traditional products that may have a pH below 1.

• Dyes & Fragrances: Prefer those with no or low levels of dyes and fragrances compared to those products that are heavily dyed or fragranced. If dyes are necessary use those that are approved for foods and cosmetics.