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 must be cleaned frequently using appropriate cleaning products.

Make sure that cleaning is done thoroughly, including in hard-to-reach areas such as behind toilets and around urinals. Periodically machine scrub restroom floors with a sanitizer or disinfectant.

The Pennsylvania Green Building Operations and Maintenance Manual advises, make sure that label directions for appropriate dilutions for necessary dwell times are followed to allow for germ killing activities to be thorough. Dwell time for many sanitizers and disinfectants is ten minutes. Many products used in the restroom can be quite hazardous, such as drain cleaners and toilet bowl cleaners. Make sure that appropriate personal protective equipment is used. Never mix products.

Use large trashcans to minimize overflow and reduce the frequency for policing the area. Clean from high to low, towards the doorway, and do dry work before wet work, and consider the following:

1. Check supply cart for proper equipment and supplies.

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

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

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

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

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

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

8. Clean and sanitize all toilets and/or urinals. Remove urinal screens from the urinals and using the 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 (approximately 10 minutes).

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

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

11. 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).

12. 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.

13. Treat sink, shower or floor drains with drain maintainer, if necessary.

14. 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.

Action Items:

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

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

C. Frequently eliminate moisture. D. Keep floors dry to eliminate slip falls and the build-up of bacteria, mold and mildew. Cleaners and Disinfectants 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 in 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. If dyes are necessary use those that are approved for foods and cosmetics (F&C).

• Biodegradability: Prefer those that are readily biodegradable as compared to those that are slower to degrade. Unfortunately, many older formulations use excellent performing ingredients that have been found to have serious environmental and health concerns.

More Preferable Ingredients: surfactants containing terms such as lauryl, amides, glycosides, citric or acetic acid. • Less Preferable Ingredients: nonyl phenol ethoxylates, NTA, EDTA, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid.

Bathroom Disinfectants are similar to general disinfectants, but typically may have an acidic pH (closer to 1) to remove hard water deposits in sinks, bowls and urinals. Care in selection and use is important. The following are some of the specific issues to compare for this product category:

• Prefer antimicrobial ingredients that have a lower potential for persistence in the environment and to accumulate in living tissue compared to those with a greater potential.

• More Preferable Active Ingredients: hydrogen peroxide.