How Often Should Public Restrooms be Cleaned?

As the manager of a restaurant, hotel, or another establishment, you’re probably already well aware of the importance of maintaining a clean business space, and even more specifically, a clean restroom. Cleanliness impacts customer retention, employee happiness, and public health.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has requirements in place regarding restroom availability and cleanliness for your employees. While these requirements make providing sanitary restrooms to your employees essential, consider the cleanliness of your public restrooms as well. A dirty restroom is not just unsightly; it has deeper health implications.

The Difference Between Cleaning and Disinfection

Most people, including – potentially – your cleaning staff, may not realize there’s a difference between these terms. This misinterpretation could lead to major errors in restroom maintenance. A clean restroom is one without clutter and visible surface grime, and often has reduced bacteria. The key word here is reduced. When you disinfect a restroom, you’re not just removing the bacteria – you are killing it.

Understanding these differences is essential, due to the major health risk restrooms pose. Restrooms harbor dangerous bacteria that can cause serious illnesses including Hepatitis A, Shigella, norovirus, and more.

Cleaning removes the top layer of dirt and germs from a surface, whereas disinfection kills dangerous bacteria like Salmonella and E. Coli. It’s important to note that as disinfection does not remove dirt from a surface, it’s essential to engage in a combination of both cleaning and disinfecting to maintain your restroom.

How Often Should Public Restrooms Be Cleaned?

The answer to this question isn’t as clear-cut as you were probably hoping for. This is because restroom maintenance varies by industry and by how many people use your restroom. For example, a small office probably doesn’t need their restroom to constantly be cleaned, as only a small number of individuals use it. But if you run a bustling restaurant, your restroom is going to require much more attention. Here are our tips on determining how often your public restrooms should be cleaned:

1. You must clean and disinfect your restrooms every day. Consider your situation when determining how often you should clean it. Do you run a gas station in the middle of nowhere or a coffee shop in the heart of the city? Think about your traffic flow.

2. Avoid waiting until the restroom starts to look dirty.
Remember what we mentioned earlier about remaining germs and bacteria? Make sure you are disinfecting the space and cleaning before dirt and grime becomes noticeable.

3. Base your cleaning frequency on how much foot traffic you get.
Only clean and disinfect your restroom once a day if you experience low foot traffic. The more people that use your restroom, the more times per day you should be cleaning. If you only clean once a day with high foot traffic, you put your restroom at risk of becoming a pig sty not even halfway through the day! Examples of establishments that need frequent cleaning are restaurants, hotels, and airports. Some businesses have their restrooms cleaned at least ten times a day!

4. Get familiar with the cleaning requirements of your specific industry.
Your industry’s cleaning requirements can give you some guidance on what is expected of your business.

5. Take notice of how often supplies need replacement.
At Dempsey Uniform & Linen Supply, we can give you ideas on ways to come up with a frequency of cleaning, but – ultimately – you know your establishment best. How often does your toilet paper, paper towels, and hand soap need to be replaced? Never leave your restroom without these things. Based on this number, always refill supplies before you run out.

Team Up With a Reliable Supplier

We offer facility supplies to aid you in your public restroom maintenance. We offer paper towels, toilet paper, hand soap dispensers, paper goods, air fresheners, trash can liners, mats, disposable gloves, and more.

The health and safety of your customers and employees matters. Call 1-800-378-8060 to learn more about how our products can help keep your public restrooms clean.