As the world navigates through its most recent global health emergency, The Monkeypox Outbreak, we must not forget that proper cleaning and disinfection of high traffic areas, such as bathrooms, remains an integral part of controlling the spread of infectious diseases. A recent study suggests that over 77,000 various types of bacteria and viruses exist in the bathroom(1)(2). That means nobody is alone in the bathroom. While toilets often gets the bad rapport for being the most disgusting object in the bathroom the toilet bowl is not the only culprit for the spread of bacteria and viruses in the bathroom. Facility maintenance staff should be reminded to clean and disinfect the following 5 frequently touched areas in the bathroom in addition to the toilet:
1. Door Handles:
Everyone going to the bathroom touches the door handles (except for those who like using their hip or backside to kick or push it open ), making it very susceptible to germs. Many people may not practice hand washing and as such may transmit germs from their hands to the doorknob. Frequent cleaning of doorknobs with the proper disinfectant will help lessen the spread of diseases.
2. Push Dispensers and Dryers:
Dispensers without touchless features and push dryers may provide an optimal place for germs to proliferate. Machines like hot hand dryers may collect germs from the air (often aerosolized from the toilet) and spread it onto hands. A study which analyzed the spread of germs through 3 hand drying devices found that jet-air dryers are 60 times more likely to spread bacteria compared to warm dryers and are approximately 1300 times more likely to spread bacteria compared to paper towels (1).This means having paper towels in bathrooms may offer more health benefits than fancy dryers.
3. Light switches:
This is becoming less of an issue with the emergence of energy efficient buildings, but it is still important to note. In older building, most bathroom lights must be touched to turn off and on. Light switches are one part of bathrooms that cleaners should be sure not to forget.
4. Grab Rails:
Grab rails are important high touch areas as people old and young may need support while using the restroom. Using a microfiber fiber cloth and a disinfectant is a simple strategy to reduce transmission of germs that may be on the rails. Cleaners should also be aware of the contents of other solutions they use considering the rails are made of metal. Furthermore, cleaners should follow the manufacturer’s recommendation for contact time on metals.
5. Restroom Stalls:
In addition to cleaning the obvious areas such as door handles, toilets, and floors, cleaners should remember to wipe and disinfect restroom stalls. Aerosolized particles from the toilet and plume are likely to stay on restroom stalls.
Resources:
Here are additional resources for you to further increase your janitorial knowledge and stay updated on new trends in facility maintenance
Distinct Cleaning News and Media Post: Easy to read blog articles on various topics and trends in the commercial janitorial space.
Janitorial Work and Tutorial Videos: Quick cleaning tutorial and before and after videos intended to give the audience a glimpse into various janitorial work.
Janitorial Business Hub : This is a great place for anyone who has a regular job yet wants to start their own janitorial business. You can find coaching and other strategic opportunities available.
Resources (see number in parenthesis)
1. Kimmitt, P.T., and K.F. Redway. “Evaluation of the Potential for Virus Dispersal during Hand Drying: A Comparison of Three Methods.” Journal of Applied Microbiology, vol. 120, no. 2, 20 Jan. 2016, pp. 478–486, 10.1111/jam.13014.
2. “5 High-Touch Surfaces You Can’t Miss in Restroom Cleaning.” Cleaning & Maintenance Management, cmmonline.com/articles/5-high-touch-surfaces-you-cant-miss-in-restroom-cleaning. Accessed 11 Aug. 2022.
