CM/Spotlight: Restroom Care If BSCs and in-house staffs donʼt grasp the effectiveness of todayʼs innovative restroom care systems, then it is likely the end users of the service wonʼt under-stand the concept or purpose behind these types of products. BSCs lack effective research and testing capabilities and todayʼs budgets are not conducive to buying technology just to try it out. Technology is not always cheap and, for those trying to cut costs, spending a few thousand dollars on a machine in a tough economic climate may not seem to make sense. With new cleaning technologies, however, enlightenment comes when you are able to use it and try it. Many workers who use modern equipment say they will never go back to spray bottles, rags and www.cm monline.co m string mops. V G With efficiency rates that are three times that of traditional restroom room cleaning methods and cleaning effective-to your contact person and they ness that can be proven to meet standards respond, “It just doesnʼt smell clean, there for food contact surfaces, the rewards are is really no smell at all.” numerous and todayʼs technology quickly For some people, presuppositions about pays for itself. cleanliness are so ingrained that they Contractors and in-house staffs must require olfactory evidence that something have a clear understanding of their equip-is clean, with a smell indicating a cleaning ment to be able to effectively educate their agent perfume. customers. However, when it comes to restroom odors, it is important to point out that a truly Ensure A Positive Feeling clean restroom equates with no smell at all because using proper cleaning procedures Still, there are many people who think and tools helps to attack odors at the cleaning down to the microbial level is source and eliminate them, rather than great, but if it does not “feel” clean in their mask them. perception, you will not be successful in Often, no matter how much you explain gaining their full acceptance. that a hygienically clean restroom has a Therefore, there must be a balance neutral odor indicating the lack of odor-between cleaning for health and cleaning causing bacteria, you probably will not be for aesthetics — BSCs must be able to pro-able to change everyoneʼs beliefs. vide both. You will have to be able to meet both For example, after cleaning a restroom to hygienic and aesthetic factors and that your satisfaction and measuring the results means understanding your customersʼ with scientific tools, you may be able to needs and perceptions while protecting prove how clean the surfaces are to cus-their health. tomers. Ultimately, health risk reduction should You know your customers are safer and be the goal you are after to reduce health healthier based on your cleaning system. risks in the biowaste transfer station. Imagine, when you sing the praises Nevertheless, if you are creating a of how healthy you have made the rest-GRAND VIEW M EDIA GROUP November 2009 healthy environment and it is not specifically pleasing to the user of your services, it is likely you will not be serving them long. You must provide a degree of education to your customers to help them understand how and why a proper cleaning regi-men should be followed — and then you have to sit back and lis-ten to their ideas and needs. Even if you understand the benefits of your equipment and procedures, you must be able to communicate it. Thankfully, you are not alone. Manufacturers are there to help with a myriad of support material, white papers and in-depth scientific studies. There is sufficient material in the marketplace to assist you in pre-senting a clear and compelling message. Manufacturers and distributors are available to provide demonstrations and help educate you on technology that can save you time, money and, more important-ly, provide a better, healthier indoor envi-ronment for your customers. Learn, explain and listen to your cus-tomers. CM Peter J. Sheldon Sr., CBSE, is vice president of operations for Coverall Health-Based Cleaning System SM . Sheldon is among the elite group of building service profession-als to qualify for the Certified Building Services Executive designation. Dr. Charles Gerba is a spokesman for Coverall Health-Based Cleaning System SM and the recent launch of a campaign to spread awareness about infection control. Dr. Gerba received his B.S. from Arizona State University and his Ph.D. from the University of Miami, both in microbiology. 16 CM/Cleaning & Maintenance Management ® • November 2009
CMM – Archives Nov 2009: 16
