HOW TO PROTECT USERS FROM INFECTIONS?

Whether in public toilets, company washrooms or at home, the risk of infection is particularly high. Indeed, the number of users and the common surfaces used in a confined space optimize the proliferation of bacteria and microbes, and therefore of viruses and diseases of all kinds.

It’s important to maintain the hygiene of this space to protect users from various infections. This means regular cleaning and disinfection of toilets, using the right products and techniques.

Focus on good practices to protect toilet users from infections.

Hand hygiene

The hygiene of washrooms includes the hygiene of the hands themselves, as they come into contact with the many surfaces present. To enable users to practise good hand hygiene, facilities must be provided for washing and drying hands. In fact, it’s better to use touch-free dispensers for liquid soap than to place a bar of soap (which can also harbor micro-organisms!) on the sink. This option is particularly recommended in busy washrooms, such as those in companies. Hydroalcoholic gel may also be necessary for extra protection against viruses and bacteria.

You’ll find numerous liquid dispenser solutions in SOMAPRO’s Carmen range. Paper towels are also practical, not only for wiping hands but also for turning taps on and off without having to touch them directly.

Surface hygiene

Toilet users come into contact with numerous surfaces such as washbasins, door handles, toilet seats, flush buttons, etc. This leads to contamination by infectious micro-organisms, which can then be transferred to other surfaces through lack of hygiene.

To stop the spread of pathogens, it’s imperative to regularly clean surfaces with disinfectant products such as toilet gel for the inside of the bowl and bleach cleaner for taps, washbasins, floors, etc. There are also bleach-free disinfectant cleaners whose formulation eliminates up to 99.9% of bacteria on surfaces.

As contamination can come from outside items such as shoes, it is also advisable to block them by providing doormats at the entrance to washrooms for wiping feet, and consoles for depositing personal items such as handbags. As for the floor, it should be regularly cleaned with a cleaning and disinfecting product, to completely eliminate microorganisms.

Air hygiene

The rapid movement of water when the toilet is flushed disperses droplets into the air, which are sources of infection, as they are derived from urine and solid dejecta. Although the larger droplets fall back into the toilet bowl, the smaller ones spread through the air, contaminating not only other surfaces but also the surrounding air.

It’s therefore essential to ensure air hygiene by providing good ventilation in the washroom: this prevents aerosols from being suspended, bad smells and possible moisture problems caused by plumbing. In other words, you need to install an air vent or window in the washroom, or even a VMC system for professional buildings.

To avoid spreading germs, viruses and bacteria, it’s important to encourage users to always close the toilet bowl before flushing, to avoid splashing organic waste.

Overall hygiene

The best way to prevent infections in washrooms is to adopt a global approach to hygiene, combining cleaning and disinfection measures for surfaces, air and hands.

All users must be encouraged to take an active part in this process by means of information such as a notice board reminding them of the rules to be observed to ensure toilet hygiene (close the bowl before flushing, don’t touch the handles directly, dispose of waste in the appropriate garbage can, avoid taking personal bags or objects inside the toilet to avoid contamination, etc.)

You must also provide a waste garbage can to collect all waste, including feminine sanitary products, and regularly clean and/or change the toilet brush to encourage users to clean the toilets after themselves.