 |  |
- Improve Restroom Cleaning Processes
- From: , .
For more free articles go to
Equipment that streamlines cleaning processes, as well as operations budgetsCosts for custodial labor, supplies and equipment are on the rise, while cleaning budgets continue to be tightened. There鈥檚 no end in sight for this dilemma, which leaves custodial executives looking for ways to minimize costs without negatively affecting quality.听This quandary is most apparent in the restroom. Besides being a hot spot for cross-contamination, restrooms are the primary source of customer complaints when it comes to facility cleanliness. And while restrooms are one of the most critical areas of concern, they鈥檙e among the trickiest to clean effectively and efficiently.鈥淩estroom design, including furnishing and fixtures, has lagged far behind the interior design advances in other parts of built environments,鈥� says Jay Glasel, managing member of听听in Farmington, Connecticut. 鈥淭his means restrooms are just as difficult, if not more so, to clean now as they were many years ago.鈥滸iven this difficult scenario, it鈥檚 not surprising that simplifying restroom cleaning programs is on every custodial executive鈥檚 agenda. And streamlining is not just a matter of saving dollars. For some internal custodial departments, it鈥檚 potentially a life-or-death issue.鈥淚n-house staffs have competition out there,鈥� says Bill McGarvey, director of training and sustainability at听., Inc. in Warminster, Pennsylvania. 鈥淭hey have to be as efficient as they can because there are companies out there who say they can do it cheaper. Whether they actually can is another story, but once that cat鈥檚 out of the bag, it鈥檚 hard to go back.鈥漈here are many ways to streamline restroom cleaning, including process improvements. Many custodial departments create productivity gains by implementing team cleaning programs or LEAN principles.鈥淪ystems govern,鈥� says Allen Rathey, president of the听听in Boise, Idaho. 鈥淲hen you put good people in a bad system, the results are still bad. When you put average people in a good system, the results are good.鈥漇ystems include more than processes, of course. They also involve the tools used to complete the job. And investing in more efficient equipment can reduce labor costs.鈥淏ecoming faster and better, without creating safety issues or making cleaning more difficult, should be a no-brainer,鈥� says Scott Spencer, associate director of the building services department at the听听in Seattle.
- See more at:
