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How Touch-Free Technology Can Improve Restroom Cleanliness

 

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Over the last few years, building management protocols have rapidly evolved due to the ever-shifting nature of emerging healthcare needs. Terms such as "sanitize," "disinfect," and "high-touch surfaces" have circulated through conversation more than ever. This new-found requirement for keeping areas clean and occupants healthy has called for facility maintenance teams to re-strategize and incorporate enhanced technology to keep our workplaces, schools, and communities safe. 

Within a building, the restroom is one of the hottest spots for transferring germs and bacteria due to the increased number of touchpoints throughout the area. The efficient and aesthetically pleasing design of touch-free dispensers significantly reduces the risk of spreading germs while positively impacting your customers, guests, and staff.

A survey of more than 2,000 adults discovered that "... nearly three-quarters of Americans (74%) say dirty restrooms would cause them to have a negative perception of a business. More than two in three Americans (68%) also say restrooms with empty hand soap, toilet paper, and paper towel dispensers would impact their opinion of a business negatively."1

Let's take a moment to allow those numbers to sink in. Not only does restroom hygiene affect the health of your building occupants, but it also affects a customer's perception of your business, school, or workplace. Touch-free dispensers boost the user's restroom experience and foster a cleaner environment with these benefits:

  • Modern design and function help to increase attention and thereby increase hand hygiene
  • Reduced contact points make restrooms easier to maintain and keep clean
  • No-touch functionality makes the dispenser user-friendly, especially for individuals who find it challenging to reach a dispenser from over a restroom countertop
  • Standardized portion dispensing helps control costs
  • Reduction in consumer waste 

If touch-free dispensers have so many advantages, then why don't all restrooms have them? One setback that leaves facility managers hesitant to make the switch is related to battery maintenance2. Replacing the batteries of each dispenser throughout an entire facility can be time-consuming and costly. 

To alleviate this hardship, options like our KleenLine™ NRG™ No-Touch Foam Handwash Dispensing System use battery-on-the-refill technology. In other words, a fresh new battery is included each time a soap refill is replaced. Integrating the coin-cell battery with the soap refill itself eliminates the hassle of either proactively or reactively changing out dispenser batteries by combining this activity with one your staff is already doing – replacing empty refills. 

Where to Start

There are multiple options for every price point, so going touch-free won't break the bank and is affordable for everyone. There are six game-changing dispenser options within a restroom that reduce biohazards while making it more efficient for your facility maintenance team to tackle the most challenging area in a building to clean:

  • Menstrual Care | Feminine Hygiene shouldn't be an afterthought in a touch-free restroom environment! Keep your facility compliant with local laws (if applicable) or upgrade your user experience by providing free sanitary napkins and tampons through touch-free menstrual care product dispensers.
  • Seat Cover Dispensers | No one wants to touch more things than necessary when in the restroom, especially in a restroom stall. When possible, automate it!
  • Automatic Flush & Automatic Faucet Accessories3 | Automatic faucets, flush toilets & urinals eliminate a major restroom touchpoint. Reliable and user-friendly, automatic faucets and flushers come in many styles that suit any restroom design and reduce the possibility of contamination from germs. They also regulate and reduce indoor water consumption in a building.
  • Hand Soap Dispenser Systems | Automatic wall-mount and counter-mount dispensers are available in finishes to match any restroom design. Sealed refills are available to prevent contamination from external elements, and handwashes are formulated to be gentler on the skin. 
  • Paper Towel Dispenser Systems | Automatic towel dispensers cut down on touchpoints, and towel size can be adjusted to reduce excess product waste. In addition, paper dispensers/receptacle combos can be placed near doors where the paper towel can also be used to open a door handle and then be immediately thrown away.
  • Hand Sanitizer | Double down on clean hands by installing touch-free hand sanitizer dispensers adjacent to a restroom door. This allows users to sanitize their hands one more time as they leave and means they avoid "sharing" germs from touching entry/exit hotspots such as doors, handles, and waste receptacles.

1. Cintas Commissioned Survey Confirms Dirty Restroom Impact Americans' Perception of a Business
2. No-Touch Soap Dispensers-Now with No-Hassle Battery-On-The Refill Technology
3. Automatic Flushing Devices

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