Keeping any washroom clean, whether it’s at home or a public building, is a key part of maintaining its inhabitants’ hygiene. When it comes to the workplace, it’s even more important to keep a bathroom looking spick and span.

Nobody wants to work in an office with an unclean, unkempt bathroom, and yet, this is often one of the most neglected areas of the workplace! While businesses happily renovate on new vending machines, rolling chairs, and sleek building remodels, they leave the washrooms untouched.

Don’t make the same mistake in your own office building.

Having a bathroom that’s spick and span will lead to happier, more productive employees. Frequent cleaning, maintenance, and touch-ups on the office bathroom is a great way to improve the quality of life for your employees, and its a benefit all employees will be able to benefit from. Here are 10 tips on improving an office restroom.

Install Smart or “Touchless” Devices

Many office restrooms, and even public bathrooms, are introducing new technology to reduce contact with germs, improve sanitation, and save energy. Although the installation of some of these bathroom devices can be expensive, the results are well worth the cost, and often installation is as simple as swapping out a manual device for a higher-tech version. There are lots of different gadgets out there, but here are some of the most common smart bathroom devices:

• Automatic soap dispensers: These not only reduce contact with a high-traffic surface, but also limit the amount of soap used, saving you money in the long term. Additionally, automatic soap dispensers are much cleaner than bar soap, which can harbor harmful bacteria.
• Automatic faucets: You can save water by installing faucets that turn on automatically when a hand is swiped under them. They not only make it easier to wash your hands, but also limit germ exposure to the sink and faucet area, which is one of the most contaminated areas in a bathroom.
• Self-flushing toilets: These gadgets use heat sensors or motion to detect when the toilet needs to be flushed, and it removes common touch points commonly found on toilet surfaces like levers or buttons. Installing toilets that automatically flush is one of the best ways you can reduce the risk of germ spread in bathrooms.

Replace the Sink

Is the sink in your office bathroom cracking or damaged? If you’re getting complaints from employees about repeated clogging or rust, that’s a sign you need to replace the sinks. Or, maybe you just want to update the bathroom’s look. Swapping out your old sink for a newer, sleeker version can transform the whole bathroom. Don’t be afraid to spend a little more money on sinks that are durable and nice-looking – your staff will appreciate them!

Upgrade Hygiene Supplies

Next time you need to restock bathroom essentials like paper towels, hand soap, or cleaning supplies, think about splurging on higher-quality products. Buy double-ply toilet paper and paper towels made from recycled materials, and invest in higher-quality soaps.

Be careful about purchasing soaps that are too fragrant, as some of your employees may be sensitive to strong scents. Air fresheners can also keep the washroom smelling fresh and clean, but make sure you’re using a lighter, fresher scent as opposed to anything too floral or strong-smelling. You can even stock sink areas with lotion during the winter months. Putting more effort into stocking your restrooms with higher-quality products will make employees feel more cared for and appreciated in the workplace.

Prioritize Ventilation

Poor ventilation can be the kiss of death for an already awful bathroom experience. If there are any existing odors in the room, a lack of ventilation will just make the smell stronger and room stuffier. You can improve the ventilation of your office restroom by having an exhaust fan and opening windows when possible to let in the fresh air. This will lead to a bathroom that smells less. Plus, good ventilation can also prevent mold and mildew growth by controlling moisture.

Regularly Clean and Disinfect

One of the most important parts of keeping a bathroom clean is frequently cleaning and disinfecting it. Depending on the number of employees in the building, you should have the restrooms cleaned several times a week, if not daily. The cleaning and disinfecting should be two separate stages of the process of preparing a bathroom for use. After routine cleaning, wipe down all surfaces with a bleach-based solution that will kill disease-causing germs. Whenever the bathrooms are cleaned, follow these steps:

• Put cautionary signs outside and around restrooms.
• Inspect and note any damaged parts of the restroom.
• Empty all trash.
• Sweep and wipe down the floors.
• Refill all dispensers or supplies (toilet paper, soap, feminine hygiene products, etc.)
• Pre-treat toilets/urinals
• Clean and disinfect all surfaces, like countertops, sinks, and mirrors.
• Scrub the toilets
• Disinfect cleaning equipment and report any damages found at the start of cleaning

Going through an established process of cleaning will help make it more streamlined and efficient for you or your cleaning staff. Maintaining a cleaning schedule will keep the restrooms sparkling clean and eliminate stubborn unpleasant odors.

Replace Tile

If the tiles in your office bathroom are getting old and cracked, it’s time to replace them. This is actually one of the simplest bathroom repairs you can tackle, regardless of whether your tiles are made from marble, stone, or ceramic. First, carefully cut out and remove the old tile. You may or may not need to remove the substrate underneath the tile. For most projects, this isn’t necessary, but it will depend on factors like its age and compatibility with the new tile. After you lay down the new substrate with grout lines, you can finally put in the new teals. Make sure you put them in place and judge how the new tile will fit into the bathroom layout and design before actually setting them in place.

Protect Your Bathroom From Water Damage

Water damage is often caused by leaking, or broken pipes connected to the toilets or sinks, and it can also be the result of improper ventilation. Make sure you are monitoring your restroom for signs of water damage; discoloration on the walls and ceiling, mold growth, and an odor like wet cardboard are just a few signs you should look out for. Water damage commonly occurs in areas like bathroom tiles, faucets, storage cabinets, walls, and floors.. Water damage in the restroom not only is unsightly for visitors, but it can create a mold that can spread to other parts of the building. If you notice any of the signs of water damage in these areas, it’s important to act quickly and have a water damage restoration service take care of the problem area before it gets worse.

But before the issue gets out of hand, what can you do to prevent this kind of catastrophic damage to your office building’s restroom? Well, there are a number of ways to prevent water damage. Proper interior caulking on bathroom tile can help prevent water damage. You should also seal and repair cracks or gaps around windows, sinks, and toilets. The best type of sealant you can use here is silicone sealant for bathrooms. Silicone sealant is flexible, durable, and waterproof, making it perfect for use in areas of a building with a lot of water exposure, like bathrooms. You should purchase a sealant that is mildew and mold resistant, such as Silicone Depot’s Kitchen and Bath Mildew Resistant RTV Silicone Sealant.

Keep Your Bathroom in Top Shape with Silicone Depot

The workplace should be a place that’s comfortable and clean for its employees, and the restrooms are no exception. To stay on top of bathroom maintenance, stock up today on the best bathroom sealant and accessories at Silicone Depot. When doing repairs on a bathroom, it’s important to have the best supplies for the job, but you also don’t want to break the bank. Silicone Depot can help! Our wide array of products can be used for any DIY repair job from home, automotive, and commercial building repair. For your restroom repairs, we recommend checking out our silicone sealant catalog, which has the best brands at wholesale prices. Shop Silicone Depot today!