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10 Things You Need to Know About Cleaning Commercial Bathrooms

Terran Copeland • Jul 28, 2021

Janitorial Cleaning: What to Know

Cleaning a restroom or bathroom in a school, office, industrial plant, restaurant, and other commercial spaces requires taking the utmost care to sanitize every surface. Understanding how to do it correctly and efficiently ensures that all the bathrooms will be available to guests throughout the day.

janitorial services team of five cleaning up an office

At Terran's Spic & Span Cleaning Services, we gathered the ten things to know about janitorial cleaning of public bathroom spaces.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Cleaning Public Restrooms

1

What is the fastest way to clean a public bathroom?

The fastest way to clean a public bathroom is to create a cleaning procedure and a schedule. With a plan, the janitor or cleaning service knows the appropriate times of the day to clean the public bathroom when the fewest guests use the space. This tactic ensures that guests will not be displeased, and your janitorial staff will not be interrupted. In addition, a cleaning procedure informs the janitor on how to go about the task in the fastest and most effective manner. The procedure also ensures that all cleaning and sanitizing procedures are consistent for every public bathroom.

Professional Cleaner wearing gloves wiping mirror of public bathroom

2

How do you clean commercial bathrooms?

Commercial bathroom cleaning begins by gathering all necessary cleaning equipment, cleaning products, and personal protective equipment. You want to ensure to wear gloves and goggles as safeguards when using the commercial cleaners. Next, knock on the door to see if the bathroom is occupied and wait until the person finishes. Then once the bathroom is clear, block the entrance with a cleaning-in-progress sign.


You always want to start cleaning from top to bottom to push all the dirt down to the floor. You also want to work your way from the innermost area of the bathroom to the exit. Move from wet areas to dry areas with your cleaning procedures.


Many janitors and cleaning services start with the urinals and toilets first and then work their way out to the sinks. Then they leave the walls and floors for last while moving toward the exit. Also, clean out trash cans and resupply all toiletries, soap dispensers, and paper towel dispensers.

A building lobby with high foot traffic

3

How often should you clean public bathrooms?

At a minimum, clean public restrooms once a day. Never wait until the bathroom shows visible signs of dirt and grime. Bacteria can still lurk on surfaces even when the toilet, sink, and floors look clean. Some public restrooms in high foot traffic areas may need additional cleaning throughout the day. You will have to base the amount of cleaning and sanitizing on how often the bathroom is used daily or at specific times of the day.

4

How often should office bathrooms be cleaned?

Office bathrooms are typically smaller than public restrooms. So you may clean it once per day for low traffic bathrooms and more often for high traffic ones. The cleaning method for an office bathroom is the same as a public bathroom. You want to pre-clean toilets and urinals before giving a deeper cleaning and disinfectant solution. Then sanitize all surfaces. Empty trash receptacles and restock supplies such as towels, soaps, and toilet paper.

5

Is it necessary to disinfect the bathroom?

Yes. Harmful bacteria such as E. coli can contaminate surfaces throughout the bathroom. As more people use the public restroom or office bathroom, more germs can be introduced that can cause illness. By disinfecting the bathroom, you ensure that guests can safely use the facilities without worrying about getting sick.

Professional cleaner disinfecting toilet in public bathroom

6

How do I disinfect my bathroom?

You want to clean the bathroom first to remove any visible dirt, dust, and grime and give everything a good rinse. Once the surfaces are clean, apply a disinfectant to all surfaces. Ensure to flush the toilet and then add the disinfectant when the water level in the bowl is at the lowest level. Then scrub the toilet. Most disinfectants do not need to be rinsed off surfaces as you allow everything to air dry.

Gloved Hands using a spray bottle to clean a public bathroom

7

How can I disinfect my bathroom without bleach?

Many people may not use bleach as they may be sensitive to the chemicals. Other people avoid bleach based on the type of materials used in their bathroom that could negatively impact it. To disinfect a bathroom without bleach, you may use a mixture of white distilled vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda. This combination makes an excellent multi-purpose cleaner. Vinegar may also be used with baking soda to clean tiles. You can also mix vinegar with borax to scrub the toilet.

8

How do you deep clean a dirty bathroom?

Deep cleaning a dirty bathroom usually involves clearing out everything in the bathroom that is not a permanent fixture and performing pre-cleaning or pre-treatment. Then you perform regular cleaning and afterward applying a disinfectant to dry across the surfaces. Every nook and cranny should be inspected and cleaned, including the ceilings, light fixtures, tiles, and behind the toilet.


In addition to cleaning all visible surfaces, you also want to focus on cleaning the drains. Dirt and grime will cling along the pipe and cause odors to enter the bathroom. Pour bleach into the drain and follow that with boiling water.

A Happy Customer in a Store

9

Why should public toilets be cleaned?

Public toilets should be cleaned to prevent more severe problems from developing. When leaving dirt and grime in place, mold and mildew can form. The mold and mildew can deteriorate floors and walls. They can also stain surfaces such as toilets and sinks. Also, a clean public toilet can attract guests to your commercial building. Many people may judge your operations by how clean the restroom is, as a dirty bathroom in a daycare, restaurant, or school may have people seek their services from other businesses.

10

What is the easiest way to clean bathroom tiles?

The easiest way to clean bathroom tiles is to have the right equipment. You can use commercial tile and grout cleaner or mix up a cleaner using water and soup. Vinegar and water can also clean tile. Yet you have to be careful regarding the amount of vinegar you use not to damage the grout or wear it out. After that, you can wipe the mixture off or allow it to dry in place.

Commercial Cleaning and Janitorial Service

It can be challenging for commercial building owners to clean their public bathrooms, especially when the bathrooms are in several different locations. If you need janitorial services to clean, sanitize and maintain your restrooms in your office, school, restaurant, daycare center, industrial building, or another facility, Terran's Spic & Span is here to help. Learn more here.

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