Using toilets outside the home can be very unpleasant for many. You will usually encounter a certain level of dirt in them. You know that there is nothing worse than when they are dirty and smell unpleasant. You probably also know that this has a strongly negative impact on public opinion about an establishment that accepts such toilets. This is especially true for restaurants, cafes and other gastronomic establishments. Sometimes, however, even though you clean the toilets regularly and honestly, the cause of the smell is difficult to detect. We have a few tips for you on what it could be, as well as recommendations on how to get rid of the smell in public toilets. Let’s do it!
Causes of toilet odor
The most likely reason why the toilets in your restaurant or other business smell even though you disinfect them regularly may be:
- Poor ventilation
- Poorly mopped floor
- Dirt in plaster and joints
- Hidden mold and bacteria
- Chemical “air freshener”
“Before you read the causes, you might be interested in Study: The Invisible World in Public Toilets “
1. Poor ventilation
One of the first reasons why your toilets smell can be poor ventilation. This can be either undersized, i.e. insufficiently efficient in relation to the size of the ventilated space, or clogged or completely non-functional for any reason.Action: Check that the ventilation in the toilets is in good working order and have it repaired. If you find that it is clogged with dust, clean it or have it repaired by a professional. If the space is ventilated by air conditioning, consider having it professionally checked and cleaned.
2. Poorly mopped floor
The second most common cause of smelly toilets is a poorly mopped floor. If dirt and bacteria remain on it, it can smell after a while. The most common reason for a poorly mopped floor is the use of a mop. After mopping with a mop, approximately 30-60% of dirt and bacteria remain on the floor. You can read why this is the case in the article 5 reasons why you should never use a mop to mop the floor again .
Also watch the video in which we used the ATP test to measure the cleanliness of the floor after mopping and then after mopping with a cleaning machine.
Precautions: Wean your cleaning lady from bad mop habits! It is unacceptable for her to mop with the same dirty water over and over again. In this case, the floor is not cleaned, but only spreads dirt and spreads bacteria to other places. Instead, use high-quality and extremely powerful floor machines that remove up to 99.9% of all dirt and bacteria. If there is no other option than mopping the floor with a mop, use a mopping system with multiple water containers and replaceable microfiber cloths – for example, the OmniFlex™ Microfiber Trolley System .
3. Dirt in the plaster and joints
Long-term and stubborn dirt in plaster or tile joints also causes an unpleasant odor. These materials are highly porous and absorb, in particular, urine reflected from urinals and dirt from shoes. The dirt thus becomes an excellent source of food for the bacteria that create this odor.
Precautions: When designing toilets, keep this in mind and consult with your architect. Clean and disinfect tile joints at regular intervals. Ideally, use a touchless cleaning system, such as the Kaivac 1200 No-Touch Cleaning System, to clean toilets .
4. Hidden mold and bacteria
Hidden mold that you don’t even know about can be another cause of smelly toilets. It can be found anywhere, especially in hard-to-reach places – such as in floor drains, under light covers or in plasterboard ceilings. Be aware that mold grows best in warm, humid environments.
Action: Check floor drains, drain channels, and of course light covers. If the restroom has a plasterboard ceiling or walls, and if possible, check for mold from behind.
5. Chemical “air freshener”
Many people think that using a chemical “air freshener” will remove or mask the smell from the toilet. But this is a big mistake. Not only will it not remove the smell, but it will actually add another layer of odor.
Precautions: Do not use chemical air fresheners to mask long-term odors in toilets. Use them only as a subtle fragrance in clean, odorless places. In modern and environmentally friendly establishments, natural products are even used instead of chemicals – herbs, fruits, natural fragrance essences, etc.