Words and Pictures By Jeff Vinger and Judy Kendrick
Residential Facilities

Cleaning bathrooms is something no one likes to do. But a dirty restroom can certainly have a negative impact on the user, and thereby, a negative impact on the organization charged with the responsibility of ensuring the quality of the living conditions for its residents.

In our efforts to continually improve the conditions within our facilities and the success of our residents, University Housing recently funded and conducted a pilot program that seems counter intuitive. We’ver started cleaning bathrooms by not touching them.

Before you gasp and dial Environmental Health Services, let us explain.

Mopping and wiping floors and counters sounds like an effective means for keeping surfaces clean, but it is actually a perfect way to spread contaminants between multiple bathroom surfaces.

That style of clearning is a slow and labor intense process, mostly ineffective at removing odors and contaminants that buildup on floors, walls, counters and fixtures.

New innovative technology is now available that allows University Housing’s cleaning staff to simply spray down fixtures, walls, floors and counters and vacuum away contaminants from these surfaces without even touching them.

These new touch-less systems not only clean better, but they reduce labor time and the cost of chemicals and other equipment, leaving our restrooms much cleaner while reducing the risk of contamination and eliminating odors. This in turn raises our image among our student residents and the morale of our staff.

“We’ve seen a noticeable jump in the level of cleanliness with this new system. Our bathrooms shine and sparkle,” said Giles Courtney, building services coordinator.

To facilitate the use of these touchless systems, University Housing renovated its many bathrooms to make them water tight by replacing drywall with solid surface wall panels, sealing all seams and replacing flooring with water-tight epoxy coatings.

Staff were trained on the new process for cleaning using the Hillyard C3 Cleaning Companion and its multiple configurations for cleaning, vacuuming, and resupplying. Disinfectant cleansers used in the C3 system are Green Seal certified and premixed improving staff efficiency and safety.

The wheeled units are self-contained, light weight and cordless. The batteries are recharged at night and last a full eight hours each day.

 

“Overall cleaning and sanitation have improved greatly since the introduction of the CP3, especially in the showers, toilets and baseboards,” said Josh Moscoso, institutional service assistant for Humphreys Hall.

Josh Moscoso, left, demonstrates the new Hillyard C3 Cleaning Companion as Giles Courtney watches.

Roy Streeter, the institutional service assistant at Yocum Hall,  added “Cleaning and sanitizing is easier and faster. It’s a great machine and I’d be highly disappointed if it was ever taken from Yocum Hall.”

This touchless cleaning pilot has proven to be successful in our facilities and popular with our staff.

University Housing has already made budgetary investment to add additional units each year to increase its fleet of touchless cleaning units and provide our staff with the training necessary to change the way cleaning is done within our residential facilities without even touching them.