FOCUS WASHROOMS
TOILET TECHNOLOGY Technology now plays a major role in washroom service and maintenance, says Stuart Hands from
Tork manufacturer Essity. Plus some expert tips from Kärcher UK on deep cleaning washrooms
The use of technology has boomed
during the pandemic. People who
were previously screen-shy have become
increasingly accustomed to using videoconferencing
platforms such as Zoom and
Teams to allow them to socially-distance
while speaking to colleagues and friends.
Most of us are now familiar with the NHS
Test and Trace app; we scan the QR code as
a matter of routine when visiting bars and
restaurants and we have also become adept
at ordering food and drinks via an app.
Technology has even found its way into
the washroom, where sensors are helping
FM and cleaning teams to rationalise their
38 SEPTEMBER 2021
maintenance visits. These digital solutions have
the twin advantages of cutting labour costs
while also avoiding logjams and aiding social
distancing.
Sensors placed in washrooms and inside
dispensers allow cleaning staƒ to remotely
monitor refill levels and visitor numbers via a
smartphone or tablet. Whenever it becomes
apparent that a particular cubicle has received
extensive use or when a soap or paper
dispenser is running low, the cleaner is able to
target the relevant washrooms and focus only
on those dispensers that need refilling. This
avoids the need for a manual check of each
unit.
Stock checks and visitor counts are
increasingly going digital; so too are cleaning
schedules. Systems in place in many awayfromhome
washrooms now enable cleaners
to tick oƒ each job on a smartphone as they
complete it.
Such systems provide them with a handy
checklist while also allowing FM managers
to gain an overview of the whole job to
ensure that no vital task has been allowed
to fall through the cracks. As a result, digital
cleaning records held in a “cloud” are
increasingly replacing the scruƒ y, scribbled
notes o¥ en seen on the back of washroom
doors.