In these days of heightened sanitation everywhere, this might be a good time to look at certain restroom fixtures.

For instance, one of the problems we have with urinals is splatter. This is true of flushed or waterless urinals.  Because of this, it would be worthwhile for facility managers to double-check that all urinals and the areas surrounding them are cleaned properly.  

It is a fact that when urinals are used, splatter is expected, no matter what type of urinal is installed. There is evidence that if men stand closer to the urinal, urine splatter on surrounding surfaces can be reduced. Further, and proven, if the curvature in a urinal is “streamed at” there is less splatter. 

The nature of splatter is that it can end up on the surrounding walls, floors, and partitions. Floors in most commercial restrooms are cleaned on a regular, typically nightly, basis. A disinfectant is likely unnecessary.

Mopping the area clean, using clean mops and buckets and an all-purpose cleaner, should suffice at removing urine splatter from the floor. One thing to remember, however, is to change the mop head and the cleaning solution frequently. As they become soiled, they can spread pathogens instead of removing them.

The surrounding wall and partition areas, however, are a bigger concern, for one primary reason: they are cleaned infrequently, if at all. With the coronavirus spreading so quickly, building managers are encouraged to ask their cleaning staff to wipe down and disinfect these areas every visit. While these are not high-touch surfaces, meaning urinal users do not often touch them, men using the urinal may come in contact with them, which means they do pose a risk.

These surfaces surrounding the urinals should be cleaned first and then disinfected using a fresh cloth and disinfectant. This is a two-step process. The cleaning removes soils, the disinfecting kills remaining pathogens.

The same is true for the urinal. With a water-using urinal, the valve handle, even if it is a sensor-controlled system, should be cleaned and disinfected, and the sides of the urinal should be cleaned as well. A disinfectant should be applied to the interior of the water-using urinal, and using a brush, the interior should be cleaned with the disinfectant.  

With a waterless urinal, the steps are similar, but there is less involved. For instance, there are no flush handles to be concerned about. Also, there is no water in the interior of the urinal and no brush is needed.  

Spray clean the urinal using an all-purpose cleaner, as we discussed earlier, and then clean again using a disinfectant. Because the disinfectant will need a few minutes of dwell time, apply the disinfectant to each urinal first, and then go back to the first one to wipe clean. This should provide adequate time for the disinfectant to dwell on the surface.

As mentioned earlier, current coronavirus considerations need to be taken seriously. But just as with any surface in a facility, we cannot take chances. Cleaned and disinfected, they will help protect human health.