No matter the age of the children in your school, you will find that washrooms will take a battering.
They have to cater to many children and staff, who are often in a hurry and perhaps not taking care of equipment as they should. Therefore, you need high-quality, robust hygiene equipment if you are to continue to maintain standards. Here, we ask Satino by WEPA how to choose equipment that makes keeping on top of hygiene requirements easier.
What should your equipment be able to do?
There are certain requirements schools need their hygiene equipment to address. Equipment for school washrooms must:
- Stand up to high volumes of traffic
- Stand up to some rough handling
- Be easy to use
- Be easy to clean
- Be safe and secure
- Be durable and long-lasting
- Have a consistent, cost-effective supply of consumables
What hygiene equipment will you need?
The equipment will vary based on your pupils and staff’s needs, but generally, school washrooms should contain the following.
Toilet paper and dispensers
You will need dispensers that quickly and repeatedly dispense toilet paper no matter the quantity demanded of them. Children need to have easy access to paper without the need to fight the machine to release it. You do not want your replenishment and cleaning teams to find more paper on the floor as it dispenses erratically, or children struggle to obtain the right amount of paper.
Space may be restricted, but there are several options to suit your cubicle size, and placement options to make life easier. With dispensers offering a choice of centre feed rolls or individual sheets, you can choose the most appropriate for the age, ability and volume of users to ensure that you meet the hygiene needs that school washrooms demand.
Paper towels and dispensers
Children should be encouraged to use a paper towel to dry their hands, as paper towels are known to be more effective and hygienic than air dryers for hand cleaning and drying.. The good news is it is quicker too, so there is likely to be less washroom lingering or leaving before the job is done. Dispensers have the potential to be a nightmare if you do not ensure that the dispenser is suitable for the task, so sourcing quality products is essential.
Modern quality dispensers will now deliver towels reliably and repeatedly. Paper rolls or individual towels in wall mounted units are incredibly easy to operate for users of all ages.
Ideal for schools, they are easily wiped clean. Some units are auto-cutting, so even easier to use; essential for younger hands or children of any age where they struggle pulling or gripping.
Waste bins
Another area where solutions need to be simple, obvious, plentiful and easy to use. Children can then clearly see where to dispose of their paper towels and waste. Free-standing or wall-mounted units allow you to place enough solutions in places they won’t be missed, no matter how tight the space.
Soap and soap dispensers
Hygiene dictates that we no longer use bar soaps in shared washrooms.
The range of soap and soap-free liquid and gel options on the market ensure that staff and children have no excuse for not washing their hands regularly. Dispensers can be touch or sensor-activated, so they are easily used by children of all ages and abilities. Encouraging hand hygiene and cleanliness is now more critical than ever, but children need it to be easy!
Air fresheners
Air fresheners are an excellent and often welcome addition. You certainly don’t want children reluctant to use the washroom because of the smell.
These suggestions make sense for both children and staff washrooms too. After all, maintaining hygiene standards and cleanliness in all washroom facilities is easier when using quality equipment.