4 Amazing Benefits of Choosing Sensor Hand Dryers over Traditional Dryers

Compared to indoor or private environments, diseases and infections are more prone in public places. Public restrooms have been found to have a plethora of bacteria associated with the human skin, gut and urine.

Diseases caused by bacteria, some of which are spread in washrooms, can create a loss of productivity.

Businesses in New Zealand are losing an average of $1.26 billion per year to sick days.

Proper hygiene in the workplace not only prevents the spread of disease-causing bacteria but also makes your employees comfortable.

Proper hygiene creates a positive perception of your workplace, to both your clients and staff.

Here is how you can improve hygiene in your workplace:

Create a Hygiene Policy

A hygiene policy for your workforce will help in aligning them to your expectations regarding cleanliness in the workplace.

A workplace hygiene policy should cover personal hygiene, office cleanliness, and the use of washroom facilities.

The policies will motivate your employees to uphold high hygiene standards.

Provide a Clean Washroom

Cloth towel dispensers are highly-absorbent and hygienic.

Having a clean bathroom will enhance hygiene in the workplace. It will also prevent the spread of infections, which can weigh down productivity.

The bathroom should be stocked with handwashing soaps, sanitisers and appliances such as hand dryers. Alsco NZ products such as hand dryers can help keep your bathroom safe and clean.

Employees will use the products and facilities if they are available. If not provided, they are likely to skip washing their hands and practising other vital washroom hygiene practices.

Employees thrive in a clean environment. Regular cleaning of the workplace, especially the restroom, can keep infections at bay.

Install Hand Dryers

Hand dryers are critical equipment to have in your washroom. Washing hands is a vital practice after using the restroom. Proper hand hygiene does not only protect you from getting sick but also from spreading germs to others.

While washing your hands, some bacteria may be left behind. However, washing your hands alone eliminates bacteria by up to 23%.

Bacteria like E.Coli multiplies every 20 minutes; wet hands facilitate its growth and lifespan.

The following are the benefits sensor hand dryers have over traditional dryers.

1. Improved Hygiene

Traditional hand dryers work with the press of a button. This contact facilitates the spread of bacteria and viruses.

Employees using the dryer are therefore likely to contract the bacteria and spread it to other office surfaces, such as doorknobs, keyboards and utensils.

Air Towels are
economical and efficient.

Although most traditional hand dryers stop after 80 seconds, this might not be enough time for the hands to dry completely.

Sensor dryers are faster than traditional dryers. Bacteria multiply quickly in moist environments. Automatic hand dryers work in about 20 seconds, denying the bacteria time to multiply.

Automatic hand dryers like the Alsco air towels detect hand motion through an infrared sensor, producing warm air to dry your hands.

Sensor dryers turn on when hands are detected, and only turn off when the hands are removed. This allows enough time for the moisture to be eliminated.

There is also no surface contact, preventing the spread of bacteria.

2. Environmental Benefits

Over one pound of carbon dioxide is produced in 1 kilowatt per hour of electricity. Running a traditional hand dryer requires 160 kWh per month, while the energy-efficient sensor dryer consumes only 30 kWh per month.

Automatic hand dryers take a shorter time in drying hands, minimising the amount of electricity used to dry the hands thoroughly. Less electricity is consumed, which leads to a lower carbon footprint.

3. Cost Saving

Jet Dry Executive’s anti-bacterial filter stops microbes entirely.

Using an energy-efficient hand dryer saves on operation costs. With a sensor hand dryer, you can save $147 annually in electricity costs per unit.

On average, bathroom breaks per employee can cost your business up to £633.60 annually. Jet Dry Executive hand dryers can reduce the amount of time your employees spend in the washroom. (Learn more about how long they take to dry your hands.)

Since a motion sensor hand dryer is a more hygienic option than the conventional dryer and reduces instances of sickness, your company can, therefore, save on costs linked to sick days and presenteeism.

4. Easier Washroom Management

Because the conventional hand dryers take more time to dry the hands, they allow water from the hands to spill on the washroom floor. This poses a challenge to the washroom cleaners.

Constant wiping is required to keep the floor dry. A sensor dryer does the job faster, eliminating the possibility of spills.

A high-efficiency sensor dryer works within 10 to 20 seconds, seeing more uses within a specific time. It reduces traffic in the washroom, amounting to better washroom management.

Conventional dryers require more maintenance compared to automatic hand dryers. A faulty switch is among the problems likely to be encountered with traditional dryers.

A failed switch will prevent the dryer from starting. Until an electrician intervenes and works on the switch door lever, the employees will not be able to dry their hands.

This can cause more problems, such as wet floors and the spread of bacteria.

Also, conventional dryers have dial timers, which will not work if the push-to-start switch is broken.

Automatic sensors do not have manual switches. They are, therefore, less likely to break. They are low maintenance compared to the traditional ones.

In Conclusion

Tired of employees continuously getting sick? A sensor hand dryer can keep your team productive and healthy. Here are a few things to remember:

• Hand drying significantly reduces the spread and multiplication of bacteria. Having an automatic hand dryer, therefore, enhances health and safety at your workplace.
• They are more cost-effective, hygiene efficient, environmentally friendly and low maintenance. This leads to overall easy washroom management.
• Regular maintenance of sensor hand dryers can increase their life. To enjoy the benefits of a hand dryer, purchase one from a reliable vendor.

Alsco NZ products and services can help you take control of your office’s washroom hygiene.

Everything a Business Owner Needs to Know About Workplace Washroom Urinals

If you do not provide the correct amount of workplace urinals and basins, you might be breaching the health and safety regulations of New Zealand.

Have you ever heard of a toilet calculator?

It is used to work out how many toilet pans, basins and urinals are required in a building.

All business owners have a lot on their to-do lists. There is so much to think about! But how often do work washrooms make it to the top of the list?

It is worth considering because your employees use these facilities every single day. They could feel undervalued if their basic needs for facilities are not being met. Do consider that most employees spend more time in the office than at home.

Normal cleaning simply isn’t enough to keep your washrooms safe and presentable for your employees. Keep in mind that the facilities you provide should:

• Be located in convenient areas.
• Be kept clean and orderly.
• Include soap or other suitable means of drying hands.
• Supply clean hot and cold, or warm water.
• The washroom should be well-lit and ventilated.

Consider using biological treatment. It is a revolutionary new way to keep your workplace washrooms nice and clean, without the use of aggressive chemicals that hurt the environment.

Types of Urinals

Urinals are a popular choice in the men’s bathrooms of most public buildings, educational institutions and office blocks. Models for women have also been developed but are rare.

They can also be found in some homes, although they are a lot less common in domestic settings than public ones. Urinals consist of manual flushing, automatic flushing or no flushing, as is the case for waterless urinals.

1. The Standard/Conventional – Manual Handle

Each urinal is equipped with a short lever or button to activate the flush and requires users to operate it as they leave. Other urinals have a foot-activated flush system that has the button set into the floor or a pedal on the wall at ankle height.

Conventional flush values use about 1-1.5 gallons of water per flush (GPF), which is quite a lot. Their affordability sustains their popularity.

2. The Conventional Automatic/Timed Flush

It is all about convenience. These urinals are armed with a timer, which flushes periodically, or an infrared sensor to detect usage. The amount of water used per flush is no different than a standard manual handle.

The drawbacks include errant flushes, the continued use of urinal cakes and the need to buy batteries for the sensors.

3. The High-Efficiency Urinal (HEU)

Defined as a urinal fixture that functions at 0.5 gallons per flush (GPF) or 1.9 litres per flush (LPF) or less. Fixtures currently considered as qualifying for the HEU designation fall into several different designs and flush volume categories.

They require high pressure and higher velocity for the supply water and a smaller opening in the diaphragm of the flush valve.

4. Non-Water Urinals

These are similar in appearance to the others but do not need water or a valve. There are many brands on the market of both water-free and low water urinals (i.e., those using 1-4 GPF).

Water-free urinals capture plenty of attention since they represent an obvious solution to a common water conservation opportunity. Seeing as urine is basically water, why use more water to flush it down?

They work best in settings that call for frequent and anonymous use, such as train stations, schools, colleges and universities, convention centres, parks, airports and sports stadiums.

5. Low Flush Urinals

These urinals come off as a compromise between the conventional and waterless variations. They operate just like a standard urinal with a manual or automatic flush system but use far less water. They have the highest initial cost, but the lowest operating cost.

How Urinals Work

Alsco Deep Clean Service eliminates all mould, mildew and fungi.

A urinal with a flushometer valve utilises pressure from the main water supply system to release a high volume of water at a rapid rate into the bowl.

Flushometer valves can pair with any fixture to achieve minimum flush volume requirements. Independent from the fixture, the flush volume can be adjusted through the control stop. The main water supply comes through the control stop. When the handle is pushed, the valve is opened for a regulated amount of time.

The drain pipes from waterless urinals need to be correctly installed to prevent the build-up of struvite (“urine stone”) and calcium phosphate, which can lead to blockages in the drainage systems. Undiluted urine can be corrosive to metals (except stainless steel), which is why plastic pipes are preferred for urine drainage.

Everyone knows that regular cleaning service is simply not enough for washrooms frequented by many people daily. That’s why Alsco Deep Clean is a necessity for all New Zealand businesses that demand perfect hygiene and nothing less.

Features of Urinals

Cost and Life Cycle

The cost of a urinal can range from $60 to $100, and the fixture can require nearly two hours of labour to install. An estimate of 30 years can be placed upon the life cycle of fixtures.

Urinal fixture replacement flushometer and valve components are sold separately.

This is advantageous because you do not have to buy a whole new set every time maintenance is required.

Waterless urinals require little maintenance seeing as the absence of a flush valve eliminates valve repairs and reduces opportunities for tampering. Additionally, overflow due to clogged drains and vandalism is not an issue since large amounts of water are not being flushed.

Popularity

Urinals saw an increase in demand in the late 1980s and early ’90s. The first generations of these inventions were controversial due to concerns regarding their reliability and performance.

Low flush urinals are the current national standard and the demand could witness an increase in nonresidential construction. With the impacts of global warming and meteorological patterns, countries are aiming to reduce water waste.

Waterless urinals allow for the pure and undiluted collection of urine for reuse (e.g., as fertilizer in urban farming) after appropriate treatment (e.g., storage). Surface water and aquifers are protected from nutrients and pharmaceuticals if the urine is collected separately.

This not only makes them economical, but environmentally friendly.

Energy Reduction

Widespread use of waterless urinals could result in an overall reduction in the use of energy. Cities and other water supply agencies would not have to treat and pump as much water.

Some water utility companies offer rebates and incentive payments to owners installing waterless urinals. They can range from partial to full reimbursement.

The rebate sorter has a wide range of programs from the Australian government, as well as state and territory governments. See EnergyMadeEasy.gov.au for more information.

Improved Hygiene

Water used by conventional urinals gives germs in the restroom the moist environment they need to grow. This is because urine is generally a sanitary liquid composed of dissolved metabolic waste and excess water.

Waterless urinals are designed to dry out between uses, which makes them hostile to bacteria and viruses. Pair this up with a touch-free experience, and the spread of communicable diseases is much lower.

There are a lot of benefits that come with installing urinals in your workplace and ensuring they meet the needs of your employees. This leaves a positive impression on all employees, potential business partners who visit your business and customers alike.

Keep Your Washrooms Spotless with Alsco New Zealand

Having a perfectly clean and well-equipped washroom in any New Zealand workplace is imperative. Clean and odour-free washrooms ensure a comfortable and pleasant working experience for your employees. It keeps the working environment sanitary and hygienic.

To have a clean and hygienic washroom, you need to take care of the toilets, ensure efficient hand washing and hand drying options, introduce effective odour control and make sure all the consumables are always in place. Your other option is to contact Alsco New Zealand and have them do all the hard work for you.

Photo: Evening_tao

3 Little Details That Set Amazing Restaurants Apart from the Average Ones

Variety is the spice of life, and this is especially true when it comes to dining.

The restaurant industry is one of the most competitive industries in the world. According to a Report by Stats NZ, New Zealanders are spending more time and money dining out than ever before.

Consumers today expect perfect food, service and comfort.

They are on the constant lookout for the next best restaurant. And there’s no reason why your restaurant can’t be one of them.

Consider the Trifecta: Concept, Chef and Location

Your restaurant is like a blank canvas. Every colour on your palette will help shade your diners’ experience from their first bite to the last.

A restaurant will never succeed without these three elements:

A Good Concept

A great restaurant starts with a well-developed concept. Begin by researching the market for eating trends, design styles and consumer spending habits to conceptualise a profile that appeals to your target audience.

To create a fusion of comfort and complete the experience for your  guests, you will require:

• Ambience
• Music
• Lighting
• Table linen
• Decor

A restaurant’s ambience is the most important factor to consider when settling for a concept.

Pretend your business is a stage where the limelight focuses on the food as the guests become the spectators.

The music you play helps create ambience depending on your goals and objectives. If your restaurant is a fine dining establishment, you might consider playing low tempo, relaxing music to keep your guests in their seats. This could encourage them to eat and spend more.

You can play fast-paced music in the daytime for faster turnover and mellow music at night for leisurely dining.

Like music, lighting is also a key element to the ambience.

According to John R. Walker, “With the wrong lighting, a restaurant’s entire design will suffer; with the right lighting, the entire restaurant design could flourish.”

Lighting can also directly affect the pace at which people eat. Pairing high tempo music with bright lighting can be used subliminally to get customers in and out faster during high-peak hours of the day.

Dim, warm mood-lighting can be paired with low tempo music in a fine dining restaurant to make the guests feel more relaxed.

Aesthetically pleasing table linen is a must-have for any restaurant today. As consumers continue to post more and more food-related content on social media, they expect to have an aesthetically pleasing, picture-perfect backdrop for their Instagram and Tumblr food photography.

Alsco’s Restaurant and Hospitality Linen Service

Having clean linens is vital to the success of any restaurant. Make your restaurant stand out from the competition.

• Do this by matching aesthetics that the consumers expect by investing in a linen rental service that delivers a variety of affordable, fresh and high-quality table linen.

The decor is the final element that marries the lighting, music, and tableware to create the desired ambience. Switch up the decor in your restaurant to stay current with the latest interior design trends from time to time.

Doing so will help give your restaurant a fresh new look just by changing up a few elements in the decor. Check out: How to come up with a great restaurant floor plan.

A Great Chef

To begin with, choose your chef carefully. Think about what your food concept is to be able to match your chef’s capabilities to your needs.

The chef is the most significant member of a restaurant’s team. According to a 2018 New Zealand Hospitality Report, “The biggest challenge for hospitality business owners is the lack of skilled employees.”

Therefore, make sure to hire a chef that is well-trained and has years of experience. A great chef should have an eye for detail. Only then will you be sure that every meal they serve tells a story.

The chef is the person who sets standards in a restaurant, and therefore, they should prioritise quality.

The Perfect Location

One thing you’ll have to pay extra attention to is selecting a good location for your restaurant.

Spend time to figure out the location and analyse whether the traffic flow is in line with what you are trying to serve.

It would be ideal to pick an easily accessible location that draws crowds and has the potential for growth.

The most important factor to consider when picking a site is the congruency of the community around whatever concept you want to introduce. Choose a community that you will enjoy serving to be able to build up a loyal customer base.

Select a Location that has high visibility and good foot traffic.

To determine whether a location has good foot traffic, you’ll need to:

• Visit the closest restaurant near the site you wish to set up.
• Survey the number of people walking through the door to have a clear sense of what their daily performance is like, the peak/rush hours, etc.

This will give you an idea of how much revenue they are making and whether the location is your ideal choice.

The Menu Is the Centre of Your Restaurant’s Universe

The menu is a restaurant’s number one sales tool that can determine whether or not your business becomes successful.

It includes a description of how the food is prepared and presents the dishes in an alternative and fun way. Having secured the trifecta (concept, chef and location), many restaurateurs often end up neglecting the menu.

Offer a menu that will be a feast for the eyes and pallet.

Use Descriptive Language to Make Each Dish Offered Sound as Delicious as Possible.

Get into as much detail as you can. This provides more information and can even open up the guest’s appetite depending on how well you’ve managed to describe the dish.

Incorporate words such as:

• Braised
• Seared
• Pan-fried
• Oven-roasted

When used properly on the menu, such words can add a topping of prestige to what you’re serving. You can also highlight special ingredients and point out where they came from.

Try Some Menu Engineering Techniques

There is an art to designing the menu to where the guest’s eyes go and how you want to align it. It is a handy way of influencing customers to purchase certain items on the menu.

Highlighting specific sections of the menu and using enough white space, boxes and borders draws the eye and captures attention.

Try this nifty trick: Put a menu board with pictures of the food outside your restaurant during peak hours. This is an effective way of capturing people’s attention.

Keep track of the latest food trends and try adding new dishes to the menu. This is a great way to stand out! Don’t be afraid to expand your menu to meet your customers’ dietary needs.

Have a Strong Social Media Presence

Social media is a fantastic sales and brand awareness tool for your restaurant. Brand your restaurant on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter in such a way that your content stands out and gets noticed.

The rise of social media has created a new breed of consumers.

According to Facebook’s 2019 Restaurant Trends and Insights Report, 86% of millennials try a new restaurant after seeing food-related content online.

To have an effective online presence, you need to:

• Plan and create strategies and goals. Is it brand awareness or sales? Having a plan will help you make that commitment right from the beginning. The right tools will help you enact that plan.
• Share content that is authentic and engaging. This will help you connect with your audience. For example, taking professional photos of your meals and posting on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with a creative caption will catch their attention and convince them to give your restaurant a try.
• Collaborate with social media influencers. Living in the era of the influencer means that your restaurant is more likely to succeed if it’s endorsed by a social media influencer or celebrity.

Additionally, you can also have your menu online so guests can gauge various food items and the price range. This makes it much easier for them while ordering because they already have an idea of what they are going to have.

An Easier Alternative

One of the simplest ways of creating an experience full of discovery for the guests, while giving your restaurant a “face-lift” without breaking the bank is by changing the linen frequently.

However, buying new restaurant linen is expensive and impractical to maintain. Alsco NZ has you covered. They offer an affordable and efficient linen rental service with an array of different fabrics, colours and styles to choose from to suit your needs.

You can also indulge your guests in a luxurious, five-star royalty treatment by subscribing to.

They have a wide range of luxurious, high thread-count linen form tablecloths, customisable overlays and serviettes in various sizes and colours to match the standard of your restaurant and pamper your customers.

Their managed rental service means that your soiled linens will be regularly replaced by clean, crisp ones.

Photo: JCOMP

5 Mind-Blowing Tips for Hand Washing

Hand washing is a necessity that makes life bearable. It is the main foundation of hygiene maintenance.

Fact: Washing hands is a symbolic act which signifies purity in communities.

As the old saying goes, ”Cleanliness is next to godliness.”

But did you know that only 5% of people know how to wash their hands properly? So, to increase this percentage, there are initiatives that provide hand care education.

For example, in New Zealand, health boards develop plans to improve hand hygiene.

There is an immediate need for proper hand hygiene education in workplaces.

The best way to live a healthier lifestyle is for workers to put in a personal effort to do better. If you are reading this, you are definitely in the right place.

These hand washing tips will help you improve your workers’ hand hygiene habits.

Use the Correct Products

It’s crucial to equip workplace washrooms with high-quality hand hygiene products.

Install automatic soap dispensers to make hand wash more accessible to workers.

Interestingly enough, studies show that the presence of soap dispensers encourages hand washing.

Dispensers are a popular choice, compared to a bar of ordinary soap, for the following reasons:

• Dispensers don’t preserve dirt from previous users unlike bars of soap.
• They are resourceful because they release exact amounts of soap to prevent waste.
• Dispensers use sensors to detect hands and release the soap. There is minimal physical contact with the machine, thus reducing the spread of illnesses.
• They contain antibacterial soaps that lather well for people with sensitive skin.

Click to Download Poster

To use soap well, workers must know how to wash their hands correctly. By doing so, their health stays in check.

Encourage them to follow these steps:

• Wet your hands with either warm or cold water. Turn off the faucet to conserve water.
• Lather well after placing a dollop of soap onto your palms.
• Massage your hands between your fingers and under your nails to weaken dirt particles.
• Rinse your hands well to make sure there are no traces of soap left.

This fascinating video demonstrates proper handwashing techniques for practice. Show this video to your colleagues to ensure they maintain the habit of cleanliness.

Wash Hands for the Appropriate Amount of Time

Our hands touch many items in a typical workday, causing germs to accumulate.

So, washing hands for the appropriate amount of time kills germs and reduces the spread of illnesses.

In turn, workers are more productive, which translates to fewer sick days taken. As a result, your workers are more energetic and your business profits improve.

Did you know that people wash their hands for an average of six seconds?

Improve this and advise workers to wash their hands for 20 to 30 seconds for better sanitary results. The World Health Organisation insists this is a suitable amount of time to do a thorough job.

How can workers measure the time while washing their hands?

They don’t need to count down, as this can be boring and overwhelming.

Instead, have some fun with the process and suggest they hum the ‘’Happy Birthday’’ song twice. This way, remembering the correct hand washing duration becomes easier.

As a result, handwashing becomes an enjoyable activity for everyone in the workplace.

“Hygiene is two-thirds of health.” — Proverb.

Dry Your Hands Well

Super-fast, quiet, and environmentally-friendly Jet Dry Executive

Ensure workers dry their hands well by supplying either paper towels or hand dryers.

Both of these products get the job done, but many workers prefer hand dryers.

This research concludes that dryers are more beneficial because they reduce the transfer of bacteria.

These are the pros of hand dryers:

• They are eco-friendly as some paper towels are non-recyclable.
• Hand dryers need less effort because they do the task for you.
• They are a cost-effective option, as they don’t need constant maintenance.

Why is it important for your colleagues to dry their hands?

Specialists confirm that wet hands attract germs easier. Instruct your workers not to shake their hands dry because this retains moisture.

Also, place mini hand lotion near washroom sink areas. This prompts workers to moisturise their hands, thus protecting them from dryness and lifting cuticles.

Don’t Overdo It

Having the appropriate knowledge is excellent, but you need to know how to use it well.

Hand washing is an inexpensive way to keep workers healthy, but are they aware that excessive hand washing may make them sick?

Let them know that although frequent hand washing is helpful, overdoing it may be harmful to their wellness.

Our bodies use a special type of bacteria to boost immunity levels. Without it, we fall sick more often.

Thus, they don’t need to wash their hands every instant. Instead, shift their focus on keeping a proper balance.

According to New Zealand experts, we should wash our hands during key moments.

Inform your workers to wash their hands before:

• Preparing meals or eating.
• Caring for sick people.
• Touching or rubbing their eyes.

And wash their hands after:

• Using the washroom.
• Gardening.
• Coming into contact with animals.
• Touching rubbish bins.
• Changing nappies.
• Sneezing, coughing or itching.

Powerful, alcohol-based Hand Sanitisers

Employees should also wash their hands when they are visibly dirty.

When in a rush and in need of a quick solution, encourage the use of hand sanitiser or antibacterial wipes. These products work well when soap and water are unavailable, such as during fieldwork.

Today, many workplaces encourage the use of alcohol-based sanitisers because of their excellent performance.

These products have lower operational costs and require few refills, which are efficient in providing a great hand hygiene experience.

By observing these steps, workers learn to sanitise their hands well:

• Spritz a good amount onto one palm.
• Rub your hands together until the hands are dry.

Yet, where there is an option, using soap and water is better.

Pay Attention to Hand Hygiene Posters

Click to Download Poster

Handwashing posters are crucial in guiding hygiene habits. They come in different creative designs and slogans to grasp people’s attention.

Using visual reminders is interactive in communicating your business’ values. It shows workers that their hygiene is a priority.

As such, teach workers to mind their surroundings and pay attention to any posters within sight.

Have a look at the reasons why posters are powerful in the workplace:

• They remind workers of the proper hand care techniques that contribute to their wellbeing.
• They provide workers with useful hand hygiene facts that encourage them to wash their hands.

Ensure you choose posters that are visible and appealing to the eye. Place them near product dispensers to encourage hand care.

Adopting great hand hygiene habits in the workplace leads to the health protection of the community in general.

Do you need exceptional hand hygiene products in your workplace? Alsco is full of local experts who will make the job a walk in the park. Fully-managed hand hygiene products are only one call away.

Upgrading your hand hygiene regime will happen in no time!

“…a competitive pricing structure and robust product range.” — Richard Brain, Operations Manager, Jani-King.

4 Must-Know Tips to Improve Your Workplace Washroom Hygiene

Do you ever wonder why your employees often take sick leave? One of the reasons could be your washroom hygiene.

It’s uncommon for businesses to think of hygiene as a factor affecting productivity. In reality, poor hygiene disrupts workplace harmony.

Not only does it affect employee productivity, but also drives away potential clients. As a consequence, there is a loss of business funds. Studies show that sick days cost businesses $20,000 annually.

In the workplace, the focus on making profits is a priority so much so that toilet hygiene seems unimportant.

“We are embedding health and well-being at the heart of our business strategy because our people are our greatest asset, and we recognise that a healthy, happy and committed workforce is vital to our business success.” — Alex Gourlay, MD, Boots UK

Good washroom maintenance is a step in the right direction for your business.

How can you improve your washroom hygiene? The following must-know tips are a checklist of what your workplace washroom needs. Use them to assess your washroom and install the necessary items.

Stock up on Basic Washroom Supplies

Alsco Hand Sanitisers

Many embarrassing scenarios occur because of scarce washroom supplies. While these can make for hilarious stories, they’re also horrifying situations to be in.

Smelly toilets and lack of tissue paper are a few reasons why people avoid washrooms. Running out of toilet paper puts people in a difficult and awkward situation.

Stocking up on basic consumables is a way of investing in your washroom. These are products such as toilet paper, hand wash and paper towels.

Ensure the proper products are available at all times. Providing these products eases the maintenance of good toilet hygiene.

What’s more, people have certain expectations in a business environment. This includes toilet hygiene standards.

Without the proper products, people get the wrong perception of your business. Washroom product shortages make employees feel undervalued.

Alsco Soap Dispensers

Stocking up on good products indicates the company cares for their needs.

Other products like air fresheners, hand sanitiser and toilet seat sanitiser are vital. They tackle hand hygiene and odour control, creating a dignified washroom experience.

Everyone enjoys fresh and clean washrooms.

Keep Your Washrooms Clean

Making efforts to maintain a clean washroom is admirable. From wiping the floors and surfaces, down to disinfecting the door handles. These are areas we often come into contact with.

Using good cleaning products to sanitise the washroom reduces potential health risks. This includes using clean water to avoid re-contamination. Otherwise, handwashing will be difficult.

‘’Good health is good business.’’ — Paul Drechsler, Chairman/CEO, Wates Group Limited

Maintaining good toilet hygiene is easier where there is a steady water supply. Making courtesy flushes is more manageable, and this eliminates hanging odours.

Ensure there’s good air circulation in your washroom. Open up windows to let fresh air in and let bad odour out. Investing in a good air ventilation system helps where there are few windows.

Additionally, a little bit of air freshener goes a long way. It keeps the washroom smelling great. Spray a puff or two in the air to kill any hanging smells.

Cleaning surfaces is fundamental because washrooms can get damp. Accumulation of moisture from liquids and poor air circulation causes this.

Soaking up spilt liquids and polishing discoloured tiles helps to battle dampness. Using linen wipes makes the washrooms appear polished and put together.

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Mopping the floors and wiping surfaces doesn’t cut it. There’s usually dirt in hard-to-reach places that requires closer inspection.

This doesn’t mean you can ignore them. Instead, it means it’s time for the experts to take over. This is where the need to hire deep-cleaning services comes in.

Deep cleaning rids washrooms of germs and dirt in hard-to-reach areas. It helps in expelling bad odour, especially around urinals and toilet cubicles.

This is a service which is often tailored according to the customer’s needs. Setting up a schedule for regular check-ups works best and is convenient to manage.

Maintain Your Washrooms Regularly

Conducting regular washroom inspections makes this more manageable. This is usually done by plumbers, who identify broken and rusty parts to replace.

We all know how expensive toilet fixtures can be. Regular servicing is cost-effective in the long run. Spotting faulty parts early saves you the trouble of having to buy replacements.

Image from: Dan Watson

Maintaining good toilet hygiene is nearly impossible where there is poor equipment. Imagine walking into your workplace washroom and finding all the toilets clogged. Leaking toilets and broken fixtures should be a thing of the past.

Proper washroom maintenance combats stagnant water. When well-addressed, the washroom won’t attract insects or grow mould.

Putting time and effort into ensuring toilet hygiene sends out a positive message. It inspires people to maintain their own hygiene standards.

Provide Proper Means of Disposal

Get Sanitary bins for Feminine Hygiene

Fitting enough disposal units to serve your washroom capacity is crucial. They encourage people to clean up after themselves in the washroom.

Disposal units are often used to dispose of used paper towels and sanitary napkins. For general disposal, place a bin at the sink area for disposing of used paper towels.

Placing a female hygiene unit in each cubicle in the ladies washroom is impressive. This shows employees that you value their hygiene and privacy.

Regularly emptying bins during the workday is crucial. It bypasses a build-up of trash that makes the washroom look disorderly.

It is well-known that bins are a potential breeding ground for bacteria. Washrooms are a particularly sensitive area. About 77,000 types of bacteria and viruses exist in washrooms.

Emptying bins battles the growth of bacteria in washrooms.

Clean the disposal units as often as possible. Proper disinfection avoids a build-up of dirt in unwanted areas. Doing this at the end of each workday leaves your washroom tidy.

“Improving the health and well-being of our employees makes good business sense. As a leading provider of workplace health services, we see every day the difference it can make to a company’s bottom line and the impact it can have on employee morale and motivation. It offers a ”win-win” all-round. Employees benefit from better support for their health. Companies benefit from less absence and improved productivity. And society benefits from improved public health.” — Steve Flanagan, Commercial Director, Bupa

The right professionals guarantee your washroom hygiene is spot on. Let them help you choose the best packages to meet your workplace washroom needs.

Contact ALSCO today! Upgrading your workplace washroom is just one click away!

Photo: pxhere

Why You Should Pay Attention to Hand Hygiene: The Ultimate Guide

Despite the handwashing drills we had growing up, research shows that we’re not effective at hand hygiene. 1 out of 5 people do not wash their hands after using the washroom.

This means that for every party of 20 people, 4 have not washed their hands.

This is alarming and a hazard for spreading harmful bacteria.

With this in mind, it’s probably a good idea to carry your hand sanitiser everywhere you go. Handwashing is key in preventing illness since 80% of infectious disease is spread through hands.

Considering all the hand contact in the workplace, improved handwashing practices can lead to a whopping 31% reduction in gastrointestinal conditions (vomiting and diarrhoea) and a 21% reduction in respiratory conditions (common colds and flu).

As a rule of thumb, wash your hands as soon as they feel dirty. We are in contact with a lot of bacteria during a typical workday. Mobile phones are said to have more bacteria than the average toilet seat. We also touch money, keys, door handles and other items commonly covered in bacteria.

Since it’s impractical to wash your hands each time you touch anything with bacteria, we need to learn how to turn hand hygiene into an easy habit.

Steps to Proper Hand Hygiene

Make Handwashing Part of the Culture at the Office

When buying office supplies, keep in mind utility and how to encourage a handwashing culture. Here are simple tweaks that will create a healthy workplace.

Keep Interactions in Washrooms Pleasant

Learn more about our Biological Treatment

An underappreciated area in the workplace is the washroom. Clean and pleasant washrooms lead to a healthier workforce.

Some people skip hand washing because of the state of the washroom or a line at the sink. Therefore, plenty of room and washing stations will ensure people don’t rush out of the washroom.

Another way to encourage cleanliness is by ensuring washrooms always look and smell lovely. With regular deep cleaning and odour services from Alsco’s Fresh & Clean service, your washroom will become a hub for your staff to comfortably unwind.

Prevent the Spread of Disease at the Workplace

After creating beautiful washrooms, how do you prevent the spread of germs within the washroom and workplace? Always provide the appropriate disposal and cleansing products.

For the ladies washroom, feminine hygiene bins and nappy disposal bins are important. You should also provide toilet seat cleaners in all the washrooms to ensure each toilet is sanitary and safe.

Alsco’s Washroom Hygiene Service eliminates dirt and bacteria from your workplace with zero effort on your side. Gain access to a wide range of super-efficient, cost-effective washroom services for your business today.

Remember to provide plain liquid soap, paper towels, running water, hand sanitiser, tissues, and regular cleaning of commonly touched surfaces

Have Handy Reminders at Strategic Locations

Regularly replenish all the consumables from your washroom. Learn more

Everyone needs a reminder. Place signs around the office to remind people to wash their hands. Choose areas like the office kitchen, the snack area, inside and outside the washroom, inside the toilet door, and near the office entrance. These are all strategic spots that remind people to be aware of the state of their hands.

You could also go the extra mile and add hand sanitisers at these strategic spots. Especially at the areas where you cannot always have a sink with running water e.g. the office hallways or entrance.

Alsco has a great range of hand sanitisers that can be wall-mounted. They have automated operation and automatically dispense the perfect amount to prevent wastage.

We also have free and fun posters that you can download and print for your office. They are attention-grabbing and will get people talking about hand hygiene practices.

Do It Right

Now that the importance of washing your hands is clear, how do you make sure you are doing it properly?

The Proper Handwashing Technique

Hand washing may seem obvious but there is a proper way to do it. A fun trick to remember is that washing your hands should last as long as it takes you to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice.

The popular myth that hot water kills more germs has been debunked. Do not cut corners by just rinsing your hands with water without using soap. This will still lead to the spread of bacteria.

Wash your hands frequently throughout the day, after using the washroom, and when your hands are visibly dirty. The correct procedure according to WHO is as shown below:

1. Wet hands with water
2. Apply enough soap to cover all hand surfaces
3. Rub hands palm to palm
4. Right palm over left palm with interlaced fingers and vice versa
5. Palm to palm with fingers interlaced
6. Rub the backs of your fingers against your palms with fingers interlocked.
7. Clasp your left thumb with your right hand and rub in a circular motion. Repeat this with your left hand and right thumb.
8. Rub the tips of your fingers in the other palm in rotation, going backwards and forwards. Repeat this with the other hand.
9. Rinse your hands with water.

You can also use hand sanitiser when your hands are not visibly dirty but feel like they need some cleaning. Makes sure to have sanitiser with at least 60% alcohol and rub it in for at least 15 seconds.

The Best Washing Products

In addition to knowing how to properly wash your hands, you need to ensure you have good washing products. You don’t have to use antibacterial soap since plain soap is just as effective in fighting germs.

Avoid refilling soap dispensers before they’re totally empty. Rinse the dispenser before each refill to prevent germs from growing in the dispenser. Alsco provides a variety of dispensers according to your specifications and needs.

Hand sanitiser stations are also important in maintaining clean hands. Make sure the hand sanitiser is at least 60% alcohol and placed in hygenic dispensers away from flames, heat, or any potential danger.

Alsco can provide you with its amazing range of hand sanitiser dispensers that dispense the perfect quantity to prevent wastage. They are also hygienic since they have automated operation.

Always Dry Your Hands

The Proper Hand Drying Technique

Avoid spreading germs at workplace areas. Learn more

Drying your hands is just as important as washing them. If you don’t dry your hands well, you risk leaving the washroom with more germs than you came with.

When it comes to drying equipment, the hand dryer is popular but less effective than a paper towel. This is because they can spread water particles in all directions at the speed of over 370 mph.

When it comes to public restrooms, a paper towel is better than using a hand towel. Hand towels are great for home and private use. Dry your hands well using the rubbing method to remove the most germs. You should also use the paper towel to turn off the taps and to open the bathroom door.

The Best Drying Products

Depending on how many washrooms you have at your workplace, a variety of options are available. For executive or private washrooms, you can have cloth towels dispensers. They are soft to the touch and highly absorbent.

For the larger public washrooms, you have the option of paper towel dispensers, air dryers and jet dry executive. Get a quote from Alsco for these options and choose the most suitable service for your office.

Handwashing is not just a good idea, it is critical for good health. Creating and reinforcing proper hand hygiene is a great long term strategy for creating healthy workspaces. Not only does it save lives, but also prevents the spread of diseases that reduce productivity and quality of life.

You can’t afford to take shortcuts with the quality of washrooms at the office. Remove the stress and get a reliable rental service today. Alsco New Zealand offers great washroom hygiene services that ensure clean, well equipped, and odour free spaces.

Photo: U.S. Department of Agriculture

5 Fascinating Workplace Washroom Necessities

FACT: Workplace washroom design, maintenance and location are major contributing factors to worker productivity.

FACT: Worker productivity is a major contributing factor to business success. You already knew that. But what about this next fact?

The link between workplace washrooms and organisational performance is less well-known. Which is probably why washrooms are often overlooked by management.

According to research, workers perceive decor as non-verbal communication. It sends a message of how much the company values them.

Washroom conditions can either encourage or discourage workers.

We go to the washroom about five to seven times a day, so why not make the visit worth it?

These unconventional workplace washroom necessities are sure to knock your socks off. They will have your workers happier, healthier and more productive.

Provide Adequate Washroom Products 

It’s no doubt that items, such as toilet tissue and paper towels and hand wash are basic necessities. Finding these in every washroom is ideal and promotes proper toilet etiquette.

Make sure you have these items stocked for the next few months. Workers need these items to maintain personal hygiene, saving them from embarrassing washroom situations.

Make an inventory of the washroom items, taking note of the stock and if there is a need to replenish it. Availability of products guarantees your workers a great experience.

Also, stock up on cleaning products, like air fresheners and cleaning chemicals.

Poor products have a negative effect on your workers’ physical wellbeing. They may fall ill from poor hygienic conditions. As a result, this puts the business’ reputation on the line.

Keep your washroom spotlessly fresh and clean.

Air fresheners are important when dealing with bad odours in washrooms. They aim to end the odour and not mask it. The good smell makes the washroom welcoming to workers.

On top of that, studies show that certain scents give washroom-goers positive energy. As a result, this lifts the workers’ mood and reduces stress levels.

They feel more excited to go about their daily tasks.

This scent chart is instrumental in deciding which scents to go for. It makes your decision easier.

Additionally, cleaning products help maintain a hygienic washroom. Cleaning surfaces, floors and walls maintain the general appearance of the washroom.

Good cleaning products counter the growth of mould that often comes about in moist areas. This contributes to the extermination of musty odours.

‘’The objective of cleaning is not just to clean, but to feel happiness living within that environment.‘’ — Marie Kondo

Give Your Washroom Character

Another workplace washroom necessity is good decor. When you walk into an office washroom, you should feel good to be there.

This study concludes that productivity levels increase in the presence of good decor.

So, take a step back from metal cubicle doors and plain whitewashed walls. Make your office washroom pleasant and fun.

Let your washroom design speak for you. Reflect the character and values of your business through the decor. Using the right design, you can give your workers and clients a good impression.

Wondering where to start? Ask your workers what they think of the current workplace decor. From their feedback, you have a perfect idea of where to start.

To begin with, install proper stall doors with good locks to protect privacy. This is obligatory as part of workplace regulations. Likewise, this applies to the main washroom door.

Get rid of clutter and old materials. Place a vase of good smelling flowers in the sink area, and even have a bowl of potpourri. These are great finishing touches. Not only do they give your washroom class, but also smell great and add aesthetic value.

Instead of having plain walls, include vibrant wall paint or a bright wallpaper design. It should best reflect the identity of your workplace. This assists in making the washroom look professional and welcoming.

Image from: Christian Mackie

While doing so, pay attention to the colours you use. Certain colours evoke positive moods, and these are the best colours to go for. For example, peach, light pink and lilac are happy colours and evoke positive emotions.

Download FREE Cleanliness & Health poster

Have a look at this illustrative colour wheel to help decide which colour scheme works for you.

It’s also important to incorporate washroom etiquette posters. These remind workers of washroom hygiene and maintenance. They are often stylish and educative.

Make sure the washroom has good ventilation and lighting systems. Dull and stuffy washrooms can prove to be demoralising.

Make sure there are windows in the washroom to allow natural light and fresh air to get inside.

Play around and have creative lighting fixtures, too. Consider placing them overhead to reduce the casting of shadows. This is important in protecting workers’ eyesight from harm caused by poor lighting.

Play Some Music

While a quiet washroom is ideal, a little background music wouldn’t hurt. Installing good quality overhead speakers is instrumental in playing washroom music.

Music masks awkward sounds, and this makes people more comfortable.

According to research, certain sounds reduce stress and relax the mind. This creates a calm environment ideal for increasing productivity levels.

‘’We are all familiar with the feeling of relaxation and ‘switching-off’ which comes from a walk in the countryside, and now we have evidence from the brain and the body which helps us understand this effect. This has been an exciting collaboration between artists and scientists, and it has produced results which may have a real-world impact, particularly for people who are experiencing high levels of stress.’’ — Dr Cassandra Gould van Praag

What is the best kind of music to play in your workplace washroom? That would be instrumental or classical music. This means workers will not have to concentrate on trying to understand the lyrics.

Further, the music volume should be moderate, as this is the productive-sweet spot. We wouldn’t want to turn the washroom into a club.

Ensure There Is Clean and Regular Water Supply

Handwashing, toilet flushing and washroom cleaning are daily activities. So, clean water is a workplace washroom necessity.

Providing clean water protects the health of your workers. Without it, maintaining clean washrooms would be difficult. This would create health risks caused by bacteria.

Besides, clean water promotes handwashing. Thus, it reduces health risks and builds up workers’ resistance to illnesses.

This translates to fewer sick days taken, and in turn, improves business progress.

‘’One who maintains cleanliness keeps away diseases.’’ — Sam Veda

Incorporate creative reminders in the washroom as well. These help workers recall the importance of water conservation. This is by reminding workers to report any leaking incidents to the management.

Use Automated Products

Jet Dry Executive a high powered motor to create warm air

Today, there is increasing use of automated products almost everywhere we go. It’s time for you to do the same.

Replace your standard hand soap with automatic hand wash and sanitiser dispensers.

The preference for automated products is because they involve less physical contact. This plays a major role in reducing the spread of bacteria.

Incorporating these workplace washroom necessities doesn’t have to be an energy-draining process. Trust the local experts in your area to make it a smooth journey.

They will help you in creating a washroom that will leave you amazed!

Top 5 Must-Have Items for a Great Airbnb Guest Experience

Fact: Airbnb popularity increases each year.

By April 2018, 20,000 Airbnb listings were active in New Zealand alone. This progress does not show signs of slowing down any time soon.

Your Airbnb must stand out from the crowd. But how? Offer an exceptional guest experience.

By doing so you will receive excellent reviews from guests. In turn, your Airbnb listing becomes a bestseller in your area.

‘’Airbnb has grown thanks to our hosts making memorable experiences and inspiring their guests to be hosts in their hometown.’’ — Joe Gebbia, Airbnb co-founder

What do you need to create a memorable guest experience?

Presentation of the right items and maintaining consistency is the answer.

Provision of Wi-fi access, appliances, and linen are a few of the top priorities as rated by guests.

Check out the top 5 factors that create an outstanding guest experience.

Fast and Free Internet Access

Image from: Webaroo.com.au

Increasing social media use and more people working online creates the demand for fast internet access.

The majority of Airbnb hosts overlook the need for Wi-fi, this shouldn’t be the case.

Instead, offer fast and free internet access for convenience.

Keep in mind that guests select Airbnbs for various reasons. Some travel for leisure and others for work.

For these reasons, offering free internet access will be expected by your guests.

Since your guests pay for their accommodation, Wi-fi access should be free, including an extra charge may annoy them.

Now your guests can work online and post about their stay on social media.

Those who work from their laptops will require Wi-fi access in the Airbnb they choose to rent. For example, it is a necessity for bloggers.

‘’If you count E-mail, I’m on the internet all day every day.’’ — Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft Corporation

Asking about your guests’ careers is intrusive. Thus, preparing to exceed their expectations is a better approach.

What’s more, you must offer secure internet access for your guests to use.

This protects them from potential viruses and cyber-security risks.

You can provide secure internet access in the following ways:

• Store the Wi-fi router in an inaccessible area. Suitable areas include locked cabinets to avoid manipulation of the router.
• Ensure the Wi-fi password is long, unique, and difficult to guess. After every guest checks-out, change the password.
• Update your router software and hardware. This eliminates potential security risks.
• Only share the passwords with guests. Do so after they have checked-in to the Airbnb.
• Verify your Wi-fi access. This gives reports on the speed and reliability of the Wi-fi.

Some guests will have little interest in internet use. They may travel with the intention to disconnect from the outside world. If they ask, you can easily switch the router off at their request.

Clean Linen

Pamper your customer’s feeling luxuriate and satisfied with Alsco accommodation linen

As a host, it is a basic Airbnb requirement to provide the accommodation with clean linen.

This includes towels, bedsheets, and pillowcases.

Expecting guests to bring their own linen is unrealistic and causes unnecessary frustration.

Besides, high-quality linen translates to first-rate online reviews which will attract future clients.

Putting effort into the details impresses guests.

Thus, exemplary linen is a must-have item.

“Customer needs may vary, but their bias for quality never does.” — Bill Marriott, ex-CEO and executive chairman of Marriott International

Comfortable bed sheets, mattresses, and pillows contribute to a good night’s sleep.

Also, providing robes will add to this luxurious experience. Nothing says luxury more than a fluffy white robe.

Remember, keeping linen clean is non-negotiable. Dirty linen gives the wrong impression of the host.

It shows a lack of interest in hospitality. This opens the door to guests falling ill from bacteria cultivated in an old towel or dirty sheets.

So, how can you change the linen on time and keep it clean?

Platinum linen services give your Airbnb the boost it needs.

This service includes:

• The provision of high-quality and luxurious linen. Bringing the 5-star experience to your guests.
• Customising your linen requirements according to your wishes. Providing different linen colours and designs makes hosting easy.
• Linen management services make cleaning and replacement easier than ever. Linen will always smell fresh and welcoming to guests.

With Platinum linen services the burden is off your shoulders, Airbnb hosting has never been more manageable.

Remember to store linen properly to maintain its colour and quality.

Fresh linens and a cozy space reminds guests why they selected an Airbnb, rather than any regular hotel.

Proper Working Appliances

Image from: Sasikan Ulevik

Staying true to your word is essential. Guests want honest hosts when selecting Airbnbs.

When marketing your Airbnb, make sure your guests know about the available appliances; ensure all your appliances work as they are intended to.

Before guests check-in, inspect your Airbnb. This involves checking to see if parts need replacing. Nobody wants to bother with a leaky sink while on vacation.

Willingness to invest in your business makes your property desirable to others. The outcome is that your return on your investment will increase.

A great experience can result in guests becoming frequent clients.

Safety Precautions

‘’Safety first is safety always.’’ — Charles M Hayes

Accidents happen during vacations and work trips, they are inevitable, it is important to make preparations for the unknown.

Ensure workplace health and safety compliance with Alsco first aid kit rental service

Being an Airbnb host comes with many responsibilities, such as guaranteeing the safety of your guests.

Begin by providing first aid kits for minor accidents.

Stock up on appropriate items, such as band-aids, and antiseptic cream. Conduct regular checks to keep the kit up-to-date.

Place a list of emergency contacts in a visible area. A refrigerator door is a suitable place. The list should comprise of contacts from nearby 24-hour hospitals, fire stations, and walk-in clinics.

This list should also include your direct contact information in case of any incident.

In the event of a major accident, easy access to emergency contact numbers can save your guests precious time, and may reduce further harm.

It may be necessary to hire security services to guard the grounds, depending on the location of your Airbnb. This will reduce the anxiety experienced by your guests if there are local factors that require added security.

Your guest’s safety should be a top priority and guarantees a good experience.

Your guests will appreciate your concern for their well-being.

Hygienic Environment

4-step deep clean eliminate dirt and germs away

Clean Airbnbs are desirable.

On the other hand, unclean environments cause negative feelings and staying in such an environment is difficult for guests.

Hence, clean your Airbnb well. Deep clean the bathrooms, bedrooms, and kitchen after every visit.

Remember to wipe down surfaces with cleaning products that rid the house of hanging odours.

Provide basic products like toilet tissue, soap, and sanitiser for exceptional hygiene maintenance.

Hire a cleaning service to maintain general cleanliness. The cleaners may wash dishes and clean the house on scheduled days.

As a common courtesy, inform your guests of cleaning days, and try to schedule them when no one is staying in the property.

These tips will help you stand out from the competition and raise your Airbnb game.

Are you looking for a reliable, efficient option to launder your linens? Alsco offers excellent rates and services to suit your needs.

Say goodbye to dirty and off-colour linen when you put your trust in the experts.

“The continual support they offer on a weekly basis is fantastic, I know they are only a phone call or email away should we need anything further.” — Miranda Sage, Administration and Marketing Manager, Delta Stock Crates Ltd

Photo: Filios Sazeides

4 Linen Secrets Celebrity Hotels Don’t Want You to Know

Fact 1:

“Only close attention to the fine details of any operation makes the operation first class.” – J. Willard Marriott, founder of the Marriott Corporation

When travelling, guests want the best experience. Thus, everything lies in the details. Paying attention to these details helps your hotel thrive like a celebrity hotel.

By giving guests the best experience during their stay they praise your business and give positive recommendations.

Fact 2:

‘’The great advantage of a hotel is that it is a refuge from home life.’’ – George Bernard Shaw

The hotel experience acts as a haven for guests. Some are there to relax while others check-in for business.

Cleanliness and appearance are crucial, in consequence, a paramount area of concern is linen.

Guests gauge the cleanliness of a room by its clean and quality linen, maintaining consistency is essential.

How can you give your guests the 5-star experience?

Don’t worry. We have the solution!

These well-kept secrets to providing quality linen will take your accommodation business to the next level.

1. Stop Mixing Your White and Coloured Linen

Image from: Tina Bosse

“Hotels and guests equate white with being clean.” – Chris Gowdy, VP of Liddell

Maintaining white linen is not an easy job. It requires expertise and skill.

Poor linen maintenance causes an off-white appearance. Displaying off-white linen makes rooms look unclean.

Taking proper care of white linen maintains the quality for years to come.

Indulge your customers in 5-star luxury. 

You can do this by:

• Outsourcing expert linen services. This is a common approach for celebrity hotels. The experts ensure the supply of high-quality plush towels, robes, and bedsheets. They also replace dirty linen.
• Sort the linen. Do so by separating the white from the coloured linen. By doing this, you avoid mixing them, resulting in dull colours and murky whites.
• Wash the white linen first. This prevents discolouration. Use the correct washing detergents. For example, Persil.
• Don’t overload the washing machine. This ensures proper cleaning of all linen. To do this, you must load your washing machine to 80% of its capacity.
• Hang linen in the sun to dry. This keeps towels and robes from feeling harsh on the skin.

After doing so, fold the linen and store it in a cool dry room. This combats moisture that interferes with the quality.

Linen maintenance is as easy as that!

2. Clean Stubborn Stains the Best Way

Image from: Jamie Coupaud

“Soap, water and elbow grease; those are the three ingredients for success in the hotel business.” – Conrad Hilton, founder of Hilton Hotels

Food and drink stains on linen are troublesome. Tea towels, napkins, and tablecloths are common victims of these stains.

100% cotton, highly-absorbent and anti-bacterial tea towels.[/caption

These stains may give your guests the wrong impression. It makes your dining area look unclean.

This is a sensitive matter because guests take meals and interact in dining rooms. If they don’t feel safe to eat in this area, it reflects poorly on your business values.

So, deal with these stains early, when staff members spot them.

Clean linen makes your guests feel at home. Conversely, stained linen makes them uncomfortable. Guests may get the idea that the dining area is unclean and this doesn’t bode well for your business.

You can take care of these stains by Doing It Yourself (DIY) or by hiring professional help.

See which of the following options will work for you:

DIY entails removing stains off of linen by your in-house staff.

DIY essentials when dealing with different kinds of stains include:

• Salt battles grease on linen and carpets. Rub one part salt, and four parts of alcohol to remove it. It also deals with coffee and wine stains.
• Baking soda deals with various stains. These include perspiration, grease, and egg stains. Mix it with water and let it settle on the stain before washing it off.
• WD-40 proves useful for tomato juice stains. Spray the stain with the lubricant, allow it to sit and then wash it off. Do this with caution, as over-spraying causes a larger stain.

DIY can be effective, although, these stains may leave a faint impression on linen.

This is why celebrity hotels often opt for professional linen services as opposed to DIY. They supply high-quality linen as well as regular cleaning services.

This service is the better option because:

• Replacing stained linen is a smooth process. The burden shifts to the professionals to deal with stained linen.
• The image of your establishment is consistent. The effective replacement of soiled linen gives your hotel an excellent reputation.
• It reduces the stress of linen management. Hired professionals will take care of stained and sour-smelling linen for you.
• Luxurious, high-quality linen is at your disposal. This will match the calibre of clientele, giving them a comfortable experience.

Pamper your guests and make their stay unforgettable!

3. Invest in High-Quality Linen

Image from: Sylvie Tittel

‘’Remember: No matter how good your feedback is, you always start over with the next customer.’’ – Shep Hyken, Customer Service and Experience Speaker

Show every customer they matter to you. Each guest is a new opportunity to start over and display your business values.

These are the pros of investing in good quality linen:

• It meets the guests’ expectations of high-quality linen. Research shows that people will pay more to get a better bed in hotels. Guests often seek value for their money. So, they need to receive the top-notch service they pay for.
• It reinforces your brand values. Consistency is key in the hospitality business. Both your accommodation and restaurant linen remain amazing. It displays your business’ prowess.
• Paying attention to detail impresses guests. Image is everything and your guest’s good feedback is free marketing for your business. Happy guests give positive online reviews.
• Good quality linen lasts longer. This saves you spending money on buying new linen.

Knowing how to maintain this kind of linen is also important.

Regular commercial-grade washing is the best way to ensure your linen is in order at all times. This is hassle-free and done to your establishment’s satisfaction.

Using some in-house hacks can further help in sustaining the quality of your linen.

For example, you may place a tennis ball in the washing machine drum with your towels. This makes your towels softer and fluffier.

Linen feels harsh on the skin because of poor maintenance.

4. Deal with Stains at the Source

Image from: Anne Nygård

‘’Think ahead. Don’t let day-to-day operations drive out planning.’’ – Donald Rumsfield

As the saying goes, prevention is better than the cure.

Thus, deal with stains at the source. This consumes less time.

Common stains on accommodation linen include sweat, oil, and cosmetics. Guests are often the source of these stains.

This occurs from a lack of proper products to clean up.

Anti-bacterial soap dispenser

So, to take extra precaution and provide good hygiene products in rooms. These can include:  soap, sanitiser, facial tissue, and makeup remover. Their availability prompts guests to use them.

You will begin to notice the reduction of stains on the linen.

What’s more, hygiene products protect your guests from bacterial infections.

Use 5-star platinum linen services for your 5-star establishment today.

Your staff can focus their skills on improving your business further.

As an added bonus this will cut the costs of purchasing and maintaining cleaning equipment.

Get a fast and free quote from the experts today!

Photo: mrsiraphol

6 Easy Ways to Improve Your Office Washroom

Washrooms are an intimate place for everyone. This is why good hygiene and presentation are essential, especially for office washrooms. Where there is good hygiene, people feel more comfortable to work and interact.

Washrooms that are not up-to-date make people feel uncomfortable. Sometimes, the lack of washroom products makes going to the washroom a difficult task.

According to an interior design expert, what we see around us forms 80% of our experiences.

Office washrooms send out non-verbal communication to workers. Faded paint, steel doors and broken washroom parts send the wrong message. They may not feel valued.

A dull workplace design makes workers dull. Workers feel more pressure during work hours because of the workplace presentation. This heightens stress levels.

The design, location and maintenance of washrooms have an effect on employee performance. This means your office washroom may even give your employees low morale to work. This is costly to a business in the long-run because of unproductive and irritable workers.

This article is a guide to improving office washrooms.

How to Improve Your Office Washroom

Now that you know why improving office washrooms is necessary, you need to know how to do it. Here we take a look at six of the best ways to go about it.

Spruce up Your Decor

We spend a lot of time in the washroom. In fact, we spend around 1.5 years in the washroom during a lifetime. Making sure your washroom is stylish and up-to-date makes going to the washroom worthwhile.

The decor is the first thing we notice in a washroom. It sends out a particular message. According to research, good decor receives more positive feedback.

Create a fun and fresh perspective with your office decor. Use high energy colour schemes, such as blue, yellow or white. This makes the washroom experience more memorable and relaxing.

You can incorporate this new perspective in the workspace to match the washrooms. This lightens up the mood. It makes interaction among workers more relaxed.

The decor is important because colours affect our moods. Studies show that monotone themes have a negative effect on workers’ productivity.

Allow enough light to illuminate your office washroom. Don’t over-tint washroom windows. This allows natural light in the washroom. Installing bright lights in washrooms should improve upon the appearance.

Generally, dull washrooms create a sense of fright. Going into a dark washroom feels like walking into a horror movie scene. It creates a sense of unsafety.

Don’t be shy about adding extra accessories to your washroom. Go with accessories that match with the theme of your washroom.

For example, you can add a vase of flowers for a more calm theme. Having flowers has a calming effect. They create better concentration and improve memory.

This makes your washroom looks more put together and up-to-date.

Upgrade Your Washroom Products

Conventional toilet paper suitable for all types of washrooms.

Ensure your washroom has everything your workers need.

This means providing for basic washroom necessities. These are such as tissue, hand hygiene products and air fresheners. These are important for any washroom visit. Make sure these products are available in good number.

In improving office washrooms, you may want to go the extra mile. This sends out a positive message to workers that you care about their hygiene and health.

Provide for products that appear unconventional but are important to washroom goers.

Providing these grooming essentials enables workers to care for themselves. This sends the message that you care for their personal needs.

Regular Washroom Maintenance

Regular maintenance ensures that your washroom stays in good condition. Hiring deep cleaning services is one way to maintain your office washroom.

Deep cleaning kills germs and exterminates odour in hard-to-reach areas of the washroom. Sometimes air fresheners don’t cut it. Hanging smells make the washroom uncomfortable to be in.

Regular cleaning of the washroom makes the washroom experience bearable. It protects workers from potential health risks posed by germs. Doing so protects the reputation of your workplace.

Jet Dry Executive your washroom drying solutions.

Use of digital washroom hygiene products contributes to improving office washrooms. Automated hand hygiene and toilet sanitising products are common today. This is the same case with automatic taps and hand dryers. These products contribute to the cleanliness of the washroom.

They are automatic, so there is no need to touch them. This reduces the spread of germs among workers.

Maintenance and replacement of washroom parts save washroom goers from embarrassing situations. It is difficult to maintain good toilet etiquette when the appliances don’t work.

If you regularly inspect your washroom, you’ll end up spending less money to buy new parts. It promotes good toilet etiquette. When workers see their employers care about the washrooms, they feel obliged to do the same.

Have Some Fun

Lighten up a little and have some fun with your office washroom. The workplace atmosphere doesn’t need to be tense all the time. In fact, workers who laugh at work tend to stay around longer than those who don’t. We all know that a good laugh relieves stress.

‘‘Keeping people happy is what makes them perform.’’

Stewart Shanley (Founder of ‘the Smile Squad’)

Studies show that introducing humour improves employee productivity in the workplace. It brightens the mood in the workplace and workers engage better with one another.

Use quirky posters to lighten the mood. Placing them on toilet cubicle doors, at the sink area or on the main washroom door is a good way to encourage humour. This gives washroom goers a sense of relief and shows the importance of toilet etiquette.

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Download FREE Female Toilet poster

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Download FREE Male Toilet poster

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Download FREE Non-Specific Toilet poster

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Better Air Circulation

Improve office washrooms by adding windows. Ensure there is a good air ventilation system. This provides good air circulation which reduces mould caused by dampness.

Where there are windows, ensure they remain open wide enough to allow fresh air to get in.

If there are no windows, don’t worry. Use of a good air conditioning system allows for proper air circulation.

Use air fresheners to end bad odour. This uplifts the mood of employees and improves their productivity at work.

Cramped up washrooms have poor air circulation. This lets bad odours hang around.

Poor ventilation has negative effects on workers. This includes causing fatigue and reducing their ability to concentrate at work.

Safety Measures

Installing wet area mats ensures that slip and fall accidents don’t occur. This is one product that many office washrooms need.

Washroom tiles are slippery surfaces, which make it easier to slip and fall. Leakages or spilled water also cause accidents. Placing mats in washrooms to give your shoes a good grip prevent slip and fall accidents.

These items improve office washrooms, making them safer and more comfortable for all.

“…took care of all our requirements, in one hit, fantastic!”

Miranda Sage, Administration and Marketing Manager, Delta Stock Crates Ltd

Improving your office washroom may prove to be a difficult task, but Alsco makes it so much easier.

Get in touch with us today for a fast, free quote tailored to your business needs.

Photo: needpix