ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

There is much to tell about toilets and toilet habits around the world. In terms of cleaning, the smallest room in the building still has its challenges. In this article industry expert Paul Harleman of Harlecom Products & Services addresses some of them and tackles a few other interesting topics.

There is a lot to tell about toilets and toilet habits. Apart from my own experiences, there is a great deal of information easily accessible online, and there are even a few books about toilets available. In terms of cleaning however, the smallest room in the building still has its issues.

Splashing the dirt

Men urinating while standing up causes urine contamination on the seat and the area around the toilet. A solution was found decades ago: the urinal, a special toilet version mounted higher on the wall and thus reducing the fall height of the urine.

However, there are also public washrooms without urinals. Or, if for whatever reason, the man wants to have more privacy and prefers to close himself off, he pees in a normal toilet anyway. Hopefully he sits down or at least puts up the lid, but unfortunately many don’t. Which is very unhygienic for the next visitor using the same toilet and needing to sit. Knowing this, the learning for cleaning is: always clean the area around the toilet thoroughly as well (floor, wall) and don’t forget the tools that are positioned next to the toilet (toilet brush holder, bins). They probably are sprayed over as well.

Disturbing stripes

Another issue is toilets featuring a shelf or inner walls where poop slides down before reaching the water, leaving visible streaks. To be removed with a toilet brush. A ‘dirty job’ which is often neglected. Not removing it immediately means it will dry and be harder to remove later. And don’t forget that a dirty toilet causes a negative perception for the next visitor. What about the brush or toilet bowl mop? Often very dirty, sitting in a holder filled with contaminated fluid. Unhygienic and in healthcare environments I guess it is a source of cross contamination. Room for improvement I would say. If product designers are able to solve these issues in an innovative way, it will be a major step forwards.

Tips: after cleaning the toilet, keep the brush in the toilet bowl while flushing and move it up and down to rinse it. Use a piece of toilet tissue to absorb the fluid in the toilet brush holder.

Lid closed

Search the internet and you will find videos demonstrating droplets from the toilet flush water descending around the toilet. Including all the invisible dirt it contains. Lauren Aber, affiliated with Quinnipiac University (Hamden, Connecticut USA) discovered that the chance of poop particles ending up on your toothbrush displayed in the same room is no less than 60 per cent. She published her research in 2015.

During the continuous flow, very fine droplets are created that precipitate elsewhere while suspended in the air: aerosols. That’s why the toothbrush gets contaminated with dirt from the toilet. Not only Aber, but also other scientists discovered the Escherichia Coli, an intestinal bacterium, on toothbrushes that were displayed in bathrooms with a toilet. What we learn from this is that the lid on a toilet is there for a purpose. Closing the lid while flushing is hygienic and by the way, a closed lid looks better. So if you end up in a public toilet where the lid is missing: flush and run.

To sit, or not to sit

An interesting new idea to lower the incidence of urine-contaminated toilet seats, is to label washrooms differently. Not separating men from women, but separating by the need to sit from the option to stand. I recently spotted public washrooms with door signs that indicated ‘Sitting’ and ‘Standing’. A surprising, open minded, interesting, hygienic and effective solution. And, by the way, gender neutral as well.

Touchless

When I use a public toilet, I move the seat and lid with my foot, cover the seat with toilet paper, close the lid with my foot when I am done, push the flush button with my elbow, wash my hands, cover the tap with a paper hand towel before using, cover the lock handle with a paper towel when unlocking the door, open the door with my elbow and take care nobody sees what I am doing because, to be honest, I find it a little bit embarrassing.

However, an American survey executed by the Bradly Cooperation showed that I am not the only one. Seventy per cent of the respondents use toilet or towel paper as a barrier between themselves and the surface they have to touch or sit on. Forty-six per cent use their foot to press the flush button and 70 per cent of Americans said they have had an unpleasant experience in a washroom due to the poor condition of the facility. The learning we have here is the clear need for touchless operated toilets.

Design differs

There is a wide variety of toilet types around the world. User positioning can be sitting, squatting (hole in the floor) or standing (urinal). Modern toilets have flushing systems including gravity flush, dual flush, vacuum (aeroplane) but manually flushing still exists as well (bucket with water). And there are also toilets that don’t flush (compost toilets).

To finalise ‘the bigger job’, toilet paper is often used, but some cultures use toilets with a shower system - integrated in the toilet or in a separate device (bidet). Toilets are made of stainless steel, ceramic or synthetic materials and ‘output management’ varies from public sewer/water purifying systems to sceptic tanks to compost systems.

Last but not least, the design of a toilet varies from ultra-modern to very basic with the rough distinction of free hanging on the wall or standing on the floor. For those who want to have all the comfort they can get when disposing food and drinks leftovers, get yourself a Japanese designed Toto Neorest WX2 toilet which is equipped with the latest comfort technology.

What the future will bring

Toilets may seem mundane, but they reflect the values, resources and challenges of a society. While western nations focus on comfort and technology, many others prioritise simplicity and sustainability. Future toilets will blend technology, healthcare and environmental consciousness - aiming to solve global sanitation problems while offering more personalised, hygienic and sustainable experiences. Toilets are evolving to address hygiene, water conservation, climate change and access to sanitation.

Key trends include:

Waterless and minimal-water toilets
• Use vacuum or dry flush systems 
(inspired by aeroplane and space toilets)
• Crucial in water-scarce areas

Smart toilets
• Integrated health monitoring (urine/faeces analysis for early disease detection)
• AI-based usage pattern learning (eg, for elderly care)
• Connectivity to health apps

Self-cleaning and disinfecting toilets
• UV disinfection
• Antimicrobial surfaces
• Automatic bowl and seat cleaner

Energy-producing toilets
• Convert waste to biogas, fertiliser, or even electricity
• Already in pilot programmes in India and Africa

Modular and portable designs
• Flat-pack or solar-powered mobile toilets for disaster zones and refugee camps

Redesigned urban toilets
• Modular, space-saving units for dense urban areas eg, retractable public toilets)
• Privacy features and gender-neutral design

Circular sanitation systems
• Closed-loop systems that recycle water and nutrients locally
• Aim: zero-discharge toilets (no waste, no sewer)

Public street toilets, a speciality

In 2001, Hong Kong unveiled the world’s most expensive public toilet: a fully functional solid gold loo. While it dazzled tourists, it also reminded us how something as ordinary as a toilet can reflect pride, technology and even national identity. Back in everyday public washrooms, the reality is far less glamorous. For cleaning and IPC professionals, public toilets are high-risk zones for pathogen transmission, especially on handles, flush buttons and taps.

Odours often come not just from poor cleaning but from unseen biofilms in pipes and drains. And cleaning schedules rarely match the pace of foot traffic. But promising innovations pop up. Not only in the toilet-specialised Japan but also in the Netherlands. A company called Sanitronics designed an public toilet with an integrated, fully automatic toilet cleaning machine.

Cleaning is crucial

Professional toilet and washroom cleaning is essential for hygiene and a positive reputation of a facility. Public washrooms can quickly become sources of infection if not cleaned properly - spreading bacteria, viruses and fungi. This is especially critical in healthcare, hospitality, education and food service, where poor hygiene can lead to health risks, complaints, or even legal consequences.

Many organisations can improve their approach by moving beyond fixed schedules and adopting cleaning routines based on actual usage. Areas like flush buttons, toilet seats and door handles need extra attention, as they are frequently touched. Well-trained staff, proper professional tools and clearly defined protocols are key to maintaining standards.

Investing in ergonomic equipment, colour-coded materials, microfibre cloths and mops that are certified to remove 99.99 per cent of the micro-organisms also improves both effectiveness and efficiency.

Wall-mounted toilets and seamless floors make cleaning easier, as well as touchless systems. Just as important is to recognise the role of the cleaning staff. Providing time, tools and respect ensures a safer environment for everyone and promotes a culture of cleanliness and care. A clean and well maintained washroom is demonstrating hygiene by itself and does not need a wallpaper with an overview when the cleaning was done.

The only thing this paper says is that someone wrote a date, time and signature on it. It is just a piece of paper and no cleaning evidence. In the end, the cleaner is the most important person in the smallest room. Remember that and show respect by using the brush when needed.

World Toilet Day

Billions of people around the world still don’t have access to a good and safe to use toilet. World Toilet Day is observed each year on November 19 to bring attention to the lack of toilets for people globally. It encourages everyone to learn and spread the word about how proper toilets and sanitation can save lives.

www.harlecom.nl