Menu
With countless people using them to “freshen up” on a daily basis, public washrooms are a hotspot for dirt, germs and bacteria. That’s not exactly what you want to hear when you’re in charge of keeping them hygienic. The good news? The are simple ways to stop germs spreading, make cleaning easier and improve hygiene…
With people using the toilet, there’s a lot of potential for germs to spread in public washrooms. The vast majority of that is spread by people’s hands. Whether it’s switches, flushes or door handles, they become saturated in bacteria, which is easily passed on to the next person who touches them.
A popular solution to this issue is sensor technology, which has a wide range of applications in public washrooms:
People use taps to remove germs from their hands. But, paradoxically, they have to spread germs onto the tap to do so. Sensor taps eliminate this problem, detecting when hands are under them and letting water flow. They also reduce water usage, with no risk of taps being left on
Before you’ve even washed your hands, you need to flush the toilet. Unfortunately, this means countless dirty hands touching the flush throughout the day. Sensor flushes are a simple solution, which detect when someone has moved away from the toilet and flush automatically.
Just 5% of people wash their hands properly after using the toilet. It’s disgusting, but true. And it means that those germs will continue to be transferred onto hand dryers. So, even people who wash their hands properly could be re-contaminated by a dirty hand-dryer switch. With sensor hand-dryers, this isn’t an issue
The same can be said for light switches, which will be contaminated as people turn the lights on and off. Sensor lighting will switch on when motion is detected in the washroom, removing the need for a switch. Similar to sensor taps, this could solve two problems – with no risk of people leaving the lights on and wasting energy.
As well as being passed on by hands, bacteria can spread through the air and any splashes or spillages. This makes regular deep-cleaning essential for public washrooms. However, things can still be problematic when unsuitable surfaces allow bacteria to gather. That’s what happens on the grout lines of conventional tiles, but there are alternatives:
PVC wall panels allow you to cover the walls without unhygienic grout lines. Panels can be wiped clean with ease and are completely waterproof, so they won’t hold any extra bacteria.
Hygienic flooring is also an important consideration. Airborne bacteria, spillages and footfall make flooring a danger zone for dirt and bacteria. Again, grouting is a big problem when it comes to keeping floors clean. Vinyl flooring offers a practical way around this, with no grouting and zero wood content to enable easy cleaning.
With Igloo Surfaces, maintaining good hygiene doesn’t have to mean compromising on style. We provide high-quality wall panels and hygienic flooring in a wide range of styles. Even better, we offer free samples and a 10-20 year guarantee, so you get complete peace of mind.
While tiles are a conventional choice found in plenty of UK homeowners, they’re also expensive, difficult to install and tricky to maintain. Fortunately, they’re not the only option available. Read on as we look at 3 alternatives to messy bathroom tiling.
Unlike the living room, kitchen or bedrooms, the bathroom is especially difficult to decorate. Why? Its walls are within the ‘splash zone’ from the bath or shower. That means, over time, they’re inevitably going to get wet.
Conventional wall coverings like wallpaper will be destroyed by this moisture, leaving the bathroom looking a mess. That’s why tiles have become the ‘go-to’ option for bathrooms. They’re water resistant, so being in the splash zone is no problem at all. But what other water-resistant options are available?
Yes – it’s true – typically, paint shouldn’t be used in high-moisture environments. However, some paint is produced with a tighter structure, providing a tougher, mildew-resistant finish. The result? A wall covering that is steam and moisture resistant, so there’s no risk of damp on your bathroom walls.
With that in mind, specialist paint provides an easy way to add some colour to your bathroom – though it may need updating every few years as the paint eventually weakens.
Laminated panels have been an alternative to bathroom tiles for years. Generally used in commercial settings, they have a laminated surface often backed with a wood or waterproof foam core. However, they can also be purchased as a laminate sheet. Because they’re laminated with a water-resistant coating, they are a durable option for bathrooms that can last for years.
Because they expand and contract with moisture, however, laminated panels typically need expansion gaps to be left during installation, making things a bit more complex.
One option that’s completely hassle free are PVC wall panels. Because they’re produced using PVC, they won’t expand, so they’re quick and easy to install. Simply apply good quality adhesive to the panel and you’re ready to go – they can even be fitted over tiles.
PVC wall panels are one of the best alternatives to tiles in the bathroom because – as well as being easy to install – they look superb. With a wide range of colours and finishes, they allow homeowners to personalise their bathroom to match their style to a tee.
If you’re looking for an attractive alternative to bathroom tiles for your home or commercial property, Igloo Surfaces can help. We stock PVC wall panels in a wide range of styles and colours. All of our products come with a 10 to 20-year guarantee, with free samples available before ordering, so you have complete peace of mind.
For more information, get in touch with our team who are always on hand to help.
