Truckstop Training: How to Have the Cleanest Restrooms on the Interstate

Clean restrooms are often the top reason a customer chooses to stop at a truckstop, so keeping restrooms tidy is key. There are three types of cleaning—courtesy checks, routine cleaning and deep cleaning.
More
Truckstop Training: How to Have the Cleanest Restrooms on the Interstate
 

Welcome to the newest post in our blog series, Truckstop and Travel Plaza Training. Training is an essential element in the success of any operation. Truckstops and travel plaza that train their staff well are able to improve their sales, profits, customer service, effectiveness and safety. As a result, their company’s overall operations also improve.

NATSO also offers a Truckstop and Travel Plaza Training Manual. The manual is designed to help operators create their own store- and company-specific operations training manual. NATSO members can purchase the manual for $175 and nonmembers can purchase it for $675 here.

How to Have the Cleanest Restrooms on the Interstate

CleanestBathroomsBlogPost.jpg

Clean restrooms are often the top reason a customer chooses to stop at a truckstop, so keeping restrooms tidy is key. There are three types of cleaning—courtesy checks, routine cleaning and deep cleaning.

Employ all three types and you will have the cleanest restrooms on the interstate.

Courtesy Check
A courtesy check is performed every half hour or hour based on the location’s traffic flow. It involves a light cleaning when needed to make sure that the restrooms stay clean.

Steps to a Courtesy Check

  • Walk through the entire restroom and note what needs specific attention. For example, there may be one toilet out of five that is dirty.
  • Clean the toilet, urinal, sink, mirror and counters if necessary.
  • Make sure all toilet paper, paper towel and soap dispensers are full.
  • Pick up any trash on the floor. 
  • Change trash bags once they are 3⁄4 full.

Routine Clean
Each restroom should have a routine clean- ing performed three times per shift or more and should be done according to a pre-set cleaning schedule. If necessary, the courtesy check may turn into a routine cleaning. 

Routine cleaning is very similar to a courtesy check with the following additions:

  • Every toilet, urinal, sink and counter should be cleaned even if it appears clean. Use different rags for the sinks, toilets and urinals, mirrors and counters.
  • Urinal pads will be replaced as needed.
  • The walls beside the urinals will be cleaned with the proper supplies. This keeps the restroom smelling nice.
  • Urinals should be cleaned specifically for odor elimination. Keep the lip and chin of the urinal free of urine build up.
  • All paper towel, toilet paper and soap dispensers should be filled.
  • The floor will be mopped using fresh mop water, the appropriate approved chemical and a clean mop head. Pay special attention to the floor below the urinals. This area usually contains a buildup of urine and will result in a foul odor.
  • Other areas not specifically mentioned as part of a routine cleaning should still be cleaned if they appear dirty.

Steps to a Deep Clean
Deep cleaning of the restrooms follows the same steps as the routine cleaning with the additions of cleaning the walls, ceilings, partitions and vents with the proper chemicals. The deep cleaning usually requires shutting down the restroom and is typically done on the overnight shift. It should be completed at least once a day on each restroom. Some locations use a hose for this process. If your location has one, make sure to tape off all electrical outlets and light switches.

JointheConversation.png

Join the conversation! Does your truckstop follow these three types? Is anything missing? 

 

PurchasetheTrainingManualBanner.jpg

TrainingManualSampleCalltoActionCTA.jpg

Photo Credit: Ira Wexler/NATSO

Subscribe to Updates

NATSO provides a breadth of information created to strengthen travel plazas’ ability to meet the needs of the travelling public in an age of disruption. This includes knowledge filled blog posts, articles and publications. If you would like to receive a digest of blog post and articles directly in your inbox, please provide your name, email and the frequency of the updates you want to receive the email digest.