Of all the equipment that is needed to finish a building, hygiene equipment should be a priority. After all, what other room in the building gets frequented by all and sundry? The bathroom hygiene equipment that you choose for your public and employee toilets is going to send a message loud and clear. What do your hygiene products say about you?   

Bathrooms shouldn’t be an afterthought just because they are private spaces. Think about it this way. Whilst occupied, the toilet is a private space; however, that very same private space becomes a private space for every other individual who visits it throughout the day.

Bathrooms are allowed to be interesting and attractive. They are the one place where you can show people that you care about their personal needs and comfort.

In this article we are going to explore previously overlooked questions like;
Part 1: Why choose really nice bathroom hygiene equipment?
Part 2: Can Hygiene equipment and dispensers be trendy?
Part 3: What do I need to know about the different kinds of hygiene equipment and dispensers?
Part 4: Who can help me make head or tail of my commercial hygiene equipment needs?

Part 1: Why choose really nice bathroom hygiene equipment?

You could choose to ignore the toilets in your building; toss in the bare essentials and focus on an impressive reception area instead.

However, people pass through reception. Reception never becomes their private space; not even for a moment. Sure, you should make your reception area look lovely and inviting, but not at the neglect of the one place that your visitors, customers, clients, shareholders and employees will spend a little more time than just passing through.

Want to impress your customers and clients?
Want to encourage a happy workforce?
Start in the most unlikely place;
Invest in great quality hygiene equipment.

 I read this really cool article, by Kate Rutter (November 2007). In it, she compiled a diagram based on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
She calls it the “Office bathroom hierarchy of needs”.
It’s brilliant!   

One Star Bathroom
Flushable toilet (lid is optional), greyish coloured toilet paper in a dispenser that frees one or two squares at a time, a tiny hand wash basin with only cold water, a soggy soap bar, shared hand drying towel, a small plastic bin that has fallen over in the corner, a door.

Two Star Bathroom
Flushable toilet with a lid, a mirror, free-rolling toilet paper dispenser, a lock on the door, hand- soap or –sanitiser in a dispenser, a fair-sized basin with cold water tap, paper towels or a hand dryer, a wall mounted bin, clean floor.  

Three Star Bathroom
Flushable toilet with a lid, toilet seat sanitiser, a mirror, coat and handbag hook behind the lockable door, an extractor fan, 2-ply toilet paper in a refillable toilet paper dispenser, ample counter space and a hand wash basin with soap or sanitiser dispenser, automatic hand dryer, wall mounted sanitary bin next to the toilet and another wall mounted bin near the basin, frequent cleaning.

Four Star Bathroom
Flushable toilet with a lid, toilet seat sanitiser, a full length mirror, coat and handbag hook behind the lockable door, an extractor fan or a window to outside, 2-ply toilet paper in a refillable toilet paper dispenser, ample counter space and hand wash basin with soap or sanitiser dispenser, automatic hand dryer, feminine hygiene dispenser, wall mounted sanitary bin next to the toilet and another wall mounted bin near the basin, frequent cleaning.

Five Star Bathroom
All of the above and then add some plants, décor items, something to sit on that is not the toilet, and a few unique corporate fixtures to make it your own.

Your public bathroom’s look and feel and the bathroom hygiene equipment that you choose will determine how likeable the space becomes. In the end, your choice will influence how the people who visit this space feel about being there – and by ‘there’ I don’t just mean the toilet.

Part 2: Can Hygiene equipment and dispensers be trendy?

What’s new in corporate décor?
What look is trending in office buildings?
What is the theme at your place of work?

You will find toilet and bathroom hygiene equipment and dispensers to suit your style, your needs, and your budget. At Pinnacle Hygiene and Pest Control Services, we offer you a range of hygiene products and dispensers in white, stainless steel, or aluminium.

Our range includes:

1. Soap Dispensers
2. Paper Towel Dispensers
3. Hand Dryers
4. Sanitary Bins
5. Wall Mounted Bins
6. Air Freshener Dispensers
7. Seat Sanitiser Sprays
8. Seat Sanitiser Wipes
9. Hand Sanitiser Dispensers
10. Toilet Roll Holders
11. Baby Changing Stations

Part 3: What do I need to know about the different kinds of hygiene equipment and dispensers?

1.      Soap Dispensers

A soap dispenser is a vessel that dispenses small amounts of liquid-, gel- or foam- soap into the user’s hand by the push of a button, the press of a lever, or via an automatic sensor.

Dispensers are placed on or near the basin and are commonly found in public toilets, where they are most often secured to the wall. They are also useful in other commercial settings like large kitchens, clinics, hostels, workshops and schools. Inside the plastic or metal casing is a plastic bag or tube which contains the soap. Once the contents of the tube are used up the bag or tube is replaced without having to dispose of the entire dispenser.

Good quality dispenser soaps contain sanitising and moisturising agents.

Keeping your hands clean through improved hygiene is the first step you can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. Unclean hands spread many illnesses and diseasesunclean hands. If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser. This hygiene product is available as a hand sanitiser dispenser. You can read more about that in item 9.

2.      Paper Towel Dispensers

 A paper towel dispenser is a container that holds large volumes of paper towel but dispenses just enough for single use. Most commonly this paper towel is used for hand drying in public bathrooms. The paper towel is dispensed by turning a handle, pulling perforated paper from the dispenser, or via automatic motion detector.

Paper towel dispensers are not only for use in bathrooms; they are needed in kitchens where large amounts of food are prepared. The busy kitchens in hotels, hostels, restaurants and fast-food, hospitals, and more could all use a paper towel dispenser or two at key places.

3.      Hand Dryers

Hand Dryers are electrically powered and are found in most public bathrooms. They are push-button operated or work automatically using a sensor. They work by blasting warm air onto your hands in order for them to dry without the use of a towel.

Hands-under hand dryers have been around for many years. Hands-in dryers are a slightly newer concept. Both offer a relatively convenient way of getting your hands dry without worrying about germs on towels or paper waste from paper towels.

Paper towel dispensers can be used in conjunction with or instead of electric hand dryers and vice versa

4.      Sanitary Bins

Sanitary bins, also known as feminine hygiene bins, are made available to allow for the safe disposal of feminine hygiene products. As an accompaniment to sanitary bins, one could offer a dispenser with small disposable bags for the same purpose. We supply sanitary bins and bin liners for commercial and office use.

5.      Wall Mounted Bins

Bins are wall mounted to allow for easy floor cleaning.  If they share the bathroom with a paper towel dispenser, they are installed below it to facilitate easy disposal and less littering. Wall mounted bins have a large waste capacity to reduce frequent clearing and are designed with a liner lip so that the bin liner does not stick out in an unsightly manner. 

6.      Air Freshener Dispensers

Air fresheners are consumer products. Air freshener dispensers are designed for use in public bathrooms because they have a higher traffic volume. They can also be placed in reception areas, foyers, hallways, corridors, etc.

Air freshener dispensers are used for two reasons:
eliminate unpleasant odours
introduce pleasant odours

There are different types, brands, and methods of refreshing the air; from the more traditional candles, gel, beads and diffusers which evaporate a combination of oils and alcohol spirits, to the more modern mechanical, non-mechanical, drip control systems, or time operated mist dispensers and electric plug-ins.

The location of your air freshener has to be considered when choosing the best system. Candles and diffusers in a public bathroom will more than likely be carried off to refresh someone else’s home. Most bathrooms do not have electrical plug points, so the plug-in type is not suited for a bathroom setting.

If you are thinking of a more commercial, public setting for an air freshener dispenser, then a mechanical time-operated air freshener system combined with a drip hygiene odour control and cleaning system will work well. Unfortunately, due to their chemical nature, some air fresheners cause allergies.

7.      Seat Sanitiser Sprays

Seat sanitiser sprays offer peace of mind against the spread of bacteria found on toilet seats and bathroom surfaces. Once sprayed onto a surface the product is proven to kill bacteria which can cause illness and disease which is spread via hand-to-object contact. The quick drying formula evaporates leaving a germ-free surface in seconds.

8.      Seat Sanitiser Wipes

The existence of all these sanitising products confirms that sharing toilet seats with others is an area of concern for most individuals. Using sanitising sprays and/or wipes makes having to use public bathroom facilities less risky for everyone.

So much ado is made of the loo, but what about the dirty door handle? For your peace of mind, you could take an extra sanitising wipe and use it to hold the handle.

It is a well-known fact that when a toilet is flushed, microbes are released into the air and they settle on all the bathroom surfaces. To avoid being rained on by these microbes, and to keep them inside the toilet where they belong, it is recommended that you close the lid before you flush. 

9.      Hand Sanitiser Dispensers

Our first contact with germs happens to be our hands. Many people don’t wash their hands and then go around touching everything from handrails to door handles. It is inevitable that your hands will come into contact with germ-causing bacteria at some time. The problem comes in when we use the same hand that opened the door to eat a snack or apply lip balm or touch our cellphone.

This is where hand sanitiser dispensers, placed at convenient places throughout your office building or place of work come in very handy (pun intended). Having a complimentary hand sanitiser dispenser in rooms that do not have hand washing facilities – for example, a foyer, lobby, conference room, workshop, stairwell or elevator – allows clients, customers and employees to sanitise their hands no matter where they are. Think of a hospital – there are hand sanitiser dispensers at every door. There must be a good reason for that.

The main ingredients in waterless hand sanitisers are ethanol, isopropanol and n-propanol. Antiseptic hand gel is also a quick and easy, dispensable method of sanitising your hands. 

Is all this sanitising of hands and places really necessary?

Washing hands with soap, steriliser or sanitiser removes germs and prevents illnesses and the spread of infections to others.

• People often touch their mouth, nose, and eyes without realising it. Germs get into the body this way and make us sick.
• Germs from dirty hands contaminate food and drink while people prepare or consume them.
• Germs from unwashed hands are transferred to other objects, like handrails, table tops, door handles, and shared public facilities; from there they are transferred to another person’s hands.
• Removing germs through cleansing hands helps prevent diarrhoea and respiratory infections, as well as thwarting skin and eye infections.

10. Toiler Roll Holders

Take the time to do a bit of research before you choose a toilet paper dispenser. There are two rather important questions to consider:

1. How many people will be using the toilet?
2.  How often will the toilet paper have to be topped up?

Never mind additional concerns like durability, maintenance, cost, décor, and user satisfaction.

The truth of the matter is; everyone needs toilet paper.

It may be the least glamorous part of our existence as human beings, but it’s a bare necessity in our society. It isn’t rocket science, but if you get it wrong, it can cause bigger problems than anyone cares to admit. With over a decade of experience under our belt, we will be able to evaluate your needs and recommend the best toilet paper dispenser for your office, commercial building, or any public bathroom setting.

For public and commercial toilets we recommend a dispenser that can hold several spare rolls of toilet paper while dispensing a generous amount of good quality toilet paper as and when needed. Depending on the busyness of people doing their business, the dispenser is easy to refill.

11.  Baby Changing Stations

Although not something you’re likely to require in the restrooms at your office, many public toilets have specially designed diaper (or nappy) changing stations available. They are hinged so that they can be folded away when not in use and are typically not enclosed in a stall. If the people who will be visiting your building need this kind of table for nappy changes, bear in mind that this would be an excellent place to install dispensers with air freshener, sanitising wipes, and/or disinfecting spray.

Part 4: Who can help me make head or tail of my commercial hygiene equipment needs?

Are you looking for the best quality commercial hygiene equipment for the kitchen or bathroom at your office building, workplace, commercial centre, restaurant, clinic, hotel lobby, warehouse, workshop, spa, reception area, etc., etc.?

At Pinnacle Hygiene and Pest Control Services, we have extensive knowledge on the subject as well as a wide range of hygiene products and equipment available.

Our range is available to buy or to rent. We deliver, install, service and maintain all our hygiene equipment. We also deliver hygiene consumables to commercial customers.

Pinnacle Hygiene for your hygiene equipment needs

• Pinnacle Hygiene and Pest Control services has been in the industry since 2007.
• We understand your individual hygiene product needs.
• We begin with a full evaluation and provide you with an in-depth proposal to help you decide on the best, long-lasting hygiene equipment solution tailored to your business.

Our commercial hygiene consumable range compliments our hygiene products

It wouldn’t be of much benefit to our industry if we supplied hygiene equipment without offering the cleaning products or paper products to fill them.

Our paper product range includes:

• Good quality toilet paper
• Towels
• Catering roll
• Paper Towel
• Tissues

Also, our top quality consumables include:

• Hand soaps
• Sanitizer gel and foam
• Sanitising wipes
• Soap
• Air freshener refills
• Cleaning chemicals
• We also provide environmentally friendly varieties of the above.

We are small enough to offer attention to detail and yet big enough to provide you with a quick, effective solution for all your hygiene equipment needs.

Our five-point guarantee:

1. Reliability
2. High level of Service
3. Quality Products
4. Personal attention and service
5. Professionalism.

Call Pinnacle Hygiene and Pest Control on 086 100 0819 or email us at info@pinnaclehygiene.co.za.

One of our hygiene specialists is available to give you a free evaluation.

You are most welcome to contact us.