by Shane Henson — November 27, 2013—Customers visiting restaurants, hotels, retail stores and other establishments open to the public may not take notice when a restroom is clean, but a dirty one definitely gets their attention, as noted in an 18-month study conducted by Impact Products LLC. Impact’s Innovative and Holistic Approach to Solving the Problem of Odor Control in Public Restrooms White Paper found that unsanitary-appearing restrooms in commercial establishments will drive up to 33 percent of customers away.
The qualitative research study conducted by Impact, a manufacturer and supplier of janitorial and sanitary maintenance products, found a major cause of most public restroom odor is uric acid splashing on floors, walls and partitions. Armed with the study findings of where and why odors occur, how to combat them, what odors are preventable and when to redeploy odor control, Impact developed a simple holistic solution called Barricade—Your Odor Defense System.
The solution is composed of four products: the Barricade Hygiene Screen, Barricade Press-on Urinal Mats and Hand-Dryer Mats, Barricade Fragrance Stix, and Barricade 30-Day Timer Cards. A free software application is included to assist with deployment and change-out compliance.
Barricade Hygiene Screen: To protect floors, walls, partitions, and the user’s clothing and shoes by preventing a substantial percentage of urine splash-back from urinals, Impact has introduced the first product designed with an innovative plastic screen configured to prevent splattering of urine flow. This screen allows for easy cleaning, front and back, with traditional disinfectants, therefore reducing labor and reducing product replacement when compared to conventional screens. The 90-Day Hygiene Screen is available in two sizes, fits 90 percent of all urinal designs, and lasts up to 6,000 flushes, the company says.
Barricade Press-on Mats: Designed to effectively absorb 16-plus ounces of fluid, the Barricade Press-on Urinal Mats provide defense against urine dribbles and tracking, reduce the danger of slipping on a wet floor, and preserve the integrity of floors and grouting. Its adhesive backing holds tight and leaves no residue. Press-on Urinal Mats are easily applied to flat-surfaced floors, maintain their adhesion, and after 30 days of damp-mopping, are easily removed, says Impact.
Barricade Fragrance Stix: Working with a major consumer brands fragrance manufacturer, and a leading PhD polymer chemist, Impact developed a simple, solid-state polymeric diffusion system. Barricade Fragrance Stix come in two sizes, 12-inch and 4-inch. Non-toxic and recyclable, they contain low VOCs, no asthmagens and no phenols. Lasting 30 days strong, Fragrance Stix are available in 11 new signature scents for male, female and unisex restrooms, and generate the right amount of fragrance where it is needed, the company says.
30-day Timer Cards: To provide a consistent positive restroom experience for guests, Fragrance Stix and urinal/hand-dryer mats deployed to combat odors must be changed out on a regular 30-day schedule, explains Impact. A simple product change-out reminder tool is included in the system for the benefit of the janitorial staff. Impact’s 30-day Timer Card is easily activated, can be hung on a cart or behind a supply room door, and visually indicates the time progression toward the end of the 30-day cycle.
Odor Genie Software Application: In order to achieve optimal coverage and realize the full potential of this holistic system, Impact has developed, in tandem with Fragrance Stix, the industry’s only software program (available free to users) that enables the FM/janitorial staff to understand where and how much fragrance should be deployed in each “fragrance zone” of a restroom. Upon entering information on traffic, fixtures, cubic footage, cleaning frequency and scent level desired, the software will output the number and type of products required to achieve desired results.
