How to Keep Portable Toilets Fresh

Portable toilets get a bad rap, but using them doesn’t have to be an unpleasant experience. In fact, if you keep up with regular portable toilet cleaning and sanitation in Chattanooga, TN, your guests will be surprised at how clean and safe they can be. The key is to follow industry advice and work out a regular cleaning schedule; it’s the only way to keep high-traffic restrooms sanitary over multiple days.

Read on to learn the best ways to keep your porta potties smelling fresh.

Portable toilet sanitization

Porta potties used to use formaldehyde—the same chemical used for embalming—for sanitization. After all, portable toilets rely on a large holding tank to capture waste, so something to kill the germs is necessary. Unfortunately, formaldehyde is carcinogenic and harmful to the environment, so things have changed.

Today, portable toilet companies use “green” solutions that rely on enzymes and other microbes that feed on odor-causing bacteria. They also have improved ventilation, which directs odors up and out of the toilet. It’s a much more pleasant experience, especially when you factor in handwashing stations and hand sanitizer dispensers in the toilets.

What affects odors

As you are no doubt aware, weather is one of the biggest factors when it comes to porta potty odors. The hotter it is outside, the more the indoor temperature will go up. This, in turn, encourages odor-causing bacteria to breed. In the summer, porta potty maintenance requires higher levels of sanitization solutions to fight odor.

Of course, winter comes with its own problems—frozen waste, to be exact. To combat this, salt brines can be added to the tank, which lowers the freezing point.

How to keep your portable toilets clean

One of the challenges of using portable toilets for longer-term purposes is keeping them clean and tidy. Here are some tips to help you out:

• Sanitize the entire inside: Your porta potty needs to be completely sanitized, since bacteria don’t just stay in one location. Some companies use a microbial “fog,” which fills up the portable toilet and kills harmful bacteria.
• Let it air out: After you’ve cleaned and sanitized your portable toilets, they need to be aired out until they’re completely dry. Moisture and heat trapped in the toilet will lead to more odor-causing bacteria. You should also air them out for about a half hour each day, especially during high-traffic events. Letting fresh air circulate goes a long way toward removing bad odors.
• Use the best quality odor reducers: The quality of your sanitization supplies directly correlates to how sanitary and fresh your portable toilets smell. Ask your porta potty rental company what kind of odor control products they use, and how often they’ll be able to replenish the supply while your event goes on.
• Wipe down touch points often: Finally, make sure that you assign a maintenance crew to wipe down frequently-used touch points, which are breeding grounds for germs. Handles, seats, dispensers and sinks should be disinfected as often as possible.

For more information about portable toilet cleaning and sanitation in Chattanooga, TN, call Pit Stop Portables today.

Categorised in: portable sanitation