A Step-by-Step Guide for Janitors and Facility Managers
Touchless faucets are common in most business restrooms today, promoting sanitation and convenience. As much as they avoid germ transfer from hands to handles, touchless faucets improve customer experience, save water, and require a more sensitive maintenance and cleaning procedure because such units utilize advanced infrared or motion sensors.
If not handled properly, harsh chemicals, scrubbing cleansers, or water entry into the sensor area would devastate performance or result in malfunction. The following is an easy-to-follow, step-by-step process intended for facility personnel and cleaning professionals to keep touchless faucets in peak operating condition without harming delicate components.
Step 1: Get the Right Stuff
Before you begin to clean, prepare yourself with the right equipment. Remove anything that can scratch surfaces or become entangled in sensors.
What to use:
- Soft microfiber cleaning cloths
- Mild non-abrasive soap or a neutral-pH cleaner
- A small soft-bristle brush (in small areas)
- A spray bottle of warm water
- Lint-free paper towels
- Disposable gloves
Don’t use:
- Strong chemicals like bleach, ammonia, or alcohol sprays on sensors themselves
- Steel wool, scouring sponges, or abrasive scrubbers
- High-pressure water jets sprayed at the sensor window
Step 2: Turn Off the Water Supply (If Possible)
For larger facilities, it may not always be practical to shut off the water supply during cleaning. However, if you’re working on a single faucet or in a smaller restroom, temporarily turning off the water can prevent accidental activation and help ensure a more controlled cleaning process.
Some faucets have a cleaning modes option (off the sensors temporarily). Check the owner’s manual for this setting—this is convenient and stops water flow activation when cleaning.
Step 3: Clean the Exterior Surfaces
Start at the faucet body. Spray your neutral cleaner onto a cloth and not onto the faucet, so fluid won’t seep into the sensor window or seams. Wipe the faucet with the cloth, cleaning away fingerprints, soap scum, and water spots.
For tough buildup, use your soft-bristle brush in small circular strokes on near-base areas and joint regions. Always damp-wipe with a microfiber cloth to prevent streaking.
Step 4: Clean the Sensor Window
The “eyes” of your touchless faucet are its sensor window. Any smudge, dust, or dirt there could lead to detection problems.
- Wipe the sensor gently with a slightly damp microfiber cloth.
- Never spray cleaner onto the sensor—overspray can enter the electronics and ruin them.
- For long-term heavy buildup, wet cloth very lightly with warm water and wipe very gently.
Consistency is key: daily cleaning of the sensor area prevents buildup from hardening and makes performance issues unlikely.
Step 5: Descale the Aerator
Mineral buildup will eventually clog a faucet aerator and reduce water pressure. Aerators on most commercial touchless faucets are simple to remove by unscrewing.
- Remove the aerator carefully.
- Soak in equal parts vinegar and warm water (50% each) for 15–30 minutes.
- Rinse well with warm water.
- Securely install the aerator.
This is especially important where there is hard water in a building because buildup occurs more quickly.
Step 6: Test Batteries or Power Source
The majority of touchless faucets operate using replaceable batteries, although a few operate on AC power. In your maintenance routine:
- Check for corrosion or leakage in battery compartments.
- Replace batteries in twos, not singles, to ensure even power supply.
- Check connections are tightened in AC-driven ones.
A well-powered faucet will neither give false positives nor fail during use.
Step 7: Testing after Cleaning
After you have sanitized it, restore water supply (if shut off) and check the faucet. Position your hand underneath the sensor to verify proper activation. Make sure there is balanced water pressure and the faucet shuts off automatically as soon as you vacate.
Testing is the way by which you will ensure that water or soil has not seeped through to influence sensor function and enable prompt correction of issues.
| Category | Task | Key Points |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation | Gather supplies | Use microfiber cloths, mild soap, warm water; wear gloves. |
| Cleaning Safety | Avoid harsh materials | No bleach, ammonia, alcohol, steel wool, or high-pressure sprays. |
| Faucet Body | Wipe exterior | Spray cleaner on cloth (not faucet); wipe gently. |
| Sensor Area | Clean carefully | Use damp cloth only; never spray directly on sensor. |
| Aerator | Remove buildup | Soak in 50/50 vinegar-water for 15–30 min, rinse, reinstall. |
| Power Source | Check batteries | Replace all together; inspect for corrosion or loose wiring. |
| Testing | Verify operation | Ensure proper activation, water flow, and auto shut-off. |
| Maintenance Routine | Schedule care | Daily cleaning • Monthly descaling • Keep a maintenance log. |
Preventive Maintenance Practices
To gain optimum performance from your touchless faucets and minimize emergency calls, implement these best practices:
- Develop a Cleaning Schedule: Clean out the sensor and faucet housing every day to avoid clogging. Scale the aerator monthly or every quarter based on water hardness.
- Train Your Janitorial Staff: Your janitorial staff may be ignorant of sensor technology. Incorporate training for correct cleaning procedure.
- Maintenance Records: Keep track of battery replacement, descaling, and inspection. This will allow repeated issues to be caught and preventative maintenance to be easy.
- Check Out Manufacturer Directions: Different manufacturers offer different recommendations. Always check the user manual for cleaning compatibility.
Preventative Avoidance of Mistakes
- Direct spritz of cleaners on sensors – This destroys internal electronics.
- Abrasive material – Scratch not only ruins the finish but also degrades sensor accuracy.
- Ignores minor issues – Low water pressure or slow sensor can be indicative of buildup or battery issues. Correct these prior to system failure.
Last Thoughts
Touchless faucets do not have to be a pain to keep around. By executing a routine cleaning routine, facility managers and custodial staff can have clean bathrooms, increased fixture longevity, and avoid costly repairs.
Keep in mind: the key is light, routine care—coordination with the faucet as a sanitary piece of equipment and a sensitive unit of technology. Under periodic maintenance, touchless faucets deliver years of quiet, sensor-activated convenience.
Leave a Reply