How to Avoid Clogged Shower Drains in Your Hotel
In the hospitality industry, you always have to be one step ahead of any problem that may come up. One never-ending challenge a hotel owner or manager will face is dealing with people from different backgrounds.
Whether running a boutique hotel that can only receive fifty guests or a well-known chain that serves thousands per night, you must know that no guest is the same. So instead of constantly worrying about your guests, staff, and the property itself, you should already make small investments that will protect your business from unnecessary expenses.
Prevention is always better than cure in this case. Establishing an efficient maintenance system can save you from scandalous repair fees, regardless of the size of your hotel. And one area you should not skimp on maintaining is the drainage system.
What Causes Shower Drains To Clog?
Clogged shower drains are a seemingly inescapable and recurring problem that hotels face. And while some hotel managements accept this as part and parcel, it’s always better to know the cause of the problem.
We believe that knowing what causes a problem can help find ways to prevent it from happening occasionally. Here are the three usual suspects of clogged shower drains.
Hair
As we all know, hair fall is one of the main culprits of clogged shower drains. When people check-in for their stay, you would like them to have a relaxing time, which could also translate to prolonged time in the shower.
Hair falls while showering is unavoidable, and most guests expect hotel cleaners to clean up after them. And while this assumption is not wrong, this only means you have to invest a little bit more in maintaining your shower drains.
Soap and Shampoo
This may surprise some people, but soaps and shampoos can cause clogged shower drains. Some might think this combination can help clear the drain pathways, but some soaps and shampoos have chemicals that can harm them.
If you provide toiletries for your guest, make it a point to know what’s in a bottle and if you can still make changes to it. If it’s impossible to change the ingredients, being aware will help you make necessary preparations to avoid clogging. Doing this is better than letting your guests use their own products, which can potentially cause more damage to the hotel’s pipes.
Other Liquids and Debris
Of course, even if you provide toiletries for your guests, some prefer to use their own products. And because it’s impossible to track which guest is using what, you should always assume most guests also apply other types of liquids on their bodies.
This includes lotion, sunblock, and other skincare products, whose residues are washed down the shower drain after a long day. If you don’t have a proper drainage maintenance plan, the residues of these products will affect and clog your drains.
5 Tips To Avoid Clogged Hotel Shower Drains
Now that we know what usually causes clogged shower drains, it’s time to talk about how you can prevent it from happening in the future. Here are five tips you can easily do to avoid shower drain clogging from happening:
Use Mesh Strainers
Some might say mesh strainers contribute to clogged shower drains, but these prevent hair and small debris from building up deep within the pipes. A mesh strainer can also make it easier for you and your team to properly dispose of fallen hair and other waste that will clog up the drain.
If you are worried about how your shower area will look, some strainers can be installed underneath the shower drain for a more subtle look.
Leave Friendly Reminders
These days, the hospitality industry is striving to be environment-friendly. They remind their guests how they can help the environment by leaving small notes that remind them how to be sustainable and help maintain the hotel’s amenities. A little note can go a long way in preventing clogs and damage to your drainage system.
Train Your Cleaners
This goes without saying, but in case you are unaware, your staff is the frontline in preventing clogged shower drains. With proper training, implementation, and tools, your staff can prevent shower drain clogging from happening as often.