Restroom Units and Supplies Needed for Your Service Business

Units and supplies are crucial components in the portable restroom rental industry. Quality is the key, and you’ll want to purchase supplies that are able to withstand both high foot traffic and frequent use. Purchasing high-quality restrooms and supplies from reliable manufacturers will improve customer satisfaction and yield a higher return on your investment. The products you purchase for your restroom service business are critical components in how your customers perceive your company and are the foundation of your own brand.

Restrooms

Traditionally, most restroom service companies include some or all of the following four types of units in their fleet.

Standard Units

This is your basic portable toilet seen on most construction sites and other industrial settings. These units provide a static-type waste tank and a toilet paper dispenser. Some include features like a mirror, hand sanitizer and coat hook. These units are the core of your fleet and should be built to last and pleasing to the eye. These units need to be able to withstand the rigors of constant loading and unloading, as well as heavy use in rugged construction and industrial environments. Units need to be durable, provide adequate ventilation, and be constructed of materials that can withstand all types of weather and the harsh chemicals used for cleaning.

Special Events Units

Many service providers choose to offer a separate and distinct type of unit for use at festivals, fairs, weddings and the like. These units often include amenities like handwashing sinks, a hands-free flushable tank, solar lighting and other items that make the user experience top-notch.

Enhanced Access Units

Federal law requires in many applications that units provided are wheelchair accessible. These units are somewhat larger than a standard portable restroom and are equipped with handrails as well as enough interior space to allow a wheelchair to easily get in the unit and maneuver. These units also sometimes include a baby-changing station, hand sanitizer and other amenities to enhance the user experience.

Restroom Trailers

High-end construction projects and many special events require or desire more than a traditional portable restroom. There are many trailer configurations available that include multiple stalls, multiple urinals, shower stalls and more. Most of today’s restroom trailers create the “like home” experience. Heating and air conditioning are usually standard fare, and many of these units include beautiful decorative fixtures, flooring, etc.

Supplies

Supplies and chemicals are the necessary items that keep your business running. There are many different options, but here are the standard categories to consider.

Deodorizer (Blue)

The main chemical that operators use is commonly known in the industry as “Blue.” This chemical controls odor and breaks down waste and paper. It comes with formaldehyde or without formaldehyde. You need to be careful on what kind you choose because some waste disposal sites do not accept loads that have formaldehyde chemicals. Blue is added to clean waste tanks that have an initial charge of 5 gallons of clean water. The blue can come in packs, pucks or tabs, or liquid.

Graffiti Remover

Vandalism by paint, pen or marker is, unfortunately, something that happens all the time in the portable restroom industry. That’s why most operators will have some kind of graffiti remover in their truck. This will come in aerosol cans or liquid and removes those stubborn marks.

Fragrance

Bad smells are your customer’s number one complaint. Use different fragrance forms to help give your toilets a better perception. These can come in sprays that you can spray on the walls of the unit to give it a pleasant smell. There are also fragrance discs that can be hung on the toilet paper dispenser rod, or hung on the vent screens. There are also urinal blocks or screens that can prevent bad odors.

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