March 2024

The Complete Mobile Restroom Trailer Maintenance Checklist

We get it–you have a busy life, and the thought of cleaning and maintaining your portable restroom trailer is a bit overwhelming. To make your life easier, we’ve assembled the ultimate cleaning and maintenance checklist for your trailer so that you remember everything you have to do. This way, when it comes time to do your chores and service your trailers, you can confidently tackle the tasks at hand and use your time wisely.  Before You Use Your Trailer It is important to make sure that you can take care of any issues with your trailer before you move or use it. This helps to keep your plans running smoothly and can allow you to identify any minor problems before they become major ones.  1. Check Your Supplies Ensure you have adequate supplies for your job site or event. Some things to look out for are: Toilet paper should be fully stocked in each unit, with extra rolls on hand if and when a unit runs out.  Paper towels at all hand wash stations. Hand soap dispensers are full and functioning. Feminine hygiene products.  Antifreeze if you are operating your trailer in the colder months. This will prevent any pipes from bursting.  A plunger to sort out any minor toilet clogs.  A spare tire for your trailer and the necessary tire jack.  2. Check Your Facility Make sure that your trailer is functioning correctly. This can include checking tire pressure before transporting the trailer, flushing your water system of any antifreeze or sedentary water sitting in the pipes for some time, and ensuring all light fixtures are working correctly.  In ADA-compliant trailers, it is vital to ensure that signs are visible, ramps are stable, and grab bars are secure.  Most importantly, make sure that waste tanks are empty from the last use and that water tanks are full. If you forgot to do either after the previous use and rolled up to your trailer's new home with unsatisfactory tank levels, you could be in a pinch to address the issue at the last minute.  During Your Event or Workday The key to maintaining your restroom trailer efficiently is to keep up with little tasks as they come along. We recommend checking in on toilet paper, paper towels, hand soap, and hygiene product supplies periodically throughout the day and replenishing as products become unavailable. Additionally, as you discover any clogs or plumbing issues throughout the day, address them as quickly as possible to prevent them from worsening. That is why we suggest you keep a plunger and any other plumbing tools you may need on hand so you aren’t caught out and need to call a plumber for a basic fix.  It is also essential to regularly check your waste tank levels throughout the day to prevent an overflow, as well as your water tank. You can easily monitor your tank levels remotely with our Smarter Restrooms App. After Use The most important part of trailer maintenance is thoroughly cleaning your facilities after a workday or event. Doing so prevents any issues from persisting and keeps dirt, grime, and bacteria from building up in your trailer.  As in any context, when using vaporous cleaning products, ensure you do so with the doors to the trailer open—a well-ventilated space is critical to safe use.  Your To-Do List for All Trailers Clean up and dispose of any waste left behind.   Sweep and mop floors, drying them to prevent any bacteria or mold growth. Disinfect all surfaces, especially the high-touch areas, like door handles. Clean mirrors or windows with a streak-free cleaner.  Empty waste tanks. Check for any leaks in the plumbing, both on the unit's interior and exterior.  Check the exterior of the trailer. Is there any damage to the outer body?  Are any tires flat?  Are stairs and ramps in good, safe condition?  Be sure to address any concerns you may have right away. If you don’t intend to use your trailer for some time, flush all the water out of the systems, particularly when storing your trailer in colder months. Running systems dry prevents water from freezing, pipes from bursting, and bacteria from breeding in your tank and water systems.  3 Additional Items for Toilet Trailers Flush each toilet and urinal to confirm there are no clogs and that flushing mechanisms work smoothly.  Clean toilet bowls, seats, lids, and fastenings with a dedicated bathroom cleaner to disinfect surfaces with high traffic.  In the same vein, disinfect sink basins, faucets, and countertops.  Specific Tasks for Shower Trailers In addition to the list for all trailers, you want to do these extra steps for mobile shower trailers: Disinfect shower heads, temperature dials, and towel bars.  Beyond just mopping the floor, use a heavy-duty disinfectant on shower floors and walls. Clear drains of any hair or debris that could cause clogging and hygiene issues. Periodically use a preventative limescale agent on shower heads to keep them clear and clean.  3 More Steps for Laundry Trailers For portable laundry trailers, it’s imperative to: Clear lint traps in dryer units. Ensure all washing machines are draining correctly and all draining mechanisms are clear.  Keep washing machine doors open until subsequent use to prevent moisture from being locked in units and allow mold and bacteria to breed.  Don’t forget to disinfect all dials, door handles, and other high-traffic surfaces. Why All the Work? Maintaining a trailer in the best condition possible is essential to getting the most use out of your rental or purchase. It keeps your guests or employees happy and healthy, your space hygienic and clean, and your life easier in the long run. Checking for and addressing issues regularly prevents them from worsening or causing additional problems and keeps your trailer in excellent condition.  Video Infographic Before moving or using your trailer, ensure you can address any issues to keep your plans running smoothly. Be prepared with adequate supplies, and check out this infographic for important tips.
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Fact or Fiction? Debunking Myths about Portable Restroom Trailers

The portable restroom trailer industry is new and exciting, but because of that, there can be a lot of, well, crap to sift through.  You may have found some questionable information about mobile restroom trailers in your research. We want to help you make the most informed choice possible, so we are here to bust some myths about restroom trailers. Let’s set the record straight: Myth: Restroom Trailers Stink We all know how terrible it is to be at a concert, festival, campsite, outdoor event, and duty calls. That pit in your stomach forms when we walk up to that porta potty, knowing it will smell absolutely horrendous. Well, we can tell you one thing: a portable restroom trailer won’t have you turning up your nose and running for the hills.  Porta potties smell so awful because there is no airflow in those little plastic boxes. Combine that with heat when the weather is warm, and it’s essentially an oven. Bacteria and odors get trapped in the air, and when you breathe that in, your brain processes it as, you guessed it, stink.  With flushable toilets, we don’t have to leave waste exposed to stink up the place. Restroom trailers offer better ventilation than your traditional bathroom alternative, which helps push out nasty smells. Many options also include air conditioning that allows even further airflow.  So, are restroom trailers stinky? No.  Myth: Bathroom Trailers Are Dirty A public restroom in a building rarely gets this question asked, but we get it; it’s an alternative method of using the restroom, and there are bound to be concerns.  Well, fear not; mobile restroom trailers are just as clean as the bathroom in your office building.  Just because the bathroom is portable doesn’t make it any less clean. The use and fixtures in trailers are the same as any regular bathroom. Plus, as we said above, ventilation helps push out bacteria-ridden air. So, the cleanest bathroom that you can move around is a portable restroom trailer. So, are restroom trailers dirty? Not a chance.  Myth: Restroom Trailers Are Ugly While beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, a trailer is certainly a better option than other toilet alternatives out there.  On the outside, they aren’t brightly colored, mismatching your event's color scheme and drawing attention away. They are pretty low profile and can easily go unnoticed.  On the inside, though, they are undoubtedly showstopping. Luxury restroom trailers have marble effect interiors, glass sinks, granite countertops, or tile that match your vibe and work alongside decorative finishes to create a fabulous experience.  So, are restroom trailers hideous? Absolutely not.  Myth: Bathroom Trailers Are Tiny and Uncomfortable This could be one of the biggest myths of all. The image of the little colored plastic box may be to blame for that.  We cannot stress enough how different a portable restroom trailer is from a porta potty. Other than the convenience and mobility, there isn’t much they have in common with one another.  One of the most significant differences, though, is size and comfort.  Most restroom trailers offer a spacious area similar to a public restroom stall, if not bigger. As well, ADA-compliant restroom trailers provide even more space. Comfort is a top priority in mobile bathroom trailers, and the features offered prove that. With total privacy walls, powder rooms, air conditioning, and plenty of lighting, using the bathroom and freshening up has never been more luxurious at an outdoor event or job site.  So, are restroom trailers tiny and uncomfortable? Definitely no.  Myth: Restroom Trailers Don’t Offer the Same Fixtures as Regular Bathrooms  Restroom trailers offer flushing toilets, running water at handwash stations, mirrors, wifi, and more. There are even trailers that provide showers and laundry machines.  Whatever your needs are, there is certainly a trailer to solve them. Many trailers look and feel like your bathroom at home, so you won’t feel anything is missing when you’re in there.  So, are restroom trailers lacking in amenities? Not a chance.  Myth: Bathroom Trailers are a Hassle to Handle  To be fair, this one used to be true. Management can seem overwhelming with waste tanks that need emptying, water tanks that need filling, and power sources needing to be connected.  Thankfully, there are a lot of ways that trailer management is made more accessible. Firstly, many tanks can connect to sewer lines or be collected and disposed of by local waste management companies. Your standard garden hose can also top up your water tank. Power generators, or for a more environmentally friendly option, solar panels can provide your trailer with the energy it needs to keep the lights or wifi running smoothly. Plus, with our Smarter Restrooms App, management is easy, as you can track and order service for your trailers, all from your phone.  So, are restroom trailers a pain to service? No.  Myth: Restroom Trailers Aren’t Worth the Money We understand that purchasing or renting a trailer isn’t for everyone. However, if you regularly need toilet facilities for your events or job sites and want more for your employees and guests than a flimsy, smelly plastic toilet, then mobile bathroom trailers are worth it. We have a range of trailers that fit various needs and budgets, and we would love to work with you to find the perfect fit for you.    
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