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Blocked Urinals and Persistent Odours? It Could Be More Than a Cleaning Problem

Learn how URIZAP Shock tackles urinal blockages and odours at source, helping reduce plumbing call-outs, harsh chemicals and disruption in busy washrooms.

Blocked Urinals and Persistent Odours? It Could Be More Than a Cleaning Problem
Blocked Urinals and Persistent Odours? It Could Be More Than a Cleaning Problem
Red Thrive URIZAP pouch labeled Removes odours & blockages from urinals, 1kg.

A washroom can look perfectly clean and still have a problem that refuses to disappear. One of the most frustrating examples is a urinal that develops a persistent odour, begins draining slowly or repeatedly blocks despite regular cleaning.


At that point, simply cleaning the visible surface may not be enough. The problem can be developing further down the urinal and within the pipework, where deposits gradually build up and restrict flow.


For facilities teams, cleaners and building managers, that can lead to repeated maintenance, unpleasant washrooms and, in more serious cases, plumbing call-outs or sections of a washroom being taken out of use.


This is exactly the type of problem URIZAP Shock has been designed to tackle.


Why Do Urinals Keep Smelling or Blocking?

Urine contains uric acid which, together with minerals and other deposits, can contribute to scale building up inside urinals and their pipework. Over time, these deposits can restrict the flow of water and create areas where unpleasant smells persist.


The important distinction is that the visible urinal may not be the source of the problem. A cleaner can leave the ceramic or stainless-steel surface looking spotless while deposits remain further inside the waste system.


That is why repeatedly masking an odour or using a conventional surface cleaner may not solve a recurring issue.


Tackling the Build-Up Rather Than Just the Symptoms

URIZAP Shock is an intensive treatment designed to break down uric scale, limescale, slime and other deposits associated with problematic urinals. The formulation works inside the waste system rather than simply treating the visible surface.


Seldram describes URIZAP Shock as a fast-acting treatment for clearing urinal blockages and odours, designed to reduce the need for rodding, aggressive chemical treatments and potentially expensive pipework repairs.


That makes it particularly relevant for busy commercial washrooms where repeatedly dealing with the same problem can quickly become both disruptive and expensive.


What Makes URIZAP Shock Different?

Traditional approaches to a badly affected urinal can involve strong chemicals, manually rodding pipework or calling in a plumber. Those solutions may sometimes be necessary, particularly where a blockage has been caused by a foreign object, but scale and deposit build-up require a different approach.


URIZAP Shock is designed specifically for scale and deposits found in urinals and traps. Manufacturer guidance recommends dosing the affected urinal and allowing the formulation time to work, with treatment repeated over approximately one week for more established build-up.


The formulation is pH neutral and non-corrosive, making it suitable for ceramic, stainless-steel and resin urinals. As with any professional cleaning product, users should follow the supplied directions, Safety Data Sheet and recommended PPE requirements when applying it.


Less Disruption for Facilities Teams

There is also a practical cost argument.


A blocked urinal does not simply create an unpleasant washroom. It takes facilities staff away from other work, can result in maintenance visits and may eventually require specialist intervention.


For a building with several washrooms, particularly schools, hospitality venues, offices, leisure facilities and other high-footfall environments, recurring problems can quickly become a significant drain on maintenance time.


Using a specialist product to deal with the underlying deposit therefore has the potential to be a much simpler intervention than repeatedly addressing the symptoms.


PRODUCT SHOWCASE: URIZAP Shock

URIZAP Shock is designed for problematic urinals where odour, reduced flow or blockages are being caused by built-up deposits.


It is a fast-acting treatment designed to clear urinal blockages and associated odours, with the manufacturer recommending repeated treatment over approximately a week for established build-up. It can be used with ceramic, stainless-steel and resin urinals, and is designed to reduce reliance on rodding and aggressive chemical treatment.


The manufacturer's technical guidance lists a 1kg pack as providing approximately 40 x 25g doses, although users should always follow the instructions supplied with the product being used.


View URIZAP Shock on the Seldram website


What Happens After the Initial Treatment?

URIZAP Shock is primarily intended as an intensive treatment rather than simply becoming another everyday washroom cleaner.


Once existing build-up has been addressed, ongoing maintenance becomes the next consideration. Thrive recommends following intensive treatment with its regular URIZAP solution to help maintain free-flowing urinals and prevent the same problems from returning.


This approach makes sense for facilities teams because it shifts the focus from repeatedly reacting to blocked or unpleasant-smelling urinals towards maintaining the pipework before the problem becomes serious again.


Sometimes the Problem Is Below the Surface

A persistent washroom problem is not necessarily a sign that the cleaning routine is failing. Sometimes the visible surface is being cleaned correctly while the real issue is developing where nobody can see it.


Products such as URIZAP Shock give cleaning and facilities teams another option before recurring urinal problems turn into disruptive maintenance issues.


For organisations managing busy commercial washrooms, tackling the cause rather than repeatedly treating the symptoms can mean cleaner-smelling facilities, fewer interruptions and a much easier job for the people responsible for keeping them running.

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Public washroom germs. How to protect yourself.

Mar 10, 2025
4 min read

We've long been supporters of the power of hand hygiene, therefore, we believe good hand hygiene is vitally important when using public washrooms, where it can help prevent the spread of germs and illnesses.


It's nothing new to hear that sharing amenities such as toilet seats, toilet rolls, sinks, and taps with strangers have been linked to health risks; some claims are credible and others are little more than 'myths'.


Following Steve Palmer from Tork manufacturer SCA's recent article in Cleaning and Maintenance magazine, we take a closer look at what type of infections and viruses you could possibly catch from a public washroom, and importantly, what you can do to protect yourself.


Hands with dark nails washing under a silver faucet with soap lather in a white sink. Background is a warm beige.

What Germs Are Really Lurking In Public Washrooms?

As high traffic areas, it's no surprise to hear that the use of public washrooms means exposure to germs. According to experts, there are any number of bacteria and viruses that could be lying in wait in public toilets – including streptoccus, E.coli, salmonella, typhoid fever and Hepatitis A.


So where are the germs lurking? The sink is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria as it is naturally wet for prolonged periods of time. Avoid touching the inside of the sink and you'll receive little to no risk of contamination. Other areas which receive frequent contact, meaning they are offer high risk include – light switches, door handles, taps, dispensers, and toilet seats, which you can find out more below. If you are responsible for the maintenance of washrooms, always make sure to give these areas your utmost attention.


Can I Catch Diseases From Toilet Seats?

If you've ever used a public washroom which was in need of a thorough clean, chances are you were most concerned about the cleanliness of the toilet seat. However, if you use a toilet seat cover, or cover the seat in toilet tissue, it will provide little more than comfort. The truth is that toilet seats are not a vehicle for the transmission of any infectious agents.


In an article by Huffington Post, Dr. William Schaffner, M.D., a professor of preventive medicine at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, explains...


“Toilet seats were once thought to be a way of transmitting gastrointestinal or sexually transmitted infections, but that idea has since been refuted in research."

What might shock you, is that the toilet seat might actually be the cleanest surface in a public washroom. A 2014 US programme called 'The Drs' investigated the cleanliness of public washrooms by taking swabs of various surfaces and sending them to a lab for analysis. The toilet seat actually came out as the cleanest – beating other washroom surfaces such as taps, sinks, and toilet paper dispensers.


Limiting the spread of germs within an airborne environment can be easily achieved by closing the toilet seat lid when flushing, however many of us forget to do this on a regular basis. A 2011 study revealed that the number of viable C.difficile bacteria on surrounding surfaces following a toilet flush was 12 times higher when the toilet lid was open compared to when it had been closed. So remember to always 'put a lid on it' every time you flush!


3 Steps To Protecting Yourself From Germs In Public Washrooms

Although it might seem shocking to discover the extent of which germs are present in public washrooms, the good news is it's actually one of the best places where you could encounter a surface contaminated by harmful bacteria. With immediate access to soap, water, and hand towels you can easily remove the contamination from your hands.


We consider some tips below which you may wish to consider, whether you're using a washroom on a regular basis or are in charge of its maintenance.


Consider Enclosed Toilet Tissue Dispensers

As an area which receives regular contact, and may receive splashings of water and germs from the toilet bowl, research by Philip Tierno of the New York University Medical Centre recommends using dispensers which almost completely enclose the paper. The Versatwin by Leonardo are fantastic dispensers.


Practice Good Hand Hygiene

Washing our hands after using the toilet is the most crucial aspect of protecting ourselves from germs in public washrooms. The Centres for Disease Control states that we should wash our hands with running water for 20 seconds and then drying them thoroughly after each visit to avoid becoming ill or spreading germs to others. By doing this, it is relatively unlikely that you will pick up an illness in the washroom provided you practice good hand hygiene.


But methods for drying our hands 'thoroughly' have also been a point of contention recently, with both The European Tissue Symposium (ETS) and The Hygienic Efficacy of Different Hand-Drying Methods paper concluding that from a “hygiene viewpoint, paper towels are superior to electronic air dryers". Take a look at our Infographic Hot Air Hand Dryers vs Paper Towels to discover more.


Use 'No Contact Dispensers'

The risk of cross contamination can be reduced even further by using touch free electronic dispenser systems. Reducing contact points, soap dispensers such as our Merlin Gold Soap Dispeners are both a practical and elegant choice for busy washrooms. Touchless taps, paper hand dispensers and hand dryers are other examples of touchless technology – a logical step forward in the future of washroom hygiene. For extra peace of mind, touch free hand sanitising dispensers are perfect for public washrooms, hallways, offices and receptions alike.

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