THE job of a cleaner is never easy, what more to say a washroom attendant. Despite the difficulty in what they face, these unsung heroes remain committed to doing their job well – ensuring the toilet is clean at all times. Like a person’s identity and culture, the toilet reflects their personality not just as an individual, but also as a company.
For The Spring Shopping Mall, Kuching’s washroom attendant, Rosita Stephen Spido, the journey in the housekeeping department brings meaning and satisfaction to her. Working in the premium washroom of the shopping mall, cleanliness without a speck of dust or dirt is important, not just to her and the mall, but also to the people who visit.
But with good management by the shopping mall and great supervisors, Rosita thrived in the environment as she learned something new from it. Having worked at The Spring for eight years, her routine always starts with cleaning the toilet bowl, refilling the tissue compartment, ensuring there is adequate hand soap, mopping the floor, and clearing the dustbin.
“I remember the first time when I stumbled upon faeces in the toilet bowl; I just shrugged. I did feel overwhelmed, but over time, I felt numb to it. It felt like something normal as I gained more experience. However, I never complain. It just felt like part of the job anyway,” conceded the 35-year-old.
Other challenges she has gone through include shoe prints on the toilet bowl, which are difficult to clean, “and also overflowing tissue paper in the bowl, which clogs the toilet. Sometimes there is also faeces that clogs the bowl”.
It isn’t a walk in the park, she admits, and while it’s part of her job, she does hope that the public will be more mindful when using the washrooms. Although it is the responsibility of the management to ensure cleanliness throughout, there are times when the going gets tough.
“I hope that the public can flush the toilet and keep it clean for the next user. I also hope that people can be kinder to us too because there are times when I feel looked down upon. But when a public washroom is clean, everyone will be happy too,” she said.
At The Spring, the toilet is often wiped down regularly to ensure hygiene at an optimum level. It is also sprayed with a relaxing and calming fragrance to ensure a pleasant little breather when using the loo.
Having worked for the management for eight years, Rosita revealed that she’s in her comfort zone. When asked why she chose to work as a washroom attendant, she says that it is the only thing she does best.
“If I work in customer service, I am not fluent in speaking the English language. I did work as a cashier before, but it’s much more taxing as I need to arrange the shop’s stock and I have to speak to people. Therefore, I feel that this is a good job for me. I also don’t have to communicate much with people,” shared Rosita.
Despite the ups and downs, Rosita is here to stay – passionate about ensuring that visitors to the mall get the feel of luxury in the premium washroom. At the end of the day, Rosita may not wear a uniform with titles or medals, but her work speaks for itself. Every spotless mirror, every freshly stocked cubicle, every clean floor under the warm lights of The Spring’s premium washroom carries her quiet pride.
In a world that often praises the loudest voices, she reminds us that dedication doesn’t need an audience – it just needs heart. And thanks to people like her, even a simple trip to the toilet feels cared for. This is exactly the echo that rings true during World Toilet Day, a day that calls for unsung heroes like Rosita.
