Busy airports get cleanliness makeovers

At some other major U.S. airports, cleanliness and renovations are ongoing, complete with in-house teams that review and replace old or worn-out building materials.

Planning for the long term is beneficial in keeping airports new-looking and clean, said Michael McCarron, spokesman for the San Francisco International Airport, which sees 100,000 passengers each day.

"When you have a building that's up 24/7, you try to keep it clean and maintained with products that wear well and last long but won't go out of style quickly," McCarron said, adding that an airport design team checks to see if terminal materials are getting old or faded and a "very proactive" custodial force inspects restrooms hourly.

The outdoorsy nature of the Denver area prompted Denver International Airport to use sturdy materials like granite or terrazzo tile near airport ticket counters and other heavily trafficked common areas.

"We have, over 11 years, had to replace some of the carpet - we get a lot of wear and tear," said airport spokesman Chuck Cannon. "People tromping in the snow and rain and mud, we can only clean them for so long."

At Chicago's O'Hare International Airport - the world's busiest in terms of flights - custodial staff constantly clean restrooms.

"Our approach is we clean all day, everyday," said Wendy Abrams, spokeswoman of O'Hare, which can see more than 250,000 passengers daily during summer months. "Our high passenger volume presents the biggest challenge _ our goal is to maintain the highest standards of cleanliness without disrupting passengers or inconveniencing them in any way."

Passengers said they have been pleased with the results of the Atlanta airport's cleanliness campaign, which airport officials say will become an continuous effort to make Hartsfield-Jackson one of the world's top hubs for travelers.

"It's kept very clean, in view of the large amount of people who move through this hub," said Jerry Reitman, a 63-year-old business lawyer who frequently travels through the Atlanta airport. "I think our airports generally do a good job, in view of all the people that we have. For some reason, they are kept cleaner than other areas of public assembly."

Keeping a clean airport will give passengers a better impression of the city beyond the airport, which some busy travelers never get a chance to see, DeCosta said.

"This is the first place you see when you come to a world-class city and it's the last place you see as you are departing," he said.

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