Urinal Blocks & Screens: Commercial Buying Guide Australia
Quick answer: Urinal blocks, urinal screens and urinal sanitiser are three separate products that keep commercial gents washrooms clean and odour-free. Urinal blocks and cubes dissolve slowly in the drain to prevent limescale and blockages, while urinal screens sit in the bowl and release fragrance and cleaner with every flush.
A smelly, blocked urinal is one of the fastest ways to damage a facility’s reputation — and one of the most preventable. For facility managers, cleaners and building services contractors across Australia, urinal blocks, screens and sanitisers are low-cost, high-impact consumables that keep gents washrooms hygienic, odour-free and running smoothly between cleans. This guide compares the options, explains how they work and shows you exactly which products to buy for your site.
What are urinal blocks, screens and sanitisers?
All three product types attack the same three problems — odour, limescale and bacteria — but they work in different ways. Understanding the difference is the key to choosing the right consumable for each urinal.
Urinal blocks and cubes
Urinal blocks (also sold as urinal cubes or urinal biotabs) are solid, slow-dissolving deodoriser blocks placed in the urinal bowl or cistern. As they dissolve they release a continuous dose of fragrance and cleaning agent that neutralises odour at the source and helps stop uric salt and limescale from building up in the drain and trap. Bulk formats such as the Cleanmax Urinal Blocks Lemon — 4kg tub are economical for multi-urinal washrooms, while the Enviroplus Urinal Cubes (100 cubes per tub) suit high-traffic facilities.
Urinal screens
A urinal screen is a flat, flexible mat that sits over the urinal drain. Screens trap debris and cigarette butts before they enter the pipework — preventing blockages — while releasing fragrance and a mild cleaner with every flush. Popular in Australia for their mess-free handling, screens such as the Puregiene Urinal Screen come in a range of scents including Citrus, Fresh Apple, Mango, Strawberry and Wonderland.
Urinal sanitisers and cleaners
Liquid urinal sanitisers and cleaners are applied during routine cleaning to descale and sanitise the bowl, trap and surrounding splash zone. A product such as the Chemform Toilet & Urinal Cleaner Shift — 5L removes uric scale and restores a clean, hygienic finish between block replacements.
Urinal blocks vs screens vs sanitiser — the difference
| Urinal blocks / cubes | Urinal screens | Liquid sanitiser | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary job | Continuous odour control + drain protection | Debris filtration + fragrance per flush | Descale & sanitise during cleaning |
| Placement | Bowl or cistern | Over the drain | Applied by cleaner |
| Replacement | Weekly–monthly | Weekly–fortnightly | Each clean |
| Best for | High-traffic gents washrooms | Blockage prevention, cigarette-heavy sites | Scheduled deep cleaning |
How to choose the right urinal product for your site
Match the format to your traffic
High-traffic facilities — pubs, clubs, stadiums and shopping centres — go through blocks quickly. Buy bulk tubs such as the Cleanmax Urinal Blocks Lemon — 15kg to keep cost per urinal down. Smaller offices and low-traffic sites can use compact tubs or individual screens.
Consider your drainage problems
If a urinal blocks regularly with debris, a screen is the better choice — it catches solid waste before it enters the pipe. If the recurring issue is limescale and uric scale in the trap, a slow-dissolving block or cube does the heavy lifting.
Fragrance and presentation
Screens are available in multiple scents (citrus, apple, mango and strawberry), which lets you match a facility’s brand or customer expectations. Blocks such as the Cleanmax Urinal Blocks Tutti provide a consistent, neutral-fresh scent across a whole washroom.
How often should you replace urinal blocks?
As a general rule, replace urinal blocks or screens every one to four weeks depending on traffic and flush frequency. Signs a block needs replacing include fading fragrance, visible shrinking or dissolving, recurring odour between cleans, and limescale starting to reform around the trap. Schedule replacement as part of the routine bathroom clean rather than waiting for complaints — proactive replacement is far cheaper than fixing a blocked, scaled drain.
Why gents washroom odour control matters
Washroom odour is consistently one of the top complaints in hospitality, retail and workplace settings. It is not just unpleasant — it signals poor hygiene to customers and staff, and it often points to a genuine maintenance issue such as a blocked or scaled drain. Investing a few dollars a week in quality urinal blocks and screens protects a facility’s reputation and reduces the labour cost of reactive deep cleaning. Under Australian work health and safety law, employers also have a duty to provide clean and hygienic amenities — see Safe Work Australia for guidance.
Hygiene and compliance best practice
Keeping washrooms clean and hygienic is not just good housekeeping — it is a legal obligation. In practice that means:
- Restock urinal blocks and screens on a fixed schedule, not ad hoc.
- Use a dedicated urinal cleaner to descale bowls and traps regularly.
- Wear appropriate PPE when handling cleaning chemicals and dispose of spent blocks responsibly.
- Keep SDS documentation on hand for every chemical on site.
Industry bodies such as ISSA provide further standards and training resources for commercial cleaning operations.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between urinal blocks and urinal screens?
Urinal blocks are solid deodoriser blocks that dissolve slowly to control odour and protect the drain, while urinal screens are flat mats that sit over the drain to trap debris and release fragrance with each flush.
How often should urinal blocks be replaced?
Replace urinal blocks and screens every one to four weeks depending on traffic and flush frequency, or sooner if fragrance fades or limescale starts to reform.
Can I use urinal screens and blocks together?
Generally you choose one or the other per urinal. Screens cover the drain and already release fragrance, so adding a block is usually unnecessary — but screens plus a regular liquid sanitiser is a common, effective combination.
Are urinal blocks safe for septic and waste systems?
Most modern urinal blocks and cubes are formulated to be safe for standard plumbing and septic systems when used as directed, but always check the product label and SDS for your specific site.
What scent should I choose for urinal screens?
Citrus scents are the most popular choice for freshness, while mango, apple and strawberry offer a softer fragrance. Choose based on your facility’s customer base — consistency matters more than the specific scent.
Shop urinal cleaning supplies
Matthews Cleaning Supplies stocks a complete range of urinal blocks, screens, sanitisers and washroom cleaners for Australian facilities — with bulk pricing and fast dispatch. Browse the range below, or shop the full washroom supplies range for everything your site needs.
- Cleanmax Urinal Blocks Lemon — 4kg
- Cleanmax Urinal Blocks Lemon — 15kg
- Enviroplus Urinal Cubes — 100 Cubes
- Puregiene Urinal Screen — Citrus
- Chemform Toilet & Urinal Cleaner Shift — 5L
Related reading
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Written by
Jordan MatthewsCommercial cleaning specialist at Matthews Cleaning Company. Our expert team draws on years of hands-on field experience to help businesses choose the right tools and chemicals for every cleaning challenge.