Study Finds Rise in Public Restroom Neglect
March 02, 2016
Almost 70 percent of Americans have encountered an unpleasant experience in a public restroom due to poor conditions—a 20 percent increase since 2012, according to a recent study conducted by Bradley Corp.
Bradley Corp.’s seventh-annual handwashing survey queried more than 1,000 American adults about their hygiene experiences in public restrooms. According to respondents, the most common restroom complaints were foul odors, clogged toilets, broken door latches, and an overall dirty appearance.
The study also found a majority of respondents (91 percent) felt a business that provides high-quality goods or services should have an equally high-quality restroom. Additionally, 88 percent stated a restroom’s condition is a reflection on how that business values its employees.
So, how does your restroom add up? Did you notice the last sentence? "88 percent stated a restroom's condition is a reflection on how that business values its employees." It is also a reflection of the business, school, restaurant or otherwise. And really, when you think about it, restrooms are not that hard to clean. The steps listed below were shared in an online article last week about how to properly clean a restroom. Read the entire article for some great suggestions.
Bradley Corp.’s seventh-annual handwashing survey queried more than 1,000 American adults about their hygiene experiences in public restrooms. According to respondents, the most common restroom complaints were foul odors, clogged toilets, broken door latches, and an overall dirty appearance.
The study also found a majority of respondents (91 percent) felt a business that provides high-quality goods or services should have an equally high-quality restroom. Additionally, 88 percent stated a restroom’s condition is a reflection on how that business values its employees.
So, how does your restroom add up? Did you notice the last sentence? "88 percent stated a restroom's condition is a reflection on how that business values its employees." It is also a reflection of the business, school, restaurant or otherwise. And really, when you think about it, restrooms are not that hard to clean. The steps listed below were shared in an online article last week about how to properly clean a restroom. Read the entire article for some great suggestions.
- Gather supplies on a cart or caddy and proceed to the first restroom.
- Place safety/wet-floor signs when directed.
- Always announce yourself before entering a restroom of the opposite sex.
- Pick up loose litter, sweep, or dust-mop the floor. Remove any floor mats/pads.
- Apply disinfectant product to toilets/urinals, sinks, faucets, and counter tops. Be sure the product meets the prescribed dwell/contact time (usually 5-10 minutes wet) before removing it.
- Inspect and refill all paper and soap dispensers, hygiene products, and odor control devices.
- Using a treated cloth, spray/wipe toilets and urinals, giving special attention to side panels and splash areas.
- Using a separate (different color) microfiber cloth, wipe down sinks, faucets, and counter tops.
- Clean mirrors with an all-purpose or glass cleaner, wiping with the grain.
- Wipe down all soap and paper dispensers.
- Starting in the back of the restroom, damp-mop your way out, using care not to splash the baseboards.
- Leave wet floor signs and proceed to the next restroom.
- Note that if the restrooms are small and close together, you may perform steps 2–5 in each to allow for sufficient dwell time.
You can adjust most of these steps to fit your own needs; however, make sure to always apply the disinfectant as early as possible so it will have sufficient dwell (contact) time to do its job. Simply employing a spray-and-wipe technique is not effective in true disinfection. Read the specific product label carefully so that you are truly disinfecting the key touch points. This one point can go far in reducing the spread of contagion.
There may also be some quadrant cleaning or irregular tasks involved. You may have to:
- Inspect and clean air vents on a weekly basis before sweeping or mopping floors.
- Pour mop solution or enzyme solution down floor drains on a weekly basis, or even more often based on how quickly the drain dries out.
- Wash mirrors from top to bottom.
- Perform any other necessary tasks as described in specifications.
