In the post-COVID era, public restroom cleanliness and hygiene will have a major impact on occupant satisfaction and business performance.
The Impact of Restroom Cleanliness on Consumer and Workforce Behavior
Before COVID, restroom cleanliness had a significant impact on customer and workforce impressions of a business.
Facilities with clean restrooms were perceived to care more about their employees and were more likely to experience repeat business than their hygiene-challenged counterparts.
A new online survey reveals that 90 percent of Americans think employers who deep clean their workplace restrooms regularly care more about the health and wellness of their employees than employers who don’t.
The survey, which was commissioned by Cintas Corporation, found that nine in 10 Americans believe employers who pay consistent attention to their workplace restroom cleanliness care more about their employees than those who do not.
Additionally;
[...] among 2,036 U.S. adults surveyed, a whopping 68% said they would have a low opinion of a business if its restroom contained empty hand soap, toilet paper, and paper towel dispensers.
While cleanliness is incredibly important to so many patrons, usability certainly is too.
If a restroom is not fully stocked, customers may not have a comfortable experience at a place of business and might have to resort to other facilities.
Research consistently shows that filthy, poorly stocked bathrooms turn many customers off—and that clean, sanitary bathrooms are even more important to women than to men.
Without regard for these considerations, places of business may see sales plummet over time.
Post-COVID, the focus on restroom cleanliness has only increased due to an unexpected increase in occupant use.
Post-COVID Occupant Expectations of Public Restrooms
Statistically, public restrooms are considered hotspots for germ transmission, underscoring surprising data coming out of a recent survey where of those who responded:
- 41% reported using public restrooms as often as they did before COVID, and;
- 27% said they use public restrooms more now than before the pandemic.
Regarding public restroom maintenance:
- Approximately 50% of respondents felt public restrooms were cleaner and in better condition than before Covid, split about evenly between men - 55%, and women - 47%.
- Up from a more than 70% disapproval rating before the pandemic, though clearly still very low.
- One area where the majority of respondents - 78% - felt maintenance could be improved was with posted signage communicating updated cleaning schedules.
Regarding business perception:
- 51% of respondents said that an unpleasant public restroom at a business shows poor management, up from 39% one year ago.
- 43% stated that encountering neglected restrooms lowers their opinion of the establishment, and;
- 38% said that dirty public restrooms demonstrated the business doesn’t care about its customers.
Unsurprisingly, touchless fixtures continue to rise in popularity:
- 84% of those who responded believed it was important for public restrooms to be equipped with touchless fixtures.
- 63% said they are more likely to return to a business that had no-touch fixtures in the restrooms.
When asked what touchless fixtures they felt were most critical, respondents listed:
- Faucets.
- Soap dispensers.
- Flushers, and;
- Restroom doors.
The good news for businesses that invest in cleaner public restrooms with touchless fixtures is that:
- Nearly 60% said they were more likely to spend more cash at a business with clean, well-maintained restrooms, and;
- 58% said that "when out running errands, they’ll take restroom breaks at a business they know has good restrooms."
Source:
Takeaway
Public and office restroom cleanliness will play an increasing role in workforce performance and consumer spending habits through 2022 and likely well into the future.
Several observed keys to success appear to be:
- Increased checks on paper supply levels and facility cleanliness.
- Increased cleaning frequencies.
- Improved cleaning methods, and;
- Investments in appliances designed to increase cleaning outcomes and efficiency while decreasing costs and resource waste.
Outsourcing is a proven method for onboarding highly in-demand cleaning and sanitization services and experience for a fraction of the price of maintaining a similar service in-house.
If you would like more information regarding the effectiveness of high-performance infection prevention and control measures, or if you would like to schedule a free, no-obligation on-site assessment of your facility's custodial needs, contact us today for a free quote!
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