With cold and flu season just around the corner, germs are at the front of people's minds, especially in restrooms that are perceived to be unclean. A recent survey from Bradley Corporation shows that 63% of people have had an especially unpleasant experience in a public restroom, with 64% saying they'll either think twice about patronizing the business or never visit it again.
The 2013 Healthy Handwashing Survey polled around 1,000 American adults about their hand washing and restroom use habits and found that not only have 81% of people witnessed someone leave a restroom without washing, but many people don't even touch surfaces and fixtures in the restroom as a response, with up to 64% of people reporting that they operate the toilet flusher with their foot.
Even though 95% of people say it's important to wash your hands after using a public restroom, the survey found only 60% of men and 74% of women say they always follow through with it, with a lack of soap or use of hand sanitizer as the top reasons for not washing.
The survey also found that 93% of people believe that the condition of a restroom in the workplace is an indicator of how much a company values its employees. Top complaints about workplace restrooms included:
1. Clogged/unflushed toilets
2. Bad smell
3. Empty, jammed, or under-dispensing towel and soap dispensers
Wondering if your restrooms make the grade? Take a look at some Tips for Creating a Balanced Restroom Cleaning Program to be sure.
