Bad restroom conditions = bad reputation and less business. That’s the takeaway for facility managers from a recent Tork survey of restrooms and cleaning staff.
Tork surveyed 11,500 people across 11 countries. They found that 74 percent of those surveyed expect moderate or high levels of hygiene, but that only 20 percent of restrooms meet their expectations.
The survey also revealed the top five reasons that people avoid public restrooms: 1. unhygienic conditions; 2. unpleasant smells or odors; 3. soap and toilet paper are unavailable; and 4. insufficient privacy.
Breaking down facility types within the United States, the percentage of respondents said the following facilities have restrooms that fall short of expectations:
Other interesting observations from the poll reveal how younger users view public restrooms: they have higher standards than the rest of the general population. When asked if they would return to a venue because of poor restrooms, 21 percent of 18-34-year-olds said they would not return to a venue due to poo conditions compared to 14 percent of the general population.
Public restrooms also received below-average marks for people requiring physical or other special accommodations. In the U.S., 60 percent of respondents said they contend with physical or cognitive challenges that impact their restroom experience. Issues include skin sensitivities, incontinence, chronic pain and mobility issues. Cognitive issues include general anxiety, discomfort in shared spaces, visual or hearing impairments and neurodivergence.
Dave Lubach is the executive editor for the facilities market.
