MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. ,
June 25,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In a recent survey by Bradley
Company, nearly 70% of Americans reported having a particularly
unpleasant experience in a public restroom due to the poor
condition of the facility. The top restroom aggravations include
clogged or unflushed toilets, an old, dirty or unkempt appearance
and unpleasant smells.
Unfortunately, businesses that neglect restroom cleaning and
maintenance are jeopardizing customers' repeat business and sales.
Almost 60% of respondents believe an unclean restroom shows poor
management, 56% are left with a tarnished opinion of the business
and half vow not to return or will think twice about doing
so.
On the other hand, 62% of Americans make a point to stop at
businesses with clean and well-maintained bathrooms when they need
to use the facilities, and nearly 60% willingly spend more money
there.
Those findings are based on a 2024 survey of more than 1,000
American adults conducted by Bradley, a leading manufacturer of
commercial washroom fixtures. Bradley has conducted the
Healthy Handwashing Survey™ for 15 years to monitor the state of
public restrooms and perceptions surrounding them, as well as
Americans' handwashing habits.
"While 43% of Americans believe the overall condition of public
restrooms has improved over the past 15 years, that leaves 57% who
remain unimpressed," said Jon
Dommisse, vice president, business development and strategy,
Bradley Company. "Our research shows that business owners with
subpar restrooms are leaving untapped sales opportunities on the
table."
This year's findings pinpoint key consumer pain points, and
preferences and behaviors in restrooms, providing insights on ways
to improve washroom facilities for repeat business.
Here are some of the study's biggest takeaways:
Misbehaviors Spoil the Restroom Experience
Sometimes it's the lax or poor behavior of other restroom users
that irks restroom users, which can still reflect poorly on the
business. Top restroom pet peeves include used paper towels left on
the floor or sink; water splashed around the floor or sink; and
careless or reckless behavior that results in damage.
The survey also queried participants' attitudes when they
observe someone in a public restroom not washing their hands before
exiting. Almost 70% of Americans recall seeing somebody use a
restroom without washing their hands, which creates a negative
impression about that person. Men (79%) are more likely than women
(59%) to witness others skipping the suds.
Covid Hangover
Despite being four years out from the COVID-19 pandemic, people
remain in an elevated state of germ consciousness, causing
sensitivity to the cleanliness in restroom spaces. In fact, 80% of
Americans say they are now more conscious about coming into contact
with germs because of the coronavirus. The facilities that cause
people the most concern about germs are: 1) stores, 2) health
care establishments, 3) restaurants, and 4) gas stations.
"Like the iPod forever changed music and 9/11 changed air
travel, COVID will forever change public bathroom design," Dommisse
said. "People want clean, well-stocked restrooms that they don't
have to touch."
Can't Touch That
People go to great lengths to avoid coming in contact with germs
in public restrooms. Almost 70% of Americans use a paper towel as a
barrier between themselves and flushers, faucets and doors. 46% use
their foot to flush a public toilet -- much to the dismay of
building maintenance staff responsible for fixing broken
flushers.
With so many people cautiously avoiding contact with restroom
surfaces, it follows that 86% believe it is important to have
touchless fixtures in a public restroom. 70% are more likely to
return to a business that offers touch-free technology like
faucets, flushers, soap and towel dispensers in its restrooms.
Another bonus: based on their integrated design – no handles,
levers or buttons – touchless fixtures are easy to clean and
their concealed mechanics can help discourage tampering.
Restroom Wishlist
When asked the most important improvement they'd like to see in
restrooms, respondents said, "clean them more regularly and keep
them better stocked." Next on the wish list is making everything
touchless.
"Even if it means investing in an additional staff person, our
survey responses tell us you should make restroom cleanliness and
proactive maintenance high priorities at your business," added
Dommisse. "It's an investment in customer satisfaction, brand
image, and health and safety."
The annual Healthy Handwashing Survey from Bradley queried 1,003
American adults Jan. 4-9, 2024, about
their handwashing habits, concerns about seasonal viruses and their
use of public restrooms. Participants were from around the country
and were fairly evenly split between women (51%) and men (48%). 1%
of survey respondents selected other.
For more information, visit www.bradleycorp.com/handwashing.
About Bradley
For more than 100
years, Bradley has been known as the leader in advanced
commercial washrooms and comprehensive emergency safety solutions
that make public environments hygienic and safe. Bradley innovated
the industry's first and most specified WashBar multi-function
touchless handwashing and drying fixture. Washroom
accessories, partitions, HDPE lockers, as well as emergency safety
fixtures and electric tankless heaters round out its product range.
Headquartered in Menomonee Falls,
WI, Bradley Company, a subsidiary of Watts Water
Technologies, serves commercial, institutional and
industrial building markets
worldwide. www.bradleycorp.com.
For more information, visit www.bradleycorp.com/handwashing.
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SOURCE Bradley Company