The importance of clean bathrooms to your customers

As handwashing rates soar, the cleanliness of commercial restrooms has become a critical factor in shaping customer perceptions and business reputations.

According to a report from Excel Dryers, handwashing has reached unprecedented levels following the pandemic, placing commercial restrooms under intense scrutiny.

William Gagnon, COO of Excel Dryer, emphasized the importance of proper hand hygiene, noting that the pandemic heightened awareness of restroom cleanliness and its impact on a company’s reputation and bottom line.

Its survey, Post Pandemic Perceptions of Commercial Restrooms, talked to more than 4,000 participants from the United States, Europe and Asia.

The survey results were clear and consistent across all demographics and locations:

1. Cleanliness and hygiene emerged as the top concern.
2. A unanimous 100 per cent of respondents agreed that a dirty restroom reflects poorly on the establishment. Notably, 80 per cent of those surveyed stated they would not, or might not, return to a restaurant with a dirty restroom.
3. The primary contributors to dirty restrooms were paper towels on the floor and overflowing trash cans.

Consumers believe that a dirty restroom indicates poor management, while some business owners view restroom cleanliness as a reflection of how much a business values its customers and employees.

“When people see paper towels on a restroom floor, it looks dirty and ‘feels’ dirty,” Gagnon explained. “If you’re still using paper towels, this survey shows it’s time to make a change.”