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Restroom Cleanliness and Hygiene – Not just a Preference (II)

Facts and Figures provided by Excel Dryer

The post-pandemic world has spoken, and the message is clear: restroom cleanliness and hygiene are not just preferences, but imperative demands across the globe. As the public continues to expect cleaner, more hygienic facilities, facility managers and business owners are demanding products that help them meet the mark.

William Gagnon, COO of Excel Dryer, reflects on the pandemic’s lasting impact: “During the pandemic, the global emphasis on mask-wearing, social distancing and handwashing was paramount for safety. Today, although masks and distancing are no longer mandated, the commitment to hand hygiene continues as a vital health measure.”

Excel Dryer wanted to get a clear picture of current expectations around restroom cleanliness and the impacts those expectations have on businesses—from customer satisfaction to architecture, design and product selection. To collect the data, we partnered with MetrixLab—a renowned market research firm with a presence in 90 countries and a team of 2,600 experts—to conduct an unprecedented global survey, the objective of which was to explore evolving attitudes and expectations towards commercial restrooms from the perspectives of architects, design professionals, business owners, facility managers and consumers in post-pandemic society.

Defining “Dirty”

Engaging more than 4,000 participants in the United States and Europe, the survey aimed to capture shifts in public perception and preference regarding restroom cleanliness. A strategically developed framework allowed researchers to examine what matters most with regard to restrooms from several different points of view and how these perceptions can affect a business, as well as what constitutes a “clean” or “dirty” restroom and other factors that influence stakeholders’ selection of hand drying solutions. From the collective results emerged three primary, universal truths:

  1. The number-one concern around commercial restrooms is their level of cleanliness and hygiene.
  2. A dirty restroom reflects poorly on an establishment and can directly affect its bottom line—to the point where a guest would not return.
  3.  The number-one factor that makes people consider a bathroom “dirty” is paper towels on the floor or overflowing from trash bins.

In the United States, 92% of respondents reported that a major criterion that makes a restroom dirty is paper waste on the floor, while 89% said the same for overflowing trash bins. Coming in third and fourth on the list were sticky floors and water on the floor, at 81% and 78%, respectively.

You can find the full details of the survey here. Alternatively, look at this YouTube video:

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