Restroom Cleanliness: The Good, The Bad and The Dirty

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.

Hygiene Habits 

Asked about handwashing habits, 75% of surveyed U.S. consumers reported washing their hands up to 10 times a day. This finding speaks to another clear truth: now more than ever, restrooms need a hygienic, cost-effective hand drying solution to keep up.

Clean Restrooms Are Good Business

The survey results also made it clear that when a visitor encounters what they perceive as a dirty restroom, it has a negative impact on their overall impression of the business. In the U.S., 80% of surveyed consumers reported that they would not or might not return to a restaurant or hotel if the bathroom is dirty. Consumers across surveyed nations agree that a dirty restroom reflects poor management, while architects, restaurant owners and facility managers around the world agree that the cleanliness of a commercial restroom reflects the extent to which a business values its customers and employees.

Evolving Expectations 

Since the onset of COVID, architects, restaurant owners and facility managers in the United States say they have witnessed an increase in facilities providing hand dryers, touchless features, smart restroom technology and sufficient space for social distancing. Virtually all consumers and the majority of facility managers and restaurant owners in the U.S. consider a transition to touchless hand drying technology to be of “top-tier importance.”

One factor in this perception is hygiene—the most effective way to prevent the spread of surface-borne pathogens in a public restroom is to minimize touchpoints. U.S. consumers identified three top factors they want to see in electric, touchless hand dryers: hand sanitation, fast drying time and HEPA filtration.

Another factor is overall bathroom cleanliness. According to 95% of managers and owners in the U.S., it is easier to maintain a cleaner restroom with hand dryers versus paper towels. And the majority of U.S. consumers state that touchless, high-speed hand dryers keep restrooms cleaner and are more aesthetically appealing.

The Excel Dryer Solution 

Our complete line of electric, touchless hand dryers address all the expectations and concerns identified by the survey respondents:

1. Perception of “Clean”

Excel Hand Dryers eliminate paper towel waste, both on the floor and in overflowing trash bins.

2. Hygiene

Our dryers are available with electrostatic HEPA (eHEPA®) filtration, which eliminates 99.999% of potentially present bacteria at 0.3 microns from the airstream. In addition, our touchless hand dryers help minimize restroom touchpoints, enhancing visitor safety.

3. Energy-Efficient Speed

Excel Hand Dryers are quick hand-drying solutions offering maximum energy efficiency. This keeps traffic flowing through the bathroom at a pace that reduces overcrowding and allows for ample distancing. This energy efficiency is also a great benefit to facility owners and managers, reducing energy costs and saving paper towel restocking and maintenance hours.

This project has underscored Excel Dryer’s signature commitment to leading and innovating within the market. Insights gained support the company’s continued focus on product advancement—reflected by such recent developments as eHEPA filtration and a new domestically made motor technology for longer life and improved reliability—meeting the changing needs of its customers in a transformed world.