Having to use a public restroom is a necessity. But let’s face it, nobody really loves the experience. In fact, according to a new survey, 70% of folks say they’ve actually had a pretty unpleasant experience in a public facility.
Most people can likely sympathize with the most common causes of a bad restroom experience, including:
empty or jammed toilet paper dispensers (93%)clogged or unflushed toilets (87%)stall doors that don't latch (81%)bad smells (79%)bad overall appearance and cleanliness (79%)
And then there are the awkward bathroom situations, the most common being someone opening the stall door while they're using it, discovering the toilet paper dispenser was empty, walking into the wrong gender's restroom and clogging the toilet.
Most people are so grossed out by public restrooms they’ll go to great lengths not to touch anything while in one. To do this, 47% of people will flush a toilet with their foot, while 45% will grab a door handle with a paper towel and 38% are toilet seat hoverers.
And businesses really should want to put the extra effort into providing customers with a clean bathroom. The survey finds that 60% of those 55 and over probably wouldn’t return to a business with an unpleasant bathroom, while younger consumers are likely to tell a friend or post about it on social media. In addition, clean bathrooms can be an attraction for customers, with 77% of 18 to 34-year-olds, and 60% of older adults, saying they selected a specific business because of their clean bathrooms.