We all know that clean restrooms are important to a successful business or facility. Once again, restrooms topped the list of problem areas in the 2021 CMM In-House / Facility Management Survey Report, a surprise to absolutely no one. The facility managers and in-house service providers surveyed also named improving facility image and health and safety as their top two concerns across all areas. But why are clean restrooms important? And how do clean restrooms help alleviate concerns around facility image, health, and safety? Here are three benefits of clean restrooms.

1. Boost Customer Satisfaction

Let’s face it. When it comes to the bottom line, public opinion matters. Restroom cleanliness impacts the public’s perception of your business or facility in several ways. Let’s look at some of the findings from the 10 Annual Healthy Hand Washing Survey from Bradley Corp:

Sixty-four percent of consumers make a conscious decision to choose a business based on the fact that it has cleaner, well-maintained restrooms. Women are even more likely to be drawn to pleasing restrooms compared to men (67% vs. 61%).

In addition, about half of all U.S. consumers expect to spend more money at a business with a clean, well-maintained restroom. 

Always keep in mind, it’s easy for a customer to instantly share a negative experience through social media. This makes it more important than ever for businesses to pay close attention to their restrooms. 

Clean restrooms are especially important in the foodservice industry, where the condition of a restroom can directly lead to concerns about food safety due to cleanliness in the kitchen. A 2018 Harris Poll found that 89% of Americans would not visit a restaurant based on negative online reviews about its restrooms. 

2. Protect Customer Health

In the last couple years, the pandemic has raised awareness of the benefits of clean restrooms for the protection of public health. However, clean restrooms have always been important to public health, long before COVID-19. Invisible viruses and bacteria can linger even in restrooms that look and smell clean, especially on commonly touched hard surfaces such as door handles, faucets, and countertops. Cold and flu viruses can live on surfaces for hours according to data from the Mayo Clinic.  The truth is, some methods of cleaning can even contribute to the spread of germs, especially through the re-use of dirty, contaminated cloths and mops. 

On the other hand, an innovative Kaivac No-Touch Cleaning System can easily clean, disinfect, and remove unwanted soils and contaminants. It does this through the application of chemicals, an indoor pressure washer, and powerful vacuum technology that fully captures soiled solution, eliminating the possibility of cross-contamination.

3. Support Employee Wellness and Retention 

If you own or manage a business or facility without publicly utilized restrooms, don’t tune out just yet. Restroom cleanliness is still important to you. A 2020 Harris Poll conducted on behalf of Cintas indicates that 90% of Americans think employers who regularly deep clean their workplace restrooms care more about their health and wellness than those who don’t. 

Employee perceptions based on cleanliness may be closer to reality than you realize. Fifty million workdays are lost annually due to the common cold, according to the American Cleaning Institute. Maintaining clean and healthy restrooms can affect productivity and promote employee wellness and satisfaction.

Employees who use workplace restrooms shouldn’t be your only concern. What about the satisfaction and health of employees tasked to clean workplace restrooms? Kaivac No-Touch Cleaning systems empower these workers by allowing them to ergonomically and efficiently clean restrooms without touching contaminated surfaces. Plus, thanks to the high-powered vacuum leaving floors dry after cleaning, there are fewer risks for slips and falls from wet surfaces. It’s a win-win when all your employees can enjoy a clean and healthy restroom without sacrificing the wellbeing of those you rely on to achieve that level of clean. 

Clean Restrooms Benefit Everyone

The bottom line is this: clean restrooms send a message. They communicate that you care about your customers and about your employees. They show that your business values both human health and comfort. Even better, when restrooms are fast and easy to clean, the employees who clean them feel that you care about them too. See Kaivac restroom cleaning systems here.