Summer Restroom Readiness Supports Healthier Visitors

As airports, restaurants, parks, entertainment venues, and other public facilities welcome larger summer crowds, Bradley Co.’s 17th annual Healthy Handwashing Survey™ highlighted the role well-maintained restrooms play in protecting public health and creating a positive visitor experience.

The survey comes as Americans navigate another busy summer travel season while public health officials continue monitoring foodborne illnesses, norovirus, and common respiratory viruses. Recent Cyclospora outbreaks have also renewed attention on the importance of safe food handling and proper hand hygiene.

“Handwashing, using soap and warm water, is one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce the spread of disease,” said Brian M. Forster, Ph.D., microbiologist and chemical hygiene officer at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. “Our hands touch countless surfaces throughout the day, making them an easy way to pick up germs that can make us sick.”

For facility managers, supporting proper handwashing using soap and water begins with providing clean, well-maintained restrooms, particularly during periods of increased travel and illness. Bradley’s survey found that 81% of Americans wash their hands more frequently during outbreaks of illness, highlighting the role public restrooms play in encouraging healthy handwashing habits.

The survey also revealed a gap between awareness and behavior. Although 93% of Americans said handwashing is important to their overall health, only 76% said they always wash their hands after using a public restroom, and 77% have witnessed someone leave without washing. Respondents most often cited the lack of soap or paper towels as a reason for skipping handwashing, underscoring the importance of keeping essential supplies consistently available.

Beyond supporting hand hygiene, restroom conditions also shape public perception of a business. In fact, 86% of U.S. adults said they expect the quality of a business’s restrooms to reflect the quality of its goods and services. In addition, a positive restroom experience can influence customer loyalty. More than two-thirds of Americans (68%) said they are more likely to return to a business with a clean, well-maintained restroom.

The survey also identified the restroom improvements Americans value most. Top responses include:

• More frequent cleaning and restocking.
• Always providing paper towels, even when hand dryers are available.
• Expanding the use of touchless fixtures.

For more information from the study, click here.