Survey Uncovers Americans’ Worsening Restroom Behavior

Nearly half of respondents to a recent survey by cleaning product manufacturer GP PRO believe that Americans are behaving worse in public now than they did in the two to three years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In conducting the study, GP PRO queried more than 1,000 U.S. adults on how they would describe the state of society today. A significant number of respondents expressed dissatisfaction, describing the behavior of the general public as chaotic, disrespectful, and selfish, with nearly 60% witnessing such behavior in the last three months.

Of the 27% of survey respondents who specifically observed damage to public property, nearly 70% saw it take place in a public restroom, far more than in a bar (41%), on a public street (39%), or at an event venue (36%). GP PRO’s own customer service data confirms this troubling and growing trend. From January through October of 2023, GP PRO saw a 40% increase in reports of damage to restroom equipment and dispensers over all of 2022.

“We’re discovering that public restrooms are especially susceptible to abuse and damage to property due to privacy requirements that make them virtually impossible to thoroughly surveil,” said Ronnie Phillips, Ph.D., GP PRO senior director of washroom innovation. “While we can’t change how people behave in public, GP PRO continues to design dispensers that are tough inside and out to help withstand abuse, minimize damage, and deliver a positive user experience.”

Access the complete GP PRO survey here.