How a Clean Restroom Delivers Long Term Profits

Want to learn the secret behind making a good impression on your patrons? Research says you can leverage clean restrooms to deliver long-term profits. Keep reading to learn why!

As the world begins to return to in-person shopping, dining, and transacting, businesses are beginning to realize the importance of their facility’s restroom standards. In fact, research shows that a customers’ experience in a public restroom can affect their entire perception of the business. It is simple – if facilities are not clean or functional, customers will avoid visiting your business. In a post COVID-19 world, customers place even greater value on clean and comfortable restrooms. Get this right and the business will flourish. Get it wrong and profits will die.

Want to see a quick video on this? – If YES just click the link here……or the YouTube below.

How does restroom cleanliness affect customers’ perception of a business? 

As we know, the availability of a clean restroom is an absolute must for any public business that is operating in-person. Throughout the pandemic, many restaurants and shops had no choice but to close their dining areas and other parts of their facilities altogether, taking the accessibility of public restrooms with them. 

With the reopening of so many businesses, these facilities have once again become available to patrons. Of course, because restrooms are a valuable feature for customers, their cleanliness can influence the way the business as a whole is perceived. If, for instance, a patron comes across a disgusting bathroom in a restaurant, they might assume that the employees are as negligent of other cleanliness and safety protocols in the kitchen. Even worse, In all, restroom appearance and functionality have a greater bearing on the customer experience than many business owners may think.

And Did We Mention The Bugs?

Because of the nature of their use, restrooms can carry a significant amount of bacteria compared to other public facilities. For example, research shows that restroom sinks are in the top 10 germiest spots in public facilities, sitting among the likes of door handles and other touched surfaces. With such a large variety of hands using them everyday, sinks alone are practically a magnet for bacteria. 

Want More Proof?

At the end of the day, customers are looking for facilities that they can use both safely and comfortably. In fact, new research shows 74% of respondents say dirty restrooms would cause a negative perception of a business.

Survey Finds Restrooms Make a Lasting Impression

Additionally, among 2,036 U.S. adults surveyed, a whopping 68% said they would have a low opinion of a business if its restroom contained empty hand soap, toilet paper, and paper towel dispensers. While cleanliness is incredibly important to so many patrons, usability certainly is too.

Research consistently shows that filthy, poorly stocked bathrooms turn many customers off. Moreover, clean, sanitary bathrooms are even more important to women than to men. Without regard for these considerations, businesses may see sales plummet over time.

How does customer perception affect long-term profits? 

It’s rather simple. If customers are comfortable in your place of business, they’re more likely to come back. They are also more likely to tell others about your business’s cleanliness through word of mouth or online reviews. 

Alternatively, if patrons feel uncomfortable or grossed out when walking into a dirty restroom, they may dissuade others from visiting or go as far as to leave a bad review online.

Just what do mean by Dirty Bathroom? 

So what do we mean when we say ‘dirty bathroom’? These are the most common offenders that will decrease your profits:

• Filthy toilet
• Wet floors
• Lack of soap
• Wet toilet seat (or worse – no seat)
• Bad odors from fecal bacteria
• Overflowing toilet bowl

Naturally, these things are incredibly bad for businesses, especially if the weak point is something as practical as maintaining a clean restroom. 

Of course, when employees or janitorial staff are already juggling so many other responsibilities, it can be difficult to stay on top of a clean bathroom. So make it easy. Employ a system that allows patrons to offer feedback quickly and alert you instantly. In this way you can also have a restroom that looks like this – an example of clean restrooms deliver long term profits.

So, how can businesses stay on top of restroom cleanliness, and how to banish dirty toilets forever?

Systems like Opiniator, a one-click restroom feedback service that offers a direct line of communication between guests and staff. The process is now easy and convenient. By scanning a QR code, making a call, or texting, patrons alert staff when restroom cleanliness is not up to standard. 

(Note this is not a long QR code survey – rather its a simple, 10 second process to alert your team).

Check out the restroom feedback loop video showing how it works. And remember – it is all touchless.

Despite many methods of gathering on-the-spot feedback from patrons, many businesses are unable to use them. This particularly so with expensive feedback kiosks and/or unhygienic touchscreens. With Opiniator, guests can resort to using a device of their own to notify staff of any issues by using information posted on restroom decals.

Rather than relying on staff to abide by a restroom cleaning checklist that are not always followed, facility operators have an alternative. Specifically, they can utilize mobile technology to gather instant feedback from restroom users.

Unclean restrooms destroy customer satisfaction, customer retention and long term profits.

It is clear that facility cleanliness has been the focus since the start of the pandemic. Moreover, will continue to be essential for any business looking to grow from here on out. Luckily, efficient restroom feedback systems can make this much easier in the long-run, and maintain a lasting impression and longer commercial life.

A clean image and happier customers plus clean restrooms deliver long term profits.

Want to learn more about how cell phone restroom feedback can keep your facilities cleaner than ever? Read our touchless restroom operations guide and Contact us today for a free demo!