Using public restrooms ranks closer to having teeth pulled than taking a vacation on the list of favorite things to do for many Americans, according to recently released research.
Tork, a supplier of professional hygiene and restroom products such as dispensers, paper towels, tissues, soap and napkins for customers in restaurants and other institutional and commercial facilities, surveyed more than 6,000 end-users at 900 businesses in five countries.
What they found is that many individuals are not comfortable using public restrooms.
“Access to public restrooms isn’t just about convenience, it’s a pervasive health challenge,” says Amie Kromis, DEI director at Essity, which owns the Tork brand. “Restrooms are the busiest room in a facility, and they often aren’t equipped to accommodate the constantly changing needs and capabilities of the population at large.”
The survey revealed the following:
The study also found that nearly half of parents with children in a baby carrier or carry their child and 51 percent of respondents with walking aids avoid drinking or eating to avoid having to visit public restrooms.
Yet the study shows just how important public restrooms are to everyday life, as 44 percent of all respondents say they plan their travel routes to ensure access to restrooms. More than a quarter of respondents say they’ve avoided a social event because of concerns about access to restrooms.
Dave Lubach is executive editor of the facility market.
