Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 16th April 2026 Issue no. 1206
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Public washroom dilemmas, faux pas and etiquette: what would you do?
Handwashing is something that's done millions of times every day in workplaces, schools, stores and a multitude of other locations across the globe.
To delve deeper into this daily habit, the 2026 Healthy Handwashing Survey from Bradley Company, posed a series of questions to US adults and uncovered some interesting findings. (Ed: I wonder if this reflects behaviour in other countries where away-from-home washrooms are commonplace?)
In the ‘What would you do?’ category:
* 59% will shake their hands dry if hand dryers or paper towels aren't available in a public washroom but 12% will blow on them and 11% will resort to running their hands through their hair.
* 57% will avoid drinking liquids before leaving home in order to skip using a public washroom.
* 45% will complain to management if they encounter an unclean or unpleasant washroom at a business.
* 20% will skip washing their hands after using a public washroom if they think no one is around.
The insights are from the annual survey conducted by Bradley, a company that manufactures commercial washroom equipment. Since 2009, the company has queried adults about their handwashing habits, use of public washrooms and concerns about seasonal viruses.
"On the one hand, public restrooms are widely available throughout the United States," says Jon Dommisse, vice president of business development and strategy for Bradley Company. "On the other hand, the cleanliness and quality of public restrooms varies widely so people sometimes take evasive measures, like limiting how much they drink to avoid using them."
Room for improvement…
When asked what improvements they'd most like to see in public washrooms, the top three responses are understandable - cleaner facilities, better stocking of toilet paper, paper towels and hand soap and touchless fixtures, including toilets, faucets and soap and towel dispensers.
Another wish list item is more cubicle privacy. In fact, nearly 70% of respondents feel washroom cubicles should provide more coverage. Specifically, 52% would like the gaps around cubicle doors eliminated and 43% would appreciate an ‘available’ or ‘occupied’ indicator on each door.
In terms of ‘aspirational’ items respondents would like, thick foaming soap, warm basin water and high-quality toilet paper top the list.
washroom etiquette…
Since a washroom is a public place, most users follow basic etiquette. Some 76% always wash their hands after using a public washroom. The top reasons people skip washing their hands? There wasn't any soap or paper towels, there were too many people, or the sinks were unclean or broken. Astonishingly, 22% said they "did not feel the need" to wash their hands.
Unfortunately, there are cases when washroom users don't follow societal rules. The top annoyances include unflushed toilets and used paper towels and rubbish lying around.
Whether it's considered good etiquette or not, adults employ all sorts of measures to avoid touching washroom surfaces. Some 65% use a paper towel or their clothing as a barrier to eliminate contact with fixtures, 42% operate the toilet flusher with their foot and 35% hover above the toilet seat rather than sit on it.
Washroom traffic…
Quality washrooms are something US adults appreciate. Nearly 70% say they'll make a point to stop - and 60% will spend more money - at a business that they know has clean, well-maintained washrooms. In fact, some even take their washroom vigilance a step further. A total of 40% will check out a store or restaurant's restroom before deciding whether to stay or not.
Finally, quality matters. Some 86% say they expect a business with high-quality products or services to have well-appointed restroom facilities.
"The condition of a restroom can significantly influence how consumers feel about a business," adds Jon. "Our survey found that the majority of people think an unclean or unpleasant restroom indicates poor management. On the flip side, locations with clean and pleasant restrooms can expect more return business and a better public perception."
The annual Healthy Handwashing Survey from Bradley queried 1,020 American adults Jan. 5th -16th, 2026. Participants were from around the country and were fairly evenly split between women (55%) and men (44%); 1% selected other.
12th March 2026