Survey: Dirty Restrooms Put A Stink On Business Perception

A new survey commissioned by Cintas Corporation has found that nearly three-quarters of Americans (74 percent) say dirty restrooms would cause them to have a negative perception of a business. More than two in three Americans (68 percent) also say restrooms with empty hand soap, toilet paper and paper towel dispensers would impact their opinion of a business negatively. The survey of more than 2,000 U.S. adults was conducted online by The Harris Poll.

“Facility cleanliness has been in the spotlight since the onset of the pandemic and is more important than ever in protecting a business’s reputation,” says John Engel, Director of Marketing, Cintas. “This survey confirms that a clean and well-stocked restroom is important to any business’s image.”

The survey also found that restroom cleanliness is more likely to impact perceptions of older Americans. For example, more than half (56 percent) of 18 to 34-year-old Americans say dirty restrooms would cause them to have a negative perception of a business. In comparison, 92 percent of adults 65 and older would have a negative opinion of a business with dirty restrooms.

Well stocked and pleasant-smelling restrooms are also more likely to impact older adults’ perceptions of a business compared to younger adults. For example, 58 percent of 18 to 34-year-old Americans say foul smelling restrooms would cause them to have a negative perception of a business. In contrast, 86 percent of adults 65 years of age and older say foul smelling restrooms would cause them to view a business negatively.

Additionally, more than half of 18-34-year-olds (56 percent) say restrooms with empty hand soap, toilet paper and paper towel dispensers would cause them to have a negative perception of a business compared to 85 percent of those 65 years of age and older.

In addition to restroom cleanliness, the survey found other areas of facility maintenance can impact people’s perceptions of a business. Other key findings include:

• More than two thirds of Americans (68 percent) say dirty floors would cause them to have a negative perception of a business

• More than half of Americans say dirty building entryways (57 percent), obvious use of dirty mops (56 percent), dirty windows/exterior glass (51 percent) and poorly maintained parking lots (51 percent) would influence their opinion of a business negatively.

“Perception is reality, and the perception of a business can be impacted by facility cleanliness,” Engel adds. “Consider working with an experienced facility services provider that offers outstanding services and supplies so you can focus on what you do best – serving your customers.”