Unsanitary-appearing restrooms in commercial establishments will drive up to 33 percent of customers away, according to findings from an 18-month study conducted by Impact Products LLC, a manufacturer and supplier of janitorial and sanitary maintenance products.

“Restrooms that look and smell clean contribute to an overall positive user experience,” said Jeff Gayer, director of product development, Impact. “In fact, restrooms reflect the quality of service provided throughout a business. So if, for example, a restaurant restroom is perceived as dirty, how might the kitchen look or smell?”

The qualitative research study conducted by Impact found a major cause of most public restroom odor is uric acid splashing on floors, walls and partitions.

“Odor control is not just about masking a foul odor with a pleasant one, it’s about preventing odors caused by urine splatter from ever occurring,” said Gayer.

Armed with the study findings of where and why odors occur, how to combat them, what odors are preventable and when to redeploy odor control, Impact developed a simple holistic solution.

Called “Barricade – Your Odor Defense System™, the solution is composed of four products: the Barricade Hygiene Screen, Barricade Press-on Urinal Mats and Hand-Dryer Mats, Barricade Fragrance Stix and Barricade 30-Day Timer Cards. A free software application is included to assist with deployment and change-out compliance.

Barricade Hygiene Screen
To protect floors, walls, partitions and the user’s clothing and shoes by preventing a substantial percentage of urine splash-back from urinals, Impact has introduced the first product designed with an innovative (patent pending) plastic screen configured to prevent splattering of urine flow.

This uniquely designed hygiene screen allows for easy cleaning, front and back, with traditional disinfectants—therefore reducing labor and reducing product replacement cost, versus conventional screens. The 90-Day Hygiene Screen is available in two sizes, fits 90 percent of all urinal designs and lasts up to 6,000 flushes.

“We believe Impact is the first jan/san product manufacturer to have shifted the fundamental purpose of urinal screens as deodorizers and to redefine their purpose as barricades to prevent the generation of odors,” said Gayer.

Barricade Press-on Mats
Designed to effectively absorb 16-plus ounces of fluid, the Barricade Press-on Urinal Mats provide defense against urine dribbles and tracking, reduce the danger of slipping on a wet floor and preserve the integrity of floors and grouting.

Its (patent pending) adhesive backing holds tight and leaves no residue. Press-on Urinal Mats are easily applied to flat-surfaced floors, maintain their adhesion, and after 30 days of damp-mopping, are easily removed.

Strategic Fragrancing: Barricade Fragrance Stix
Working with a major consumer brands fragrance manufacturer, and a leading Ph.D polymer chemist Impact developed a simple, solid-state polymeric diffusion system. When strategically and stealthily applied (stealth mounting deters theft and vandalism) within the odor generating zones in a public restroom, Barricade Fragrance Stix produces a pleasing scent and a positive user experience.

Barricade Fragrance Stix come in two sizes, 12-inch and 4-inch. Non-toxic and recyclable, they contain low VOCs, no asthmagens and no phenols. Fragrance Stix are easily mounted on narrow hidden adhesive brackets.

Lasting 30 days strong, Fragrance Stix are available in 11 new signature scents for male, female and unisex restrooms and generate the right amount of fragrance where it’s needed.

Two of the fragrances feature olfactory disruption technology: the fragrance formula effectively reconfigures the interpretation of the malodor. Olfactory disruption fragrances are recommended for areas where secondary odors are generated, e.g., baby changing stations, refuse cans used for diaper disposal and bins used for the disposal of feminine hygiene products.

The Odor Genie Software Application
Every restroom is different and requires a unique fragrance load in each “fragrance zone.” In order to achieve optimal coverage and realize the full potential of this holistic system, Impact has developed, in tandem with Fragrance Stix, the industry’s only software program (available free to users) that enables the facility manager/janitorial staff to understand where and how much fragrance should be deployed in each zone.

By entering information on traffic, fixtures, cubic footage, cleaning frequency and scent level desired, the Odor Genie software (Barricade.impact-products.com) will output the number and type of products required to achieve desired results. The Odor Genie also covers the best practice deployment of each product included in “Barricade – Your Odor Defense System.”

30-day Timer Cards       
To provide a consistent positive restroom experience for guests, Fragrance Stix and urinal/hand-dryer mats deployed to combat odors must be changed out on a regular 30-day schedule.

A simple product change-out reminder tool is included in the system for the benefit of the janitorial staff. Impact’s 30-day Timer Card is easily activated, can be hung on a cart or behind a supply room door and visually indicates the time progression toward the end of the 30-day cycle.