Row of public toilet decoration with wooden partition


As airports, restaurants, parks, entertainment venues, and other public facilities welcome larger summer crowds, Bradley Company’s 17th annual Healthy Handwashing Survey highlights the role well-maintained restrooms play in protecting public health and creating a positive visitor experience.

The survey comes as Americans navigate another busy summer travel season while public health officials continue monitoring foodborne illnesses, norovirus, and common respiratory viruses. Recent Cyclospora outbreaks have also renewed attention on the importance of safe food handling, surface cleanliness, and proper hand hygiene.

"Handwashing, using soap and warm water, is one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce the spread of disease," says Brian M. Forster, Ph.D., microbiologist and chemical hygiene officer at Saint Joseph's University. "Our hands touch countless surfaces throughout the day, making them an easy way to pick up germs that can make us sick."

The Clean Restroom Effect

For facility cleaning managers, supporting proper handwashing using soap and water starts with providing clean, well-maintained restrooms, particularly during periods of increased travel and illness. Bradley's survey found that 81 percent of Americans wash their hands more frequently during outbreaks of illness, highlighting the role public restrooms play in encouraging healthy handwashing habits.

The survey also reveals a gap between awareness and behavior. Although 93 percent of Americans say handwashing is important to their overall health, only 76 percent always wash their hands after using a public restroom, and 77 percent have witnessed someone leave without washing. Respondents most often cite a lack of soap or paper towels as the reason for skipping handwashing, underscoring the importance of keeping essential supplies stocked and consistently accessible.

Beyond supporting hand hygiene, restroom conditions also shape public perception of a business. In fact, 86 percent of U.S. adults say they expect the quality of a business's restrooms to reflect the quality of its goods and services. Additionally, a positive restroom experience can influence customer loyalty. More than two-thirds of Americans (68 percent) say they are more likely to return to a business with a hygienic restroom.

The survey also identified the restroom improvements Americans value most. Top responses include:

1) Frequent cleaning and restocking
A must-have in each restroom facility that can be supported with the implementation of high-capacity dispensing systems. These tools reduce the need for constant refills and minimize waste.
2) Providing paper towels, even when hand dryers are available
According to a multigenerational hand hygiene analysis by Dale Franke, Vice President of Sales for Acme Paper and Supply Company, Baby Boomers and Gen X populations still prefer paper towels to hand dryers. Their availability not only provides people a way to dry their hands but also allows them to avoid touching waste and other surfaces.
3) Expanding the use of touchless fixtures
The use of touchless technology limits touch points to streamline handwashing systems and reduces the risk of cross-contamination or recontamination.

"Restroom maintenance is about more than keeping a space clean," shares Jon Dommisse, Vice President of Business Development and Strategy at Bradley Company. "It's an opportunity to support public health, reinforce the professionalism and quality of a facility, and create a positive impression for every visitor. That's especially important during the busy summer travel season, when more people are relying on public restrooms."