Words: Katrin Ferge 

Practising proper hand hygiene plays a critical role in protecting against the spread of harmful germs, leading to a safer and healthier world. Unfortunately, millions of people go about their daily lives while silently facing visible and invisible barriers to handwashing in public restrooms.

Poorly maintained public restrooms can be a reason for people to leave their jobs, write a bad review of a business or not return to a venue. Employees who are uncomfortable with their facility’s restrooms could skip handwashing altogether and become ill or spread disease through the office. Market research conducted by Essity in 2022 found that 60 percent of people think less of businesses or venues with hand hygiene facilities that are difficult to use. This highlights the risk that facilities face if their restrooms are not well maintained.

But what do these challenges look like, and how do they impact people’s experiences in public restrooms? Let’s take a tour around the restroom to identify barriers and walk through some tips for improving handwashing access for all.

Gentle soaps and sanitisers are crucial

In the United States alone, more than 31 million people suffer from eczema and may find that some hand soaps irritate their skin, according to statistics from the US National Eczema Association. Other conditions can also cause people to have sensitivities to ingredients or fragrances. Guests and employees living with these conditions are concerned about pain or discomfort every time they wash their hands in a public restroom.

Stocking public restrooms with soaps and sanitisers that are gentle and effective is a must. Providing soaps that are kind to the skin, dermatologically tested and have received certifications from relevant organisations ensures people with a variety of skin sensitivities are able to clean their hands without worry.

Easy dispenser use means clean hands for everyone

People’s physical abilities can change for a variety of reasons, including injuries and age-related conditions like arthritis, which can make using buttons, handles or faucets in public restrooms more difficult. For anyone with reduced hand function, dispensers that do not allow for one-hand or touchless usage are often a challenge. This could mean restroom users aren’t able to properly clean their hands and that cleaning staff have a more challenging time restocking the dispensers.

Selecting dispensers that are easy to use for people with a wide range of mobility needs ensures customers and employees can access the soap and sanitiser products they need. Easy refilling is also important so that cleaning staff of all backgrounds can complete this task. Consider installing dispensers that allow guests to easily pull a lever with just one hand and/or have touchless sensors, helping everyone practice good hand hygiene.

Hand towels are key to a calm, hygienic restroom

Anyone who has used a public restroom with jet air dryers knows how loud and disruptive they can be. For those who are neurodivergent or have sensitivity to noise, these air dryers can make a public restroom a challenging environment.

Hand towels can service more guests at a time than air dryers and can be used for many purposes, including wiping down surfaces and helping restroom users avoid touching faucets or door handles. Hand towels also provide a much quieter, calmer and less stimulating restroom experience for everyone, especially those with sensitivity to loud noises.

This article first appeared on CMM online