PHILADELPHIA — Restaurant patrons are far less likely to return to an eating establishment if they find restrooms that are unhygienic or poorly stocked with supplies, according to a recent online survey sponsored by SCA Tissue North America and conducted by Harris Interactive.
The survey of 2,175 U.S. adults found that of the 97 percent of respondents, 86 percent think restaurant hygiene is very important to their dining experience. Additionally, 88 percent of those who visit restaurants agree that restroom cleanliness reflects the hygiene standards throughout the restaurant, including kitchen and food prep areas.
Twenty-nine percent said they would never return to a restaurant with an extremely unclean or unsanitary restroom, and 50 percent of those who visit restaurants said they would tell their friends and family about a negative unclean or unsanitary restaurant experience; 46 percent said they would avoid going to a restaurant because of a bad restroom experience that they had themselves or one they heard about from others.
According to the poll, the top 10 restroom issues, in order of importance, include:
- Overflowing toilets
- Unpleasant odors
- Floors that were slippery or dirty with buildup, gum or other residue
- Partitions, doors, doorknobs, walls or fixtures were dirty
- Dirty and wet sinks and countertops
- Insufficient toilet paper
- Overflowing trash cans
- Insufficient liquid soap
- Toilet paper dispenser didn't work
- Management/employees unavailable to whom to report problems
