Benefits of a Touch-Free Washroom

The Importance of Adopting Touchless Washroom Fixtures

One of the things the world has learned in the last couple of years is how important it is to sanitize surfaces and wash your hands, especially in the restroom. According to a study conducted by Applied and Environmental Microbiology, over 77,000 different kinds of bacteria and viruses are present on the surfaces in public bathrooms. Therefore, switching to touch-free washroom fixtures can prevent the amount of surface bacteria and viruses you come in contact with when disposing of waste and washing your hands. Washrooms that have touch-free fixtures create a significant level of comfort for Americans when using them in public. 84% of Americans say that they prefer a touch-free washroom in a survey conducted in 2021 by NACS and 70% say they are more likely to return to a business that has a touch-free washroom. On the other hand, 56% of people say that it gives off a negative impression of a business when it does not have touch-free fixtures. These fixtures include toilet fixtures, faucets, soap dispensers, and paper towel dispensers.

Best Practices for Washing Your Hands

Unlike common belief, the temperature of water you use to wash your hands does not affect the amount of germs removed on the surface. Whether it is warm or cold, water alone is not enough to remove any germs on your hands unless it is boiling hot. What does help remove germs is how long and thorough you scrub your hands with soap. The best length of time to scrub your hands is 20 seconds while scrubbing the backs of your hands, palms, between your fingers, and even under your fingernails. Then thoroughly wash your hands off with water. By having touch-free soap dispensers and faucets, this enables you to get your hands clean and not need to touch a dirty surface to shut off, turn on, or receive soap and water. By avoiding having to touch the faucet alone, this prevents you from coming in contact with almost 229,000 germs (per square inch).

Best Practices for Drying Your Hands

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that “Germs can be transferred more easily to and from wet hands”. With this in mind, it is so important we dry our hands thoroughly after washing them. Having a touch-free towel dispenser prevents the need to touch a dirty surface area right after washing your hands. In addition, paper towels are more able to remove germs than using hand air dryers. The friction between your hands and the paper towel whilst drying them off will also help remove any remaining germs after washing. While on the other hand, using a hand air dryer can actually increase the amount of germs left on your hands by spreading the germs that are in the air onto your hands. — WCP has an array of touch-free washroom devices and cleaning chemicals that can help keep you, your coworkers, and your customers as germ-free as possible in the restroom. To learn more about the touch-free washroom fixtures, WCP has to offer you can browse through our digital Touch-free Washroom Brochure below.

WCP Can Help

Have any questions about adopting touch-free bathroom fixtures or other ways to keep your bathroom clean? We’d be happy to set up a consultation with you to discuss products and solutions with you. Contact your local WCP account manager or customer service team, they would love to help! Give us a call at (877) 398-3030. Sources: Customers Want Touchless Restrooms from NACS, Identifying and Tackle Restroom Germs from CleanLink, Water and Handwashing from the CDC, and Hand Dryers vs. Paper Towels from EBP Supply Solutions