Poor washroom odour could damage business reputation

A study released by Initial Washroom Hygiene examined the state of air care in public and office washrooms, and the wide-ranging implications this can have on businesses.

The global report (based on 5,000 respondents – 1,000 across the UK, Australia, France, Italy, Malaysia), titled ‘Washroom malodour: Experiences, perceptions and implications for businesses’ found that 73% of British people say an unpleasant smell in the washroom would negatively affect their perception of a venue, with almost two thirds of respondents saying that a bad smell would make them less likely to spend money with that company.

The report noted that as well as emotional responses to unpleasant smells, bad washroom experiences can negatively impact reputation and repeat custom. More than six in 10 would be put off a business if it had unpleasant-smelling bathrooms and almost a quarter have been embarrassed about a client or visitor using their bathrooms due to the smell.

Comparing retail environments to office space, 25% of those surveyed reported that cafes, bars and restaurants have cleaner washrooms than their place of work.

Peter Barratt, Initial Washroom Hygiene, said: “Our report highlights the significant impact that unpleasant smelling washrooms can have on perceptions of a particular brand – it makes business sense to pay attention to what consumers are saying. While some businesses are still unaware of advances in air care methods, the necessity for effective washroom odour control is easy for businesses to understand.”