ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

According to a new study, nearly eight out of 10 people surveyed in the UK feel more unsafe going to facilities with unhygienic public washrooms today than before the pandemic. And 33 per cent of UK respondents said they feel unsafe entering a washroom equipped with warm air dryers.

The survey by Tork brand Essity - which produces hand hygiene products, toilet tissue systems and paper towels - also found 87 per cent of people believe it is critically important to public safety to maintain a high hygiene standard in public washrooms. It also says there has been a change in preference for hand drying options, with 59 per cent of people surveyed in the UK wishing more facilities offered paper hand towels as an alternative to air dryers.

There is also now increased preference for hand towels versus before the pandemic, says Tork, at 29 per cent. The most common reasons for this change are a perception that paper hand towels are more hygienic to the user (77 per cent), dry hands more quickly (42 per cent) and spread less bacteria in the air (45 per cent).

Almost 40 per cent of the UK survey respondents said they are less likely to visit places that do not offer paper hand towels as a hand drying alternative, and 33 per cent stated they feel unsafe entering a washroom equipped with air dryers.