How to Make Going to a Public Restroom a More Enjoyable Experience

The current global crisis brought about by the Coronavirus pandemic has turned most people into germaphobes. Everyone is anxious about the effects of using a public restroom for fear of viral infection. But if you are in constant need of a toilet and happen to be in a train station, mall, supermarket, park, or restaurant, you don't have any choice but to use what's available for the public. There are times you need to go and can't hold it any longer. It can be horrifying to use a public washroom with a disgusting smell, overflowing rubbish bins, untidy appearance, and worst no available water for washing hands. Unfortunately, you need to bear the nightmare! It's not just an issue of privacy but comfort, especially if there's a limited toilet or if there's only one installed for both males and females. In one of the US surveys, 60% of the respondents revealed that they would delay using the public bathroom if they felt like there's no enough privacy.

While some public restrooms give trauma to a lot of users, others also provide comfort and an awesome experience. You can even see people flaunting their photos while inside a powder room of a hotel, university, mall, or café. But how can we make our commercial bathroom experience more fun and enjoyable? Often, it depends on the place and overall appearance. What are some factors affecting people's experiences?

There should be personnel who take care of the bathroom's cleanliness. Since it's a public restroom, expect users to come and go from time to time, especially for an establishment with a higher volume of customers. Regular cleaning and sanitizing reduce the transmission of diseases by removing germs and other pathogens. The widespread growth of Covid-19 has made a lot of people more reluctant to use the public restroom. A clean and sanitized room will reduce their fears and hesitation. This will also protect the reputation of the establishment, building, or property.

Another way to boost the likability and pleasantness of the room is to make it odor-free. Scents and fragrances create a powerful subconscious impact on how we perceive our environment. A bathroom with potpourri, scented candles, and fresh flowers have a calming and soothing effect. It's very inviting and makes you want to sit and stay longer.

Soft colors can easily incorporate with different dark-colored amenities and fixtures. They also reflect light and make the bathroom look bigger, and boost the effect of soft-colored walls. According to psychologists, color has a specific effect on mood. Blue, for instance, can lower temperature but suppress appetite. Off-white instills a feeling of positivity and improves attention. Notice that even the bathrooms of primary schools in the US, Canada, and the UK are filled with both soft and contrasting colors. The Cherry Orchard Primary School in Worcester, UK, is one of the schools that uphold the importance of colors to the children's creative and cognitive skills. The brilliant idea of the people from https://riseadapt.co.uk made it possible. These colors are also incorporated with proper lighting as it also determines the overall comfort of the users. The light quality should avoid shadowing and reduce glare to ensure the balance between the light output and comfort or convenience for the human eye. Despite the presence of the mirrors, the goal of the right lighting is to aid overall visibility.

Maximizing the space of the public restroom can make it a little more open and cozier. One way to amplify the space is to have proper mirror placement. Installing more mirrors will give the impression that the room has a bigger space, thus, making it more convenient for the user. Another useful feature is the use of stalls with reflective surfaces. The design of high gloss-colored finishes can increase versatility. Installing reflective steel counters and sinks can also create visual space. Allowing natural light can help make the bathroom appear more spacious. However, some people may not be comfortable with clear or bare windows. High, near the ceiling windows can be installed using opaque or frosted glasses, letting the light enter without giving anyone a view of the room.

Aside from water, it is ultimately essential for a public toilet to have toilet paper and liquid hand wash. Not all customers bring their wipes or sanitizers, so these supplies should be available all the time. Hand soaps and toilet papers promote safety and hygiene. However, when Coronavirus started to hit globally, the use of toilet paper has been discouraged as they are breeding grounds for germs. The surface of the toilet tissue dispenser can serve as a transmission channel for disease-causing microorganisms. If an infected person touches a surface and another person touches the same surface, the contamination spreads. A group of microbiologists conducted a study and found out that the most contaminated public bathroom areas are the toilet flush handle, the floor, the sanitary napkin disposal lid, and the sink. Although the toilet paper dispenser may fall in between, it is still safe to bring your tissue or wipes.

Some individuals are not comfortable using the toilet in the presence of other people. Oprah Winfrey is among those people who are anxious about using public bathrooms. According to the American Psychiatric Association, this is a social anxiety disorder called "paruresis." This is a condition where a person is having trouble urinating when others are nearby. That's why the issue of privacy is crucial when it comes to the layout of restroom facilities in public spaces, particularly the men's urinal. There should be adequate privacy and utilizing materials that can get rid of sightlines and design flaws. For stalls, exterior visuals should be eliminated.

Public washrooms are important. Regardless of your social and economic status, you can't prevent using them. Not everyone can share pleasant stories about the situation, especially those who travel to another city or country. But others are simply lucky to have an enjoyable public restroom experience.