Restaurant patrons are far less likely to return if they find restrooms that are unhygienic or poorly stocked with supplies, according to a recent national online survey.

The survey of 2,175 adults conducted online by Harris Interactive, found that of the 97 percent of respondents who visit restaurants, 86 percent think restaurant hygiene is very important to their dining experience. Also, 88 percent of those who visit restaurants agree that restroom cleanliness reflects the hygiene standards throughout the restaurant, including kitchen and food prep areas.

The survey, initiated by SCA Tissue, also found that 29 percent said they would never return to a restaurant with an extremely unclean or unsanitary restroom. The percentage of never-returns is much higher among people 35 and older (33 percent) than those 18 to 34 years of age (20 percent).

Also, 42 percent of those who visit restaurants reported using toilet paper or paper towels to avoid touching things inside an unclean restroom in order to protect themselves from unhygienic conditions. The percentage was higher, 56 percent, among females 35 to 44 years of age.

Still, many facilities are looking to conserve paper and have turned to touch-free paper towel dispensers to do so. Typically, these types of dispensers are installed in order to reduce bacteria levels and eliminate cross contamination. However, these environment-friendly dispensers can also play a significant role in reducing paper usage and costs.

Today’s touch-less paper product dispensers offer facility managers controlled usage. Oftentimes, these advanced dispensers can be programmed to only dispense as much towel as the custodial crew deems necessary, and duration between dispenses can also be modified. Other perception benefits for facilities when installing touch-less paper dispensers include:

• Modern, professional appearance;

• A building that cares about its occupants’ health and well-being;

• Reduced vandalism;

• Reduced maintenance needs, such as the continuous replacement of towels;

• Less trash, which benefits worker productivity and the environment;

• Improved cleaner morale and productivity, as well as reducedsick days.

The goal of every facility is to reduce expenses, increase worker productivity and keep buildings safe and free of conta­mination. As science in cleaning and green products becomes more prevalent in this industry, the public’s awareness and knowledge are sure to increase.

Today’s touch-less products, including restroom design, fea­tures and equipment, which is expected to continue to evolve and advance. These products can be easily retrofitted and in­corporated in every facility, regardless of market and foot traf­fic makeup. In some cases, these touch-free innovations can offer benefits to facility owners, including recognized building certification and operating savings.

When these products are implemented, restroom visitors and cleaning crews are afforded the distance they need to re­main safe. And, building occupants are more willing to use restrooms and wash their hands when touch-free innovations are featured.

“Not just restaurant patrons but those who use any com­mercial washrooms have come to expect clean, well-serviced and stocked facilities with equipment that works and employ­ees who respond quickly when problems are reported,” said Ian West, SCA Tissue Category director — Washroom.

At McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, paper towel usage has decreased by 38 percent, and eliminated cross cont­amination has been virtually eliminated

by converting its washrooms to touch-less hand towel dispensing systems.

McCarran International, the fifth busiest in the nation with more than 44.3 million passengers last year, recently installed about 1,000 touch-free dispensers in its 150 public and private restrooms.

Maintaining restroom hygiene and reducing cross contami­nation are important issues at McCarran, which experiences more than 237,000 uses per day of its public restrooms by visitors from all over the world, said Bob Hurd, custodial su­perintendent for the airport.

Usage control and cost savings also are critical factors for restrooms that must sometimes accommodate up to 1,500 peo­ple in an eight-hour period. The dispensers feature an adjustable towel length, an adjustable time delay and a stub roll compart­ment that enables complete use of rolls. The result is more pre­cise control of consumption and substantial reductions in supply waste and labor for refills.

Since installing the touchless dispensers, Hurd said, his tracking of restroom supplies shows an average decrease of 38 percent in paper towel usage.

The Tork dispensers use a patented microchip sensor that automatically detects the presence of a hand and delivers one towel at a time. Patrons touch only the towel they will use, virtually eliminating cross contamination. The towels remain enclosed until needed, conforming to HACCP guidelines.

At McCarran International, the switch included retrofitting about 300 dispensers into recessed panels in addition to those that were mounted on flat walls. To meet McCarran’s needs, SCA Tissue used a heavy-gauge stainless steel filler panel that allowed the dispensers to be retrofitted seamlessly into existing recessed dispenser cabinets for ADA compliance without having to remove the entire stainless steel unit.

“The solution we came up with for McCarran means the hygiene and cost-saving advantages of SCA Tissue’s touch-free dispensing system now can be easily applied to many re­stroom situations,” said John Kreul, senior director, category management.

It can be installed in a wide range of options, including mounting directly to a wall, installing within a recessed wall opening, or retrofitting into a stainless steel recessed towel cabinet. “This versatility makes it ideal for use in office buildings, healthcare facilities and foodservice environ­ments,” said Kreul.

According to Richard DiPaolo, author of “Trends and Is­sues in Touch-Free Washrooms,” a white paper from SCA Tissue North America, “Today’s touch-free paper dispens­ing systems are designed to promote the ultimate in hygiene. Towels are enclosed in the dispenser to protect them from the unsanitary conditions that may be present in the restroom. Additionally, today’s touch-free towel dispensers, which are usually constructed to prevent the buildup of germs and dirt, are easier to operate compared to past offerings.”

The dispensers come in a variety of models, such as roll towel or c-fold, and most can be customized with various colors and private logos. Simply put, today’s touch-free market features various choices, models and price points for all end-users who are interested in touch-less paper product dispensers. ❑