Flush!

A proposal for a public restrooms ratings system

Photo by Olivier Collet on Unsplash

You’re out and about with friends, keeping responsibly hydrated, when suddenly… nature calls. Not to worry, you’ll just pop into the nearest restroom and relieve yourself. Your friends say you’re better off waiting til you get to your next destination.

“Trust us. ”

Oh come on, how bad could it be? Who knows how long it could take, plus you could use the opportunity to freshen up.

“This place is like 2 stars. The next is 4 stars!”

Okay but what does that really mean? Surely it can’t be that bad —

It’s a hole in the ground. No toilet. No toilet paper. No way. If this is two stars, then you don’t even want to think about what one star is.

Not to worry, just don’t think about waterfalls or leaking faucets for the next twenty minutes. You try to distract yourself with conversation in the car, but all you can think about is a four-star restroom. Four stars. Four stars. Four. Stars.

Finally, three egregiously large potholes later, you arrive and immediately power walk straight to the restrooms. Relief at last, you think.

Upon opening the door, however, you’re greeted by instant disappointment. A lone flickering ceiling light illuminates the fact that this restroom hadn’t been cleaned in quite some time. And that’s putting it nicely. What’s also noticeable is the lack of any mirrors. Strange. No time to think too much about it though, you’re on a mission.

• Stall #1: No toilet paper. Pass.
• Stall #2: Doesn’t lock. Pass.
• Stall #3: OUT OF ORDER.

You frantically grab some toilet paper from Stall #2 and resolve to use Stall #1. On the bright side, this restroom actually had a working toilet. Who cares if you had to hold your breath the whole time and hang your bag around your neck because there isn’t a hook on the stall?

Finishing up, you go to wash up and find all the soap dispensers are out of soap. As you stare into the mirror-less wall, you start questioning what in life led you to this moment.

With hands still wet, you look around for paper towels only to observe that there are none, only a single hand dryer.

It’s broken.

You wipe your hands on your clothes, when you remember the travel-sized bottle of hand sanitizer in your bag. With a cry of relief, you generously apply a copious amount before returning to people you thought were your friends.

Four stars.

Photo by Anna Earl on Unsplash

How to systemize the criteria

When advising others on where to “go,” it’s tempting to use the same type of ratings system one would use when referring restaurants. However, the nuances of a public restroom require are more thoughtful approach. By having a set of standardized criteria, we can help inform others so that they have more accurate expectations.

And because I’m obsessed with acronyms…

1. F inishes
2. L ayout
3. U sing the restroom
4. S tall
5. H ygiene options

Because some criteria is obviously more impactful than others, we would use a curve to aggregate the ratings into a meaningful, holistic star rating.

—

Finishes

• Quality materials: Same or better quality of materials used in the rest of the building space.
• Sufficient lighting: Updated, reliable lighting means guests feel safe.
• Ambient music: Background music creates a more relaxing atmosphere and also drowns out potential unwanted noises.
• Cleanliness: If an establishment neglects the cleanliness of their restrooms offered to guests, what else are they neglecting?

Layout

• Intuitive flow: A layout that accommodates incoming, staying, and exiting guests.
• Availability: It should be easy to tell when a stall becomes available, and not just whether the door is closed or not. Whether that’s an easy to glance layout or investing in a monitor that can help with foot traffic.
• Counter space: Counters aren’t just for sinks. Guests sometimes need an area to freshen up.
• Family friendly: Baby-changing stations in all public restrooms ensures support for all families, no matter what gender the parent is.

Using the restroom

• Toilet: At the bare minimum — honestly just work (and exist). Be aware of evil forces trying to make them less comfortable.
• Toilet paper: There should be enough to spare. Plus, it should be easy to see if it’s running low and if there is extra.
• Automatic flushing: The less guests have to touch, the better. However, it should also be obvious how one would manually flush as well.
• Bidet/extras: While this isn’t standard or popular in the States, it’s still a nice option for those who are used to it.

Stall

• Reliable locking mechanism: The best type of lock stands the test of time and is intuitive with which way to operate it.
• Storage: In addition to ample legroom, guests should be able to store bags and other items. A hook on the door should be located near the middle of the door to prevent theft.
• Maximum privacy: The door height and width should prevent bystanders from peeking in-between gaps.

Hygiene options

• Sink to stall ratio : After “doing their business” guests just want quick and easy access to soap and water stat!
• Automated soap/water: Again, the less guests have to touch, the better. Provide regular soap dispensers too, in case the automated dispenser runs out or breaks.
• Drying options: Don’t make guests drip water everywhere because the sink is too far from paper towels/hand dryers. Also, always have paper towels available since hand dryers can break and also sometimes there are spills!

The ideal experience

When it comes to amazing public restroom experiences, most people are quick to reference Buc-ee’s. I mean just look:

• https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/business/bucees-texas-convenience-store-bathrooms/
• https://www.southernliving.com/news/buc-ees-cleanest-bathrooms

But I see potential for a more inclusive model: Separate, self-contained gender neutral bathrooms vs the shared space and stall approach.

Photo by Filios Sazeides on Unsplash

Okay, maybe not quite as nice and spacious — but basically it boils down to each bathroom containing its own toilet and sink.

Some establishments have already been embracing this model, since they have the following advantages:

• When a bathroom becomes available, anyone can use it regardless of gender.
• These rooms tend to be larger than a standard stall.
• Guests feel safer, not having to worry about using a shared space.
• Separate bathrooms makes it easier for maintenance to tend to issues without disrupting others.
• Because the space is usually fairly compact, there tends to be less mess since the distance between the sink, soap, and where you would dry your hands is in close proximity.
• Accessibility rooms have more features for those that need them

Closing thoughts

While most people tend to avoid public restrooms at all cost, sometimes it just ends up being unavoidable. And while there are friends and apps that can recommend which ones to use, it’s still highly subjective and mostly focused on a few aspects.

Helpful public restroom apps:

• https://www.thelisttv.com/the-list/bathroom-in-a-bind-4-apps-to-help-you-find-clean-public-restrooms/

Did I miss anything that you judge a public restroom by? Feel free to add it in the comments!