For this stage of our “Perceptions of Hygiene” series, we are now inside the washroom environment. We have made our scent based analysis, looked about for visual clues as to the state of the washroom, and now we have taken a few steps inside and things are about to get “tactile”. In the past 10 years, the study of human touch has increased in vigour. With people interacting with touch screens at a rapidly increasing speed, science has focussed research on finding out how to provide increased tactile feedback. The biggest take-home fact is that the average human fingertip can detect a difference of only 1 molecule high. To give you some perspective. The finest human eye could not see this unaided. Therefore, we look to touch to gain more information about a new “thing”. Look at how babies investigate their world. Touch, put in mouth (we’re coming to that in this series….eventually). They are building up their understanding of the world through touch. We don’t do this as much as adults because we did this research as babies.
Back to our journey across the washroom. We extend our arm, then we touch the stall door. How many of us push the door directly with our hands? How many do this when we know there are no observers? Personally I reach out. I settle myself, knowing that my hand hygiene on leaving the environment will be high and I will be more aware of how I use my hands in the interim as I use the toilet. I have observed people using their elbow for this and have, in environments where my other senses have already warned me, done this myself.
It is here that we need to focus on increased cleaning in our cleaning checklists. Making sure that we keep this area clean will go a long way to reinforcing our standards. Accepting a clean door, we now move into the most stressful moment of a washroom visit. We all look at this environment with some scepticism. We will inspect the bowl first. If there is anything we don’t like the look of, then we work out how to deal with this. Option 1 for most is to change cubicles. Many of us are fine with doing this in front of others. Some people less so. Once everything is good visually, we assess the seat. Even with visual cleanliness people, wrongly assess the seat as being an area of concern. Truthfully, this is the least of your worries on a toilet visit, but we still need to support people. Providing seat cleaning options allows people to “wipe away” this unfounded fear. For many, simply seeing this presented as an option will provide an increased confidence.
Now people relax for more than the most obvious reason. They have negotiated most of the worst of the potential hazards of a shared facility, for now. Leaving the cubicle, the critical visitor knows they are going to wash their hands. This allows them some leeway and, psychologically, they are now in the window during which they feel responsible for their hygiene experience. Visiting a clean hand hygiene environment reinforces their hygiene perception and finding a useable & clean hand drying solution takes them to that last hurdle. Yes, it is that exit issue.
Many modern environments use the maze solution, others forego the door completely. The vast majority will have a door to negotiate. Back to that elbow! Not necessarily. Most washroom service providers can provide retro-fitted anti-bacterial surfaces that allow doors to be operated without worrying about the previous user’s poor hygiene standards. Many of these solutions support customisable branding. It is, however, best to provide a clear and concise explanation so people can make that decision within their visit flow.
As always, engaging with your washroom services supplier can provide you with some of the most experienced and spotlessly clean hands in the business. We have touched the very best and the very worst. Zenith Washrooms representatives are ready to get their hands dirty to ensure your users’ best tactile washroom experience.
Contact Zenith Washrooms today to get a quick, fuss free, opinion on your washroom solution.
