{"id":2657,"date":"2024-06-20T09:11:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-20T09:11:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.initial.co.uk\/blog\/?p=2657"},"modified":"2026-01-28T12:49:31","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T12:49:31","slug":"is-the-air-in-your-washroom-leaving-the-right-impression","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.initial.co.uk\/blog\/is-the-air-in-your-washroom-leaving-the-right-impression\/","title":{"rendered":"Is the air in your washroom leaving the right impression?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Washroom perceptions are likely to play a significant role in the impressions that visitors form about your business. Smells and the perception of air hygiene <\/a>can have a direct impact on visitors\u2019 experience of your washroom facilities. A positive experience – with a washroom that is free of unpleasant odours and that is hygienic and clean – indicates that you care about your employees, customers and visitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A smelly situation – what does research say?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

92% of people have experienced unpleasant smelling washrooms – which is definitely something to cause a stink about!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A smelly washroom can prevent visitors from returning to your office or establishment. In fact, 67% of those surveyed said that an unpleasant smell in an organisation’s public washroom would make them less likely to shop there, while 77% of guests leave with a negative perception of a business that has unpleasant washroom smells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smell is a powerful sense that has a profound impact on our perception and behaviour. In an article published by the Harvard Gazette<\/a>, research suggests that the olfactory system, which is responsible for processing smells, is directly connected to the amygdala and hippocampus in the brain, which are responsible for both emotion and memory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because smell, emotion and memory are intertwined, it makes sense that a washroom containing unpleasant odours is less likely to encourage a repeat visit. In that case, it would make sense for businesses to invest in a solution to help eliminate odours<\/a> and remove unpleasant smells from their washrooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is not only smells that can be off-putting to washroom visitors, they may also leave them with concerns over the overall indoor air quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why is indoor air quality important?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Indoor air quality<\/a> plays a crucial role in the overall health and comfort of employees. Given that 87% of people spend their day indoors (a third of our time at the workplace!) , ensuring the air they breathe is clean and healthy is paramount.1<\/a><\/sup> Clean indoor air is considered so important that 60% of office workers would leave their jobs<\/a> if an employer failed to address indoor air quality issues.2<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The World Health Organisation (WHO<\/a>) states that cross contamination of airborne viruses and diseases is an incredible 19 times more likely indoors than out, and further states that poor indoor air quality is also responsible for 3.8 million premature deaths globally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poor indoor air quality is the silent antagonist of washrooms as it can have detrimental effects to the health of your visitors. The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that cross contamination of airborne viruses and diseases is an incredible, 19 times more likely indoors than out, and further states that poor indoor air quality is also responsible for 3.8 million premature deaths globally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the NIH (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences)<\/a> poor air quality can have various potential effects including worsening respiratory conditions such as asthma and allergies, which can present symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. Headaches or fatigue have also been experienced due to sensitivity to certain chemicals or odours. Furthermore, exposure to chemicals and other irritants in the air (such as aerosol sprays or chemicals used to clean washrooms) can also cause skin irritation and allergic reactions in some users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Washrooms can easily provide a breeding ground for airborne bacteria and viruses such as influenza, measles and chickenpox can be transmitted via the air. Mould and mildew in washrooms can also release disease-causing toxins (EPA.gov)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is not just the air in washrooms, but also the effect of poor air quality in the workplace as a whole that has a negative effect on your employees.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Employee wellbeing is directly linked to the quality of the air they breathe. Health issues caused by poor air quality can lead to increased absenteeism and presenteeism (where employees are present but not fully functioning due to illness). Poor indoor air quality negatively impacts employee health and productivity in several ways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n