Most of us avoid using public restrooms like the plague.  But sometimes, especially if you’ve had too much coffee, you have to go.  It amazes me that big supermarket chains and discount stores make so little effort to keep their restrooms fresh and clean. Remember the heyday of the big department stores? Part of their appeal was their attractive powder rooms.  Yucky public restrooms repel customers.

We live  5 minutes away from three  superstores who constantly try and outdo each other to attract sales. They spend a fortune on beautiful full page, color ads.   They run unbelievable sales and loss leaders to lure you through their doors.  Only one of them has clean, attractive public restrooms.

Store #1:  Before you even walk inside the bathroom, you see two dull, grimy drinking fountains .  Open the door and you’re  greeted by a disgusting smell.  This is not a one time thing.  It  ALWAYS smells this way.  You have to wonder why.  Because of backed up drains?  Poor ventilation?  Whatever.  The walls are painted an ugly brown, with mustard yellow tiles.  Makes you think of diarrhea and other nasty images.  All of which goes along with the odor.  They have two stalls, and one of them is usually plugged up with toilet paper.

Store #2:  This is a big box store, so they have about 8 stalls.  The odor isn’t  so bad as store #1, but it comes close.  Paper towels are scattered all over the floor and on the sinks.  Usually, two or three toilets are stopped up, so it takes awhile to find one that works and doesn’t stink.  Often, they’re out of toilet paper. Stalls are stainless steel, and walls are painted a grayish white.  There is nothing remotely appealing about this place,

Store #3:  Nice surprise because it doesn’t stink.  No, it doesn’t look like the restrooms at the Hilton Garden Inn,  but at least the walls are freshly painted and bright.  The floors are mopped and free of litter. The sinks are clean.  None of the toilets are stopped up.  Stainless steel doors aren’t smudged with fingerprints.  Locks work.

Guess where I’d rather shop for my groceries? Yes, it’s a mile further, but subconsciously, I’m attracted to the cleanliness, good lighting, and smell of the restrooms at Store #3.  I probably won’t use their restroom very often, but I know it’s there, and I won’t have to hold my nose if I have to use it..

Here’s my advice to all the big grocery chains:  If you really want to compete, forget about offers to save a dollar if you buy five, and all the other confusing ads.  Paint your restrooms pink or blue. You might even have some pretty  murals or framed pictures.  Install  some soft lighting. .  Make it smell fresh—not like bleach or disinfectant, but something really fragrant. Keep the mirrors clean. Take out those disgusting blow hand dryers  that everyone knows spread bacteria.  If a toilet gets plugged up, have a maintenance guy fix it pronto. You might be surprised what attractive  public restrooms  will do for your bottom line.

Yucky public restrooms  repel customers.