How Dirty Are Public Restrooms?

HOW DIRTY ARE PUBLIC RESTROOMS? Public restrooms are notoriously germ-infested, but just how bad are they? HOT ZONES WHAT'S LURKING MOST GERMS A host of harmful bacteria lurk in public restrooms. Here's what you can expect to run into: • ROTAVIRUS • STAPHYLOCOCCUS • SHIGELLA BACTERIA • SALMONELLA SINK • NOROVIRUS • E. COLI • HEPATITIS A VIRUS • COMMON COLD VIRUS Sinks are the greatest reservoir of germs in public restrooms, thanks in part to the presence of water because they survive longer in a moist environment. Studies suggest the sink area in one of every 10 restrooms harbors salmonella and fecal bacteria. HANDS FREE = GERM FIGHTING %3D TOILET SEAT The availability of automatic flushing systems, faucets, and towel dispensers not only helps reduce the bacteria you pick up, but can actually eliminate some of the bacteria you carried Water dislodged from the toilet during flushing can settle on seats after a single flush. Some organisms can exist for up to 17 days on a standard toilet seat. Although it's commonly thought of as the dirtiest place in a restroom, the toilet seat is typically too dry for a lot of bacteria to thrive. into the bathroom with you in the first place. BACTERIA ON HANDS BEFORE AND AFTER USING AUTOMATIC RESTROOMS SOAP DISPENSERS IN - 2.2 MILLION* Refillable soap dispensers are constantly being contaminated OUT - 1.5 MILLION* with fecal bacteria. People who use refillable soap dispensers are exposed to an average of 1,000,000 bacteria every 1 in 4 times they use. *Colony-forming units/ml STOP | TOILET HANDLE WHAT TO AVOID The handle can become contaminated because people usually flush the toilet before washing their hands. Not only is the handle exposed to contaminated water vapor from flushing, but many people also use their shoes to flush. Restrooms in bus stations and airports are the worst offenders thanks to the large volume of people who use them. WHAT TO LOOK FOR HOT-AIR HAND DRYER Restrooms with two to four stalls; if there's one, everyone uses it. If there are five or more, it's probably a high-traffic bathroom. You can actually contract twice as many germs using one of these because the devices blow germ-filled air directly onto your freshly-washed hands. THE STATE OF HAND-WASHING PAPER TOWELS Using paper towels after washing hands can reduce the amount of bacteria by roughly 75%. AIR 95% 67% The airborne bacterial emissions from a single toilet flush can remain in the air for up to 12 minutes. LEAST GERMS CLAIM TO WASH HANDS ACTUALLY WASH HANDS MEN'S VS. WOMEN'S WHAT YOU CAN DO You're twice as likely to encounter harmful germs in a women's public restroom. Researchers suggest two reasons: A healthy immune system is the first line of defense in public restrooms. Beyond that ... • WASH YOUR HANDS WITH SOAP. ALMOST HALF OF ALL PEOPLE DO NOT USE SOAP TO WASH THEIR HANDS IN PUBLIC RESTROOMS. AND ALWAYS LOOK FOR A SEALED SYSTEM SOAP DISPENSER. • USE RESTROOMS WITH AUTOMATIC PAPER TOWEL DISPENSERS, SOAP DISPENSERS, FLUSH, AND WATER DELIVERY SYSTEMS. • AVOID SINKS THAT HAVE STANDING WATER. • AFTER WASHING YOUR HANDS, USE A PAPER TOWEL TO TURN OFF THE FAUCET AND OPEN THE DOOR. WOMEN OFTEN BRING IN CHILDREN, WHO BRING IN MORE GERMS. WOMEN TEND TO STAY LONGER AND INTERACT WITH MORE SURFACES IN • DON'T LET YOUR HANDS TOUCH THE VENTS OF A HOT-AIR HAND DRYER. PUBLIC RESTROOMS THAN MEN. OCOVERALL Sources: WebMD, American Society for Microbiology, American Cleaning Institute, CNN, University of Arizona, University of Westminster, JCCC.edu, Journal of Applied and Environmental Microbiology Health-Based Cleaning System www.coverall.com HOW DIRTY ARE PUBLIC RESTROOMS? Public restrooms are notoriously germ-infested, but just how bad are they? HOT ZONES WHAT'S LURKING MOST GERMS A host of harmful bacteria lurk in public restrooms. Here's what you can expect to run into: • ROTAVIRUS • STAPHYLOCOCCUS • SHIGELLA BACTERIA • SALMONELLA SINK • NOROVIRUS • E. COLI • HEPATITIS A VIRUS • COMMON COLD VIRUS Sinks are the greatest reservoir of germs in public restrooms, thanks in part to the presence of water because they survive longer in a moist environment. Studies suggest the sink area in one of every 10 restrooms harbors salmonella and fecal bacteria. HANDS FREE = GERM FIGHTING %3D TOILET SEAT The availability of automatic flushing systems, faucets, and towel dispensers not only helps reduce the bacteria you pick up, but can actually eliminate some of the bacteria you carried Water dislodged from the toilet during flushing can settle on seats after a single flush. Some organisms can exist for up to 17 days on a standard toilet seat. Although it's commonly thought of as the dirtiest place in a restroom, the toilet seat is typically too dry for a lot of bacteria to thrive. into the bathroom with you in the first place. BACTERIA ON HANDS BEFORE AND AFTER USING AUTOMATIC RESTROOMS SOAP DISPENSERS IN - 2.2 MILLION* Refillable soap dispensers are constantly being contaminated OUT - 1.5 MILLION* with fecal bacteria. People who use refillable soap dispensers are exposed to an average of 1,000,000 bacteria every 1 in 4 times they use. *Colony-forming units/ml STOP | TOILET HANDLE WHAT TO AVOID The handle can become contaminated because people usually flush the toilet before washing their hands. Not only is the handle exposed to contaminated water vapor from flushing, but many people also use their shoes to flush. Restrooms in bus stations and airports are the worst offenders thanks to the large volume of people who use them. WHAT TO LOOK FOR HOT-AIR HAND DRYER Restrooms with two to four stalls; if there's one, everyone uses it. If there are five or more, it's probably a high-traffic bathroom. You can actually contract twice as many germs using one of these because the devices blow germ-filled air directly onto your freshly-washed hands. THE STATE OF HAND-WASHING PAPER TOWELS Using paper towels after washing hands can reduce the amount of bacteria by roughly 75%. AIR 95% 67% The airborne bacterial emissions from a single toilet flush can remain in the air for up to 12 minutes. LEAST GERMS CLAIM TO WASH HANDS ACTUALLY WASH HANDS MEN'S VS. WOMEN'S WHAT YOU CAN DO You're twice as likely to encounter harmful germs in a women's public restroom. Researchers suggest two reasons: A healthy immune system is the first line of defense in public restrooms. Beyond that ... • WASH YOUR HANDS WITH SOAP. ALMOST HALF OF ALL PEOPLE DO NOT USE SOAP TO WASH THEIR HANDS IN PUBLIC RESTROOMS. AND ALWAYS LOOK FOR A SEALED SYSTEM SOAP DISPENSER. • USE RESTROOMS WITH AUTOMATIC PAPER TOWEL DISPENSERS, SOAP DISPENSERS, FLUSH, AND WATER DELIVERY SYSTEMS. • AVOID SINKS THAT HAVE STANDING WATER. • AFTER WASHING YOUR HANDS, USE A PAPER TOWEL TO TURN OFF THE FAUCET AND OPEN THE DOOR. WOMEN OFTEN BRING IN CHILDREN, WHO BRING IN MORE GERMS. WOMEN TEND TO STAY LONGER AND INTERACT WITH MORE SURFACES IN • DON'T LET YOUR HANDS TOUCH THE VENTS OF A HOT-AIR HAND DRYER. PUBLIC RESTROOMS THAN MEN. OCOVERALL Sources: WebMD, American Society for Microbiology, American Cleaning Institute, CNN, University of Arizona, University of Westminster, JCCC.edu, Journal of Applied and Environmental Microbiology Health-Based Cleaning System www.coverall.com HOW DIRTY ARE PUBLIC RESTROOMS? Public restrooms are notoriously germ-infested, but just how bad are they? HOT ZONES WHAT'S LURKING MOST GERMS A host of harmful bacteria lurk in public restrooms. Here's what you can expect to run into: • ROTAVIRUS • STAPHYLOCOCCUS • SHIGELLA BACTERIA • SALMONELLA SINK • NOROVIRUS • E. COLI • HEPATITIS A VIRUS • COMMON COLD VIRUS Sinks are the greatest reservoir of germs in public restrooms, thanks in part to the presence of water because they survive longer in a moist environment. Studies suggest the sink area in one of every 10 restrooms harbors salmonella and fecal bacteria. HANDS FREE = GERM FIGHTING %3D TOILET SEAT The availability of automatic flushing systems, faucets, and towel dispensers not only helps reduce the bacteria you pick up, but can actually eliminate some of the bacteria you carried Water dislodged from the toilet during flushing can settle on seats after a single flush. Some organisms can exist for up to 17 days on a standard toilet seat. Although it's commonly thought of as the dirtiest place in a restroom, the toilet seat is typically too dry for a lot of bacteria to thrive. into the bathroom with you in the first place. BACTERIA ON HANDS BEFORE AND AFTER USING AUTOMATIC RESTROOMS SOAP DISPENSERS IN - 2.2 MILLION* Refillable soap dispensers are constantly being contaminated OUT - 1.5 MILLION* with fecal bacteria. People who use refillable soap dispensers are exposed to an average of 1,000,000 bacteria every 1 in 4 times they use. *Colony-forming units/ml STOP | TOILET HANDLE WHAT TO AVOID The handle can become contaminated because people usually flush the toilet before washing their hands. Not only is the handle exposed to contaminated water vapor from flushing, but many people also use their shoes to flush. Restrooms in bus stations and airports are the worst offenders thanks to the large volume of people who use them. WHAT TO LOOK FOR HOT-AIR HAND DRYER Restrooms with two to four stalls; if there's one, everyone uses it. If there are five or more, it's probably a high-traffic bathroom. You can actually contract twice as many germs using one of these because the devices blow germ-filled air directly onto your freshly-washed hands. THE STATE OF HAND-WASHING PAPER TOWELS Using paper towels after washing hands can reduce the amount of bacteria by roughly 75%. AIR 95% 67% The airborne bacterial emissions from a single toilet flush can remain in the air for up to 12 minutes. LEAST GERMS CLAIM TO WASH HANDS ACTUALLY WASH HANDS MEN'S VS. WOMEN'S WHAT YOU CAN DO You're twice as likely to encounter harmful germs in a women's public restroom. Researchers suggest two reasons: A healthy immune system is the first line of defense in public restrooms. Beyond that ... • WASH YOUR HANDS WITH SOAP. ALMOST HALF OF ALL PEOPLE DO NOT USE SOAP TO WASH THEIR HANDS IN PUBLIC RESTROOMS. AND ALWAYS LOOK FOR A SEALED SYSTEM SOAP DISPENSER. • USE RESTROOMS WITH AUTOMATIC PAPER TOWEL DISPENSERS, SOAP DISPENSERS, FLUSH, AND WATER DELIVERY SYSTEMS. • AVOID SINKS THAT HAVE STANDING WATER. • AFTER WASHING YOUR HANDS, USE A PAPER TOWEL TO TURN OFF THE FAUCET AND OPEN THE DOOR. WOMEN OFTEN BRING IN CHILDREN, WHO BRING IN MORE GERMS. WOMEN TEND TO STAY LONGER AND INTERACT WITH MORE SURFACES IN • DON'T LET YOUR HANDS TOUCH THE VENTS OF A HOT-AIR HAND DRYER. PUBLIC RESTROOMS THAN MEN. OCOVERALL Sources: WebMD, American Society for Microbiology, American Cleaning Institute, CNN, University of Arizona, University of Westminster, JCCC.edu, Journal of Applied and Environmental Microbiology Health-Based Cleaning System www.coverall.com HOW DIRTY ARE PUBLIC RESTROOMS? Public restrooms are notoriously germ-infested, but just how bad are they? HOT ZONES WHAT'S LURKING MOST GERMS A host of harmful bacteria lurk in public restrooms. Here's what you can expect to run into: • ROTAVIRUS • STAPHYLOCOCCUS • SHIGELLA BACTERIA • SALMONELLA SINK • NOROVIRUS • E. COLI • HEPATITIS A VIRUS • COMMON COLD VIRUS Sinks are the greatest reservoir of germs in public restrooms, thanks in part to the presence of water because they survive longer in a moist environment. Studies suggest the sink area in one of every 10 restrooms harbors salmonella and fecal bacteria. HANDS FREE = GERM FIGHTING %3D TOILET SEAT The availability of automatic flushing systems, faucets, and towel dispensers not only helps reduce the bacteria you pick up, but can actually eliminate some of the bacteria you carried Water dislodged from the toilet during flushing can settle on seats after a single flush. Some organisms can exist for up to 17 days on a standard toilet seat. Although it's commonly thought of as the dirtiest place in a restroom, the toilet seat is typically too dry for a lot of bacteria to thrive. into the bathroom with you in the first place. BACTERIA ON HANDS BEFORE AND AFTER USING AUTOMATIC RESTROOMS SOAP DISPENSERS IN - 2.2 MILLION* Refillable soap dispensers are constantly being contaminated OUT - 1.5 MILLION* with fecal bacteria. People who use refillable soap dispensers are exposed to an average of 1,000,000 bacteria every 1 in 4 times they use. *Colony-forming units/ml STOP | TOILET HANDLE WHAT TO AVOID The handle can become contaminated because people usually flush the toilet before washing their hands. Not only is the handle exposed to contaminated water vapor from flushing, but many people also use their shoes to flush. Restrooms in bus stations and airports are the worst offenders thanks to the large volume of people who use them. WHAT TO LOOK FOR HOT-AIR HAND DRYER Restrooms with two to four stalls; if there's one, everyone uses it. If there are five or more, it's probably a high-traffic bathroom. You can actually contract twice as many germs using one of these because the devices blow germ-filled air directly onto your freshly-washed hands. THE STATE OF HAND-WASHING PAPER TOWELS Using paper towels after washing hands can reduce the amount of bacteria by roughly 75%. AIR 95% 67% The airborne bacterial emissions from a single toilet flush can remain in the air for up to 12 minutes. LEAST GERMS CLAIM TO WASH HANDS ACTUALLY WASH HANDS MEN'S VS. WOMEN'S WHAT YOU CAN DO You're twice as likely to encounter harmful germs in a women's public restroom. Researchers suggest two reasons: A healthy immune system is the first line of defense in public restrooms. Beyond that ... • WASH YOUR HANDS WITH SOAP. ALMOST HALF OF ALL PEOPLE DO NOT USE SOAP TO WASH THEIR HANDS IN PUBLIC RESTROOMS. AND ALWAYS LOOK FOR A SEALED SYSTEM SOAP DISPENSER. • USE RESTROOMS WITH AUTOMATIC PAPER TOWEL DISPENSERS, SOAP DISPENSERS, FLUSH, AND WATER DELIVERY SYSTEMS. • AVOID SINKS THAT HAVE STANDING WATER. • AFTER WASHING YOUR HANDS, USE A PAPER TOWEL TO TURN OFF THE FAUCET AND OPEN THE DOOR. WOMEN OFTEN BRING IN CHILDREN, WHO BRING IN MORE GERMS. WOMEN TEND TO STAY LONGER AND INTERACT WITH MORE SURFACES IN • DON'T LET YOUR HANDS TOUCH THE VENTS OF A HOT-AIR HAND DRYER. PUBLIC RESTROOMS THAN MEN. OCOVERALL Sources: WebMD, American Society for Microbiology, American Cleaning Institute, CNN, University of Arizona, University of Westminster, JCCC.edu, Journal of Applied and Environmental Microbiology Health-Based Cleaning System www.coverall.com HOW DIRTY ARE PUBLIC RESTROOMS? Public restrooms are notoriously germ-infested, but just how bad are they? HOT ZONES WHAT'S LURKING MOST GERMS A host of harmful bacteria lurk in public restrooms. Here's what you can expect to run into: • ROTAVIRUS • STAPHYLOCOCCUS • SHIGELLA BACTERIA • SALMONELLA SINK • NOROVIRUS • E. COLI • HEPATITIS A VIRUS • COMMON COLD VIRUS Sinks are the greatest reservoir of germs in public restrooms, thanks in part to the presence of water because they survive longer in a moist environment. Studies suggest the sink area in one of every 10 restrooms harbors salmonella and fecal bacteria. HANDS FREE = GERM FIGHTING %3D TOILET SEAT The availability of automatic flushing systems, faucets, and towel dispensers not only helps reduce the bacteria you pick up, but can actually eliminate some of the bacteria you carried Water dislodged from the toilet during flushing can settle on seats after a single flush. Some organisms can exist for up to 17 days on a standard toilet seat. Although it's commonly thought of as the dirtiest place in a restroom, the toilet seat is typically too dry for a lot of bacteria to thrive. into the bathroom with you in the first place. BACTERIA ON HANDS BEFORE AND AFTER USING AUTOMATIC RESTROOMS SOAP DISPENSERS IN - 2.2 MILLION* Refillable soap dispensers are constantly being contaminated OUT - 1.5 MILLION* with fecal bacteria. People who use refillable soap dispensers are exposed to an average of 1,000,000 bacteria every 1 in 4 times they use. *Colony-forming units/ml STOP | TOILET HANDLE WHAT TO AVOID The handle can become contaminated because people usually flush the toilet before washing their hands. Not only is the handle exposed to contaminated water vapor from flushing, but many people also use their shoes to flush. Restrooms in bus stations and airports are the worst offenders thanks to the large volume of people who use them. WHAT TO LOOK FOR HOT-AIR HAND DRYER Restrooms with two to four stalls; if there's one, everyone uses it. If there are five or more, it's probably a high-traffic bathroom. You can actually contract twice as many germs using one of these because the devices blow germ-filled air directly onto your freshly-washed hands. THE STATE OF HAND-WASHING PAPER TOWELS Using paper towels after washing hands can reduce the amount of bacteria by roughly 75%. AIR 95% 67% The airborne bacterial emissions from a single toilet flush can remain in the air for up to 12 minutes. LEAST GERMS CLAIM TO WASH HANDS ACTUALLY WASH HANDS MEN'S VS. WOMEN'S WHAT YOU CAN DO You're twice as likely to encounter harmful germs in a women's public restroom. Researchers suggest two reasons: A healthy immune system is the first line of defense in public restrooms. Beyond that ... • WASH YOUR HANDS WITH SOAP. ALMOST HALF OF ALL PEOPLE DO NOT USE SOAP TO WASH THEIR HANDS IN PUBLIC RESTROOMS. AND ALWAYS LOOK FOR A SEALED SYSTEM SOAP DISPENSER. • USE RESTROOMS WITH AUTOMATIC PAPER TOWEL DISPENSERS, SOAP DISPENSERS, FLUSH, AND WATER DELIVERY SYSTEMS. • AVOID SINKS THAT HAVE STANDING WATER. • AFTER WASHING YOUR HANDS, USE A PAPER TOWEL TO TURN OFF THE FAUCET AND OPEN THE DOOR. WOMEN OFTEN BRING IN CHILDREN, WHO BRING IN MORE GERMS. WOMEN TEND TO STAY LONGER AND INTERACT WITH MORE SURFACES IN • DON'T LET YOUR HANDS TOUCH THE VENTS OF A HOT-AIR HAND DRYER. PUBLIC RESTROOMS THAN MEN. OCOVERALL Sources: WebMD, American Society for Microbiology, American Cleaning Institute, CNN, University of Arizona, University of Westminster, JCCC.edu, Journal of Applied and Environmental Microbiology Health-Based Cleaning System www.coverall.com