Yesterday I was in the O’Hare Airport. I used the restroom. As I was leaving I came upon this sign with accompanying phone.
I got to thinking about best practices and bathrooms.
# 1 : Tom Peters says in his 100 Way to Succeed and Make Money top of the list best practice – is clean. As in, there’s no excuse whatsoever for sloppiness, unitidiness, less than s-p-a-r-k-l-i-n-g restrooms. And that applies to lobbies, offices, etc.
#2 – Protecto toilet seat covers. Midwesterners, I love ya. But why don’t you have these? I have to make my own, which never quite works out like I want and those auto flushers mistake the movement for “being done” and – whooosh – all my hard work – gone.
#3 – The “wave your hand in front of it” towel dispenser. Swine flu brought us signage on the proper way to wash hands – like a surgeon would – and then you have to grab onto some skanky handle and crank away for a towel? Nope. Good on ya whoever invented the auto towel.
#4 – The Purell dispenser on your way out – as an extra coating of clean.
Those are the basics. But where’s the wow?
#1 – Fresh flowers. Cuz let’s face it, what would you rather smell?
#2 – On your honor tampon basket. I was in a restaurant restroom once that made these things look like art.
#3 – Full length mirror on your way out that makes you look thin.
What are you bathroom best practices? Wait, that sounded weird.
For all those folks that were so nice to ask if I was going to continue blogging….here’s your answer. Of course I will – but a little less industry specific and a little more “Things that make you say…Hmmmmmmm.”
5 comments
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May 20, 2010 at 1:36 pm
Todd
Love your comment about the lack of toilet seat protectors in the Midwest. Being an ex-Midwesterner, I have the exact opposite reaction.
I grew up in Minnesota, and never saw such things except in the swanky establishments of the big city (that would be Minneapolis-St. Paul). Now that I live in Nevada, toilet seat protectors are everywhere. I’ve even seen them in the restroom at the city water plant. I roll my eyes picturing some burly pipe fitter daintily arranging his seat cover before perching on the throne.
Obligatory marketing content: as a matter of customer service, toilet seat covers make sense–to keep customers like you happy. Beyond the psychological, I don’t think there’s much science to support their use.
May 20, 2010 at 1:53 pm
Denise Wymore
@Todd,
You said: “Beyond the psychological, I don’t think there’s much science to support their use.” That made me chuckle – in my heart I know that, in my mind I want the protection, even if it is a placebo.
May 21, 2010 at 1:23 pm
Wes_C.Addle
I had a startling experience with an “auto-seat protector.” I was in a restroom at O’Hare where it had an auto seat cover-despenser-thing that was run on sensors. Meaning as soon as you remove yourself from the seat, a fresh cover wraps around the seat and the old one disappears into a slot! Never seen one before. Well…I made the mistake of repositioning myself during the course, and WHOOSH! This whole mess of seat cover-wad balled up under the “boys.”
While I love germ-fighting technology, my reliance and excitement for them can disappear in a flush. Pun intended.
May 23, 2010 at 9:19 am
Jim Jerving
Great to hear you will continue to blog away… my wife does restaurant reviews for the local newspaper here. My litmus test for a good restaurant is the quality of the restroom and its coffee. Another great blog along with your meetings blog. Keet them coming!
May 24, 2010 at 5:51 am
Dwight Johnsto
A bathroom blog? Seriously? One of the first things I read on Monday morning. Did not need that. Get thee to New Mexico!