Clean, well-maintained restrooms play a bigger role in a student’s perception of a school as a whole than one may think.
According to Bradley Corporation’s new Healthy Hand Washing Survey of 9th to 12th graders, 68% of students say school restrooms that are poorly maintained or unclean show the school doesn’t care about its students, reflects poor school management, and lowers their overall opinion of the school. 19% of the students surveyed say they never frequent school bathrooms, in part because they are dirty, smelly, or have broken or old toilets, sinks, and doors.
Students’ top request for how to improve the restrooms is more privacy; they want taller stall doors and to eliminate gaps between stall panels. Their second request is for cleaner facilities, with more air fresheners as the third request. Foul odors tops the list of what bothers them most about school restrooms. When confronted with a dirty bathroom, over half of the students say they leave without using it, and 39% say they try to avoid using that bathroom in the future.
The top reasons students skipped washing their hands after using the bathroom are: no soap or paper towels, the sinks are dirty or don’t work, not enough time, and they just didn’t feel like it. While most school’s don’t post hand washing reminders in their bathrooms (only 34% of schools say they do), 57% of students say they’d be more likely to wash if there was a sign.
Related Stories
Market Data | Feb 5, 2016
CMD/Oxford forecast: Nonresidential building growth will recover modestly in 2016
Increased government spending on infrastructure projects should help.
Market Data | Feb 4, 2016
Mortenson: Nonresidential construction costs expected to increase in six major metros
The Construction Cost Index, from Mortenson Construction, indicated rises between 3 and 4% on average.
Contractors | Feb 1, 2016
ABC: Tepid GDP growth a sign construction spending may sputter
Though the economy did not have a strong ending to 2015, the data does not suggest that nonresidential construction spending is set to decline.
Data Centers | Jan 28, 2016
Top 10 markets for data center construction
JLL’s latest outlook foresees a maturation in certain metros.
Market Data | Jan 20, 2016
Nonresidential building starts sag in 2015
CDM Research finds only a few positive signs among the leading sectors.
Market Data | Jan 20, 2016
Architecture Billings Index ends year on positive note
While volatility persists, architecture firms reported healthy performance for 2015.
Market Data | Jan 15, 2016
ABC: Construction material prices continue free fall in December
In December, construction material prices fell for the sixth consecutive month. Prices have declined 7.2% since peaking in August 2014.
Market Data | Jan 13, 2016
Morgan Stanley bucks gloom and doom, thinks U.S. economy has legs through 2020
Strong job growth and dwindling consumer debt give rise to hope.
Hotel Facilities | Jan 13, 2016
Hotel construction should remain strong through 2017
More than 100,000 rooms could be delivered this year alone.
Market Data | Jan 6, 2016
Census Bureau revises 10 years’ worth of construction spending figures
The largest revisions came in the last two years and were largely upward.