Here’s What Really Happens When A Restaurant Has A Clean Bathroom

As we all go through life, we go through experiences that make us stronger. Such as disgusting public restrooms. When your choices are between “holding it” and feeling a sense of relief and total disgust at the same time, it’s a tough call to make.

Since going to the bathroom is such a common occurrence that all of us literally need to do, multiple times a day, we subconsciously keep a mental checklist of places that happen to have wonderful restrooms. Work bathroom? Safe place. Friend’s apartment? Safe place. Gas station in the middle of nowhere? NO. But seriously — when you find a bathroom that’s well taken care of, you’re more at ease.

Especially at a restaurant. If they take this good care of the bathroom, their kitchen must be immaculate.

That’s why it should come as no surprise that, according to Food & Wine, people tend to spend way more money at restaurants that keep tidy restrooms. It’s psychological if you think about it. If the restaurant staff has someone appointed to make sure there are always towels available in the restroom, you’ll assume you’re at a nicer place. And when you’re at a nicer place, you’ll want to treat yourself.

This claim has science by its side. In a survey, 52% of Americans claimed they would “definitely” or “probably” drop more cash on dishes if the bathroom passed their personal inspection.

Clean public restrooms are such a pleasant surprise.

— Cory Harbin (@ImNotCoryHarbin) March 22, 2019

And, people can often tell from the first step in whether or not a restroom is clean.

So many of us even have our own rituals and practices if it’s not.

I hate using public restrooms but when I have to I always to go the first stall bc it’s always clean.

— ॐ (@1aliyaheliz) March 16, 2019

The sad truth about all of this?

Humans can be disgusting. Even certain rules of etiquette you may abide by are foreign to others.

I can second this; I clean public toilets at parks and womens restrooms are harder to clean 9/10 (diapers in toilets, used pads/tampons in those bins OUTSIDE OF THE BAG 😠😭🤬)

— Olivia Figueras (@TheBotoxChicken) March 14, 2019

Having a restaurant staff that knows this is crucial.

Since they know that one disgusting bathroom trip will likely ruin your whole impression of the meal.

If I ever start blogging, my first post will be a comprehensive list of the best public restrooms.

— Science Fiction Author Patrick F. Johnson (@Patrickfjohnson) November 26, 2018

Sometimes, a gross bathroom is all part of the image.

Like, you wouldn’t expect a dive bar to have a wonderful bathroom. If you’re seeing bands at a punk club, your stall may not even have a working lock — it’s all part of the experience.

In fact, if this image seems homey to you, you’re probably in a band or dating somebody who is.

It’s hard to find one venue out there that doesn’t have graffiti all over their stalls.

It’s almost artistic.

But, probably not very sanitary.

For those who go to a lot of shows, it’s actually tweet-worthy when you find a punk bathroom that makes you feel like you’re somewhere else entirely.

It’s like spotting a unicorn.

Punk clubs are the types of venues you’d go to for dollar drinks.

They’re not expecting you to rack up a huge bill, like, say, the bathroom at The Fed in Clarkston, MI.

In their own words, they wanted to create a restroom that’d inspire you to tell a friend about it when you’re back at the table.

They wanted their bathrooms to be both clean, and inspirational.

This bathroom, reportedly at the Barvy Restaurant in the Ukraine, is also a beauty.

Who knew a nature-inspired restroom could be so beautiful?

The Restaurante el Nacional in Barcelona also has a bathroom that looks bigger and cleaner than anything you’ve seen in the United States.

It even has seats where you and your gal pals can fix your makeup together.

There’s a reason why people can’t stop sharing photos of cool and clean public restrooms.

It’s because it’s the perfect way to promote them.

The restaurants at southwest bathroom:
Rate: 10
Comments: INCREDIBLY clean, pretty empty, smells good, no echoes and plenty of stall room for us with long legs ✌🏻 pic.twitter.com/DziMWReq9y

— Mizzou campus bathrooms (@CampusMizzou) March 22, 2019

In that same survey where people said they’d pay more at the cleaner restaurant, 64 percent of people said their entire restaurant choice could be swayed by restaurant cleanliness. That’s huge.

Bathrooms IN stores or restaurants in japan are nice and clean. usable. usually a long line. but bathrooms in parks? I have seen TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE things

— Enby Hooper ⛹️ (@iscythea) March 20, 2019

“Consistently, over the 10 years of our survey, a large majority of Americans say they expect a high-quality business to have a high-quality restroom,” Jon Dommisse, the director of strategy and corporate development for Bradley Corp, said to Food & Wine.

“…When a customer encounters a messy restroom, their perception of that business and its products and services are tarnished. Even worse, 55 percent are unlikely to return to a business after a bad restroom experience, which can have a devastating effect on sales.”

That bathroom was gross omg never again

— Raphael Lima (@raph_forex6) June 14, 2013

So, if you’re planning on opening up your own restaurant?

Here’s a tip. Start by making sure your restrooms are in great shape.

The wonderful feeling when you go to a public bathroom and you're the first person to use it after it was cleaned. 🤩🙌🙌😁

— ✨Ellie✨ (@KellieInTheLab) May 23, 2018

Keeping bathrooms maintained may not be the most glamorous job, but it’s the best way to ensure there’ll be repeat business.