01 — Overview

Research.

We set out to understand why public restroom hygiene fails — not from a lack of awareness, but from a failure of design. This is what we found.

The public restroom is one of the most frequently used shared spaces — and one of the least considered from a design perspective.

02 — The Science

The invisible risk.

Scientific literature consistently shows that public restrooms are high-risk environments for pathogen transmission — most of it invisible and unconscious.

5×
Bacterial Concentration
In poorly ventilated public restrooms, bacteria can reach 5× the concentration found outside the toilet area.
89%
Contamination Rate
A Tehran study of 7,482 samples found 89.25% had detectable bacterial contamination across handles, faucets, and flush controls.
36%
Norovirus Presence
36% of environmental swabs in public restrooms tested positive for norovirus contamination, per CDC evidence review.
564K
Annual Deaths
WHO estimates unsafe sanitation is linked to approximately 564,000 deaths per year, mostly from diarrheal diseases.

Key Pathogens Found in Public Restrooms

E. coli Norovirus C. difficile MRSA Salmonella Staphylococcus aureus Hepatitis A Rotavirus SARS-CoV-2 Shigella Campylobacter Pseudomonas aeruginosa

03 — Touchpoint Map

Every touch is a risk.

Restroom risk extends far beyond the toilet seat. The entire user journey forms a contamination chain — each touchpoint a potential vector.

🚪
Door Handle
→
🚽
Flush Button
→
🚰
Faucet
→
💨
Hand Dryer
→
🚪
Exit Handle

Restroom risk is not only about the toilet seat. The entire user touch chain can become a risk system. Contamination compounds with every interaction — even after washing hands.

04 — User Survey

What users told us.

A survey conducted among public restroom users

We surveyed public restroom users to understand attitudes, behaviors, and pain points around restroom hygiene.

Are you concerned about germs in public restrooms?
55%
Somewhat concerned
Yet most take no protective action — a gap between awareness and behavior.
Why do people rarely close the lid before flushing?
42%
Don't want to touch the lid
The very action that prevents aerosol spread is skipped due to disgust of contact.
Do you use toilet seat liners?
66%
Rarely or never
59% cite it as too time-consuming or energy-consuming to bother.
Do you find stall door handles to be unsanitary?
63%
Yes, try to avoid touching
But 37% still don't think protective measures are necessary.
Full Survey
→
1When you are out in public, how often do you use the restroom?
Always
47%
Only if absolutely have to
52%
Never
3%
2Are you concerned about germs in public restrooms?
Very concerned
39%
Not really concerned
55%
Not concerned at all
6%
3How often do you wash your hands in a public restroom?
Always
66%
Occasionally
24%
Only if others watching
10%
4How do you feel about touch-less sensors?
Love them!
52%
Alright, but inconsistent
44%
Prefer manual
5%
5Which steps do you feel are "Optional"?
Closing lid before flushing
68%
Using seat liners
60%
Using a barrier
45%
Drying hands
28%
6Do you find stall door handles to be unsanitary?
Yes, try to avoid
63%
Don't really mind
37%
7Where do you put personal belongings while inside?
Door hook
78%
On dispenser/shelf
55%
On my lap
30%
On the floor
12%
8Do you use toilet seat liners?
Yes, often
35%
Yes, sometimes
31%
No, never
35%
9If you don't use liners, why not?
Takes too much time
35%
Don't stay in place
32%
Paper too fragile
27%
Don't like touching seat
5%
10Why do people rarely close the lid before flushing?
Don't want to touch lid
60%
Most toilets have no lids
42%
Not a habit
35%
Don't have time
20%
11If the restroom was fully automated, how would you feel?
Relaxed, "cared for"
61%
Efficient/Faster
32%
Unnecessary
18%
12Do you feel it is your responsibility to keep restrooms clean?
Yes
74%
No, that's the janitor's job
18%
Don't think about it
8%

05 — Key Insights

What the data reveals.

Five patterns emerged consistently across our research — each pointing to the same root problem.

Unawareness
Most people don't recognize restroom hygiene as a serious problem. The risks are invisible, so the concern never forms.
61% didn't think it is a problem
Too Much Work
Existing hygiene methods are perceived as cumbersome. When effort is required, people opt out.
66% don't use toilet liners 59% say it takes too much time
Desire for Automation
When hygiene is handled automatically, users feel cared for rather than burdened — a fundamentally different emotional experience.
61% feel "cared for" with automation 32% believe it improves efficiency
Resistance
People have strong negative feelings toward touching restroom surfaces — but this disgust doesn't translate into protective behavior.
63% avoid door handles 37% still find measures unnecessary
Responsibility
Most people believe cleanliness is a shared responsibility — which validates the social relevance of our design approach.
74% agree it is their responsibility

06 — Behavioral Analysis

Why hygiene fails.

We mapped the behavioral logic behind unhygienic restroom use — tracing from surface conflict to root cause to our design entry point.

Pain Point
Hygiene standards
vs. human behavior.
Maintaining hygiene requires "Additional Costs" people don't want to pay
Root Cause
Why is it unhygienic?
Laziness Time Concerns Broken Window Theory Optimism Bias Social Norms & Culture Conscientiousness
Our Entry Point
Overcoming root causes.
If "Becoming Hygienic" is faster and more effortless than "Remaining Unhygienic," people will willingly adopt cleaner habits. Make the user journey more accessible and efficient.

We focused on two key factors

Laziness and time/efficiency concerns.

07 — Conclusion

Our answer.

Unconscious Hygiene.
Design that makes the right choice the only choice.

The research pointed us toward a single design principle: hygiene interventions only work when they require no conscious effort. Our collection embeds hygienic behavior directly into the actions users were already going to take.

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