For immediate release
NEW YORK, NY — February 21, 2023 —
Public bathrooms in the United States: love them or hate them, you can't ignore them. From dingy gas station restrooms to overcrowded airport lavatories, public bathrooms in the US have a reputation for being, well, pretty terrible. A recent poll of 3,000 Americans by The Bathroom Bureau confirmed this hypothesis when respondents were asked to rank the public bathrooms in their state on a scale of 1–10. Overall, Americans rated theirs at an abysmal 5.2 out of 10.
But why are they so bad?
First and foremost, cleanliness is a major problem in public restrooms. From dirty toilets to overflowing trash cans, it's not uncommon to encounter a bathroom that looks like it hasn't been cleaned since the Wild West. And let's not forget the infamous "bathroom odor."
Another issue is the lack of privacy. When it comes to stalls, there's often a fine line between "just enough privacy" and "none at all" — case in point, the ubiquitous gap at the bottom of the stall door. Sinks and mirrors are often situated in full view of everyone in the room, forcing a game of "who can avoid eye contact the longest" at the wash basin.
Then there's the lack of supplies. Ever entered a public bathroom to find there's no toilet paper — or worse, an empty dispenser with no spare roll in sight?
And the toilets themselves: faulty flushing mechanisms, unsanitary seats, and dual-flush buttons that remain a mystery to half the population.
When broken down nationally, public bathrooms in Wyoming were ranked the worst in the nation at 3.5/10, followed closely by New Hampshire (3.8) and Montana (4.0). Reviews from residents of Vermont, however, were very positive — they ranked their public bathrooms at a national-best 8/10.
Perhaps the biggest problem is accessibility. While the Americans with Disabilities Act requires public buildings to have accessible restrooms, many still fall short — from stalls too narrow for a wheelchair to sinks mounted too high.
"Public restrooms still serve a critical role in our society. Whether we like it or not, they're a necessary part of our lives, and we need them to be clean, safe, and accessible," said a spokesperson for The Bathroom Bureau.
About The Bathroom Bureau
The Bathroom Bureau publishes practical guides, repair walkthroughs, and original research on the rooms nobody likes to talk about. Survey methodology and full state-by-state data tables are available on request.
About Wonkbird Media
Wonkbird Media is a data-driven digital PR agency headquartered in New York City. We field original consumer research and turn it into stories for newspapers, radio, TV, and online newsrooms across the United States. Coverage inquiries: press@wonkbird.com.
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