This today from David Tharrington, President of U.S. Health & Hygience Service, Inc.:

"I have been servicing public restrooms for 23 years, and restrooms do make a business money. If a restroom is clean and safe to use, the business will obtain and retain customers that they other wise would not have — and that
equals dollars. In tough times, it is important for a business to cut back on all that they can, but too many businesses make the mistake of cutting back on their restrooms. This is a time that they should be doing the extra needed to give the customer the desire and confidence to come back. If you save one customer because of the condition of your restrooms, that is enough to pay for a service like ours. We not only make restrooms look better and smell better — but safe to use."

David Tharrington
President
U. S. Health & Hygiene Service, Inc.
800-887-7250

When my friends and I toured Rose Story Farm, the floral theme of the farm continued right into the restroom . . . as well it should. A rose-scented candle flickered in front of the mirror — filling the room with an appropriate fragrance. A vase of fresh roses was placed by the sink. Then came my favorite touch of all: a wire basket of rose-printed paper guest towels. This was the first time I had seen a decorative paper towel offered in a restroom, and what a nice touch! Rose Story Farm's printed guest towels are a product of Converting Inc. Take a look at www.convertinginc.com. (They provide paper guest towels in many themes.) Other attractive touches at the farm's facility included a pretty mirror (simulating window panes), and ornamental cabinet knobs. Areas that needed improvement were the ugly plunger and toilet brush parked in plain view, and the lack of a purse hook. My friend, Shari, who has been well-trained as a washroom watchdog, suggested a decorative hook with a rose motif. Shari hit the nail on the head. That would be the perfect touch.

Since 1976, building code in Toronto has specified that the public must be allowed to use business restrooms, yet the majority of retailers in this city turn people away, claiming they are only for employees. In response to a recent complaint, local officials are looking into the matter. City councilor, Howard Moscoe, explains that these businesses are breaking the law. His proposal is that washroom doors be opened for all, and that restroom signs be posted. Read the full story at CityNews, and watch a video of undercover restroom reporters being turned away. You will witness businesses sending people to McDonald's and Starbucks—essentially giving these stores free advertising and potential customers.

Note: Code requiring public restroom use at any type of business (not only restaurants) is widespread. Be sure to research the regulations in your area.

Yesterday I toured Rose Story Farm in Carpinteria, CA. This 15-acre rose farm specializes in old-fashioned, fragrant, garden roses. The scent alone puts Rose Story Farm flowers in a league of their own: those at florists are bred to eliminate the fragrance in order to last longer.

The farm attracts its share of celebrities. Martha Stewart had been there (for her second visit) just two weeks ago. Julia Child, a resident of the area before her passing, was encouraged for years to select a rose for her namesake. She eventually settled on one: The Julia Child rose is yellow, and very disease resistant. Julia reportedly said the new blooms looked like egg yolks, and as they began to fade, they took on the hue of butter. Spoken like a chef! The farm is now waiting for another area resident, Oprah, to choose her rose.

I love fresh flowers in a restroom. They brighten it up and provide a warm welcome like nothing else. Unless you rely on a florist, there is a bit of maintenance involved. These tips from Rose Story Farm were worth the price of admission:

Shopping author and reporter, Sally Socolich, factors restrooms into her decisions to recommend stores. Many customers rely on her reviews. Read the San Francisco Chronicle story here.

Interesting statistics just released highlight the very reasons that a good bathroom is a marketing advantage ... particularly for businesses that wish to attract female customers:

• 30% of women say they need to use restrooms when they are out running errands, shopping, or eating out
• 27% of women restrict their public restroom use to those that they know are good
• 70% of women have walked out of a public restroom because they felt it was too dirty
• 56% of women have entered an establishment just to use the restroom, though they were not a customer at the time
• 13% of women have stopped what they are doing and gone home rather than use a public restroom

Nearly all Americans (99%) use public restrooms. Bottom line: A good restroom is a way to get potential purchasers in your door, keep them shopping, and keep them coming back!

Just when I thought I'd read it all . . . I received an email from a concerned friend with a subject line of, "Fwd: Fw: Fwd: FW: New Spider — deadly." From the long string of forwards, I could tell this one was a hot topic. Turned out it was a warning about a new strain of spider called the "Two-Striped Telamonia" — said to like cold, damp, dark places, and specifically — the underside of toilet seats. Several victims received fatal bites on their buttocks; readers were advised to start checking under public toilet seats before sitting down — and to forward the email to those they care about. It sounded fishy, and a quick visit to Snopes confirmed that this is indeed a hoax. Rest assured . . . a spider under the seat should be the least of your worries in a public restroom.

Sales of antibacterial soaps are soaring, yet a review of 27 studies on antibacterial hand soaps published in Clinical Infectious Diseases (September 2007) concluded that anti-bacterial soaps containing the ingredient triclosan are no more effective than plain soap and water for removing bacteria from hands or slowing the spread of disease. Besides concluding that there was no benefit to choosing triclosan-based products over plain soap, researchers identified possible risks: the use of antibiotic soaps could lead to antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

According to Lisa Farino for MSN Health and Fitness, even hospitals in the U.S. are concluding that the risk isn't worth it. Experts agree that the best way to prevent the transmission of disease is to simply practice proper hand-washing techniques with plain and soap and water.

In March, Starbucks launched MyStarbucksIdea.com along with an open invitation for suggestions to help make their store experience better. After seven weeks—13,390 points from voters—and 123 comments, "Sanitation in Bathrooms" has made it to their list of Top All-Time ideas. Furthermore, restroom cleanliness has been flagged as a ** TAKING ACTION ** item.

Besides cleanliness, Starbucks contributors voiced pleas for bathroom amenities including purse hooks, baby changing tables, and a place to put a coffee cup.

To read some of the passionate and lively restroom discussion on the Starbucks forum, visit MyStarbucksIdea.com.