News

Most public washroom visitors avoid using the seat

More than half the number of people who use public toilets never sit down on the seat for fear of what they might catch, according to a Tork survey.

And 30 per cent of washroom users would like to see either a toilet seat cleaner or a paper cover provided.

“Opinion is divided about what germs can be picked up from a toilet seat, but it seems that most people are not willing to take the risk,” said SCA Tissue Europe product and market manager Charlotte Branwhite.

“Our research shows that as many as 54 per cent of washroom users never sit down on the toilet seat when using a public washroom.”

Tork now offers a toilet seat cleaner as part of its new Tork Hand Cleaning and Care system. Tork Premium Toilet Seat Cleaner can be used in conjunction with toilet tissue to hygienically clean the seat before use. It dries quickly and also helps to neutralise odours.

Conditions that may be transmitted via contaminated toilet seats include SARS, Enteroviruses, scabies, herpes and gonorrhea according to health sources.

“Tork Premium Toilet Seat Cleaner offers reassurance and comfort to the visitor,” said Charlotte. “It will be particularly welcomed in the food and catering sectors where hygiene is extremely important, as well as in the washrooms of offices and hotels plus public toilets in town centres and parks.”

Studies show that many washroom visitors create a “nest” using toilet tissue to prevent any contact with the seat. This can lead to over-consumption of toilet paper which has a heavy impact on costs.

Other visitors may “hover” above the seat to avoid skin contact, a practice that health experts believe can lead to bladder voiding problems and even pelvic pain in the long-term.

Besides Tork Premium Toilet Seat Cleaner, the Tork Hand Cleaning and Care system includes a range of reformulated soaps plus new Tork Premium alcohol gel hand sanitiser. This conforms to EN 1500 and leaves the hands 99.9 per cent bacteria-free.

Tork Premium liquid soap is now housed in a cartridge that is completely sealed to protect the soap from contamination. The cartridge takes only a few seconds to replace, leaving staff free to pursue other tasks. It is also collapsible when empty which reduces the volume of waste by 70 per cent and cuts down on disposal costs.

“With conditions such as swine flu a major concern, the fact that Tork Premium soap is now even safer to use is an obvious advantage,” said Charlotte. “The new system will be particularly welcomed by employers since increased hygiene will reduce costly levels of absenteeism caused by illness at work.”

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SCA Hygiene Products
Southfields Road
Dunstable
Bedfordshire
LU6 3EJ
t:: 01582 677400
w:: www.tork.co.uk