Making three years on the toilet worth it
December 1st 2006

Once notorious for being unpleasant,unhygienic and badly maintained, public washrooms have been through some major changes in recent years. Emma Nourry, trade marketing manager at Lotus Professional discusses the rise of the humble washroom

Away-from-home washrooms have come a long way over the years. From harsh lighting, basic amenities and unwelcoming facilities, a cutting edge,well-appointed alternative has emerged.Today washrooms are no longer an afterthought, instead they provide the opportunity to make a real statement about an establishment.

It's not unusual for pubs, clubs, restaurants and bars to go to any lengths to ensure a visit to their washroom is an enjoyable experience. From TV screens and sofas to washroom assistants and automated appliances, cutting edge washrooms can enforce the image of a business.Nothing however, can compete with jeweller, Lam Sai-wing, who is credited by Guinness World Records as having the most expensive washroom in the world.Worth £2.4 million, the toilet is constructed from 24-carat gold, with a ceiling studded with ruby, sapphire, emerald and amber.

Despite the gadgets and gizmos, good standards of cleanliness and hygiene will always be the deciding factor for customers, especially as we spend three years of our lives on the toilet, paying 2,500 trips a year.

Innovation in the washroom means that hygiene levels can be significantly improved. Sensors to flush toilets, turn on taps and dispense hand towels are a popular and hygienic option.These automated appliances create a modern 'space age' feel to any washroom whilst ensuring that the risk of cross contamination and spread of germs is reduced.

Hand towel, soap and toilet roll dispensers are key accessories in any washroom. Stylish, modern, stainless steel designs or sleek, matching blue or white dispenser ranges can help to create a style statement and contemporary feel. Simply ensuring that all of your washroom dispensers are part of a range can make a huge difference to a washroom environment, creating a clean, fresh and modern look.

For many businesses, cost-effectiveness is always a priority but that does not have to mean compromise. Recent innovations in toilet roll dispensing mean cost-effectiveness, hygiene and style can all be achieved. New generation, single sheet toilet roll dispensers help to ensure that users don't take more toilet tissue than they need.This reduces maintenance time, saves money and reduces the risk of unused toilet paper being left on the floor.Hygiene is also improved as users only touch the tissue they use.

"Whether it's luxurious fixtures and fittings, cutting edge gadgets, or automated appliances, it's clear that washroom trends have moved at a fast pace throughout the years.With businesses placing greater emphasis on the look and feel of their washrooms it is important to remember that underneath the glamour, gadgets and colour schemes, good quality, hygienic washroom equipment is also key to ensuring user satisfaction.With cost-effective yet hygienic and stylish innovations readily available, small changes can make a big difference in helping to create a fresh, user-friendly washroom environment that will have a positive impact on customers time and time again.

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