# data[].attributes.body
Students may find visiting the restroom may be difficult for some. Students are expected to be on time in class with no time to use the restroom or just to drink water, Students reported lowering their intake of water just to be on time in class which could led to dehydration across the school. By holding in your urine you can get a UTI, it also affects the ability to focus if you have to urinate: "A 2014 electronic cross-sectional survey among teachers, as reported in the National Center for Biotechnology Information, indicated 88 percent of respondents (4,166 teachers) encourage students to hold urine, which “can promote or exacerbate LUT dysfunction.” " When students do decide to use the bathroom during passing period, they may be tardy just in search for a cleaner bathroom. They also might avoid eating and drinking to not have to use the restroom in school.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Parents send their children to school with the expectation they will receive an education, and they'll remain emotionally and physically safe while that happens. Because of this, many restroom facilities in K-12 schools are a constant source of trouble. From unsanitary conditions, to being a prime bullying location- all the way to the long term health effects of avoiding restrooms -dirty restrooms can have a significantly detrimental effect on student health and learning.

"79% of respondents recognized the link between poor toilets and poor health, and 84% felt toilet-related health issues have a negative effect on children's learning." - A survey of schools and school nurses, ERIC, 2010.

Given how often adults avoid unsanitary public restrooms, it makes sense that students often avoid school restrooms. However, while adults often have the ability to choose and visit a restroom of their choosing, students are, on average, at schools for 7 hours a day with only school restrooms to use. Avoidance of restroom use because of sanitation issues can negatively impact both health and learning.

Nursing Times reports, "A survey of schools and school nurses conducted by ERIC in 2010 found 79% of respondents recognized the link between poor toilets and poor health, and 84% felt toilet-related health issues have a negative effect on children's learning."

Policies on restroom visits and the conditions of the restrooms themselves can both deter students from using them. In 2018, a survey created by the Society for Women's Health Research revealed a majority of school nurses said their schools lacked written policies regarding students' restroom use. In addition, the condition of school restroom facilities and frequency of their maintenance can vary widely from one district to another. Unlike adults, school children often have no say in the cleanliness of the restrooms they have has access to.

EXAMPLES OF HEALTH EFFECTS

When students avoid unsanitary and smelly restroom facilities, it can create a variety of problems. Students may be tardy after searching out a cleaner restroom. They may avoid eating or drinking so as not to use the restroom during school. They may even "hold it" for long periods of time, which can lead to LUT and gastrointestinal health issues, as well as decreased focus and poorer learning outcomes.

Dehydration

Visits to the restroom can be difficult for students. Students are often expected to fit water and restroom breaks in the short times they are given to travel to their next class. Crowded hallways or a visit to their locker can make this even more challenging.

To avoid restrooms deemed unsanitary and to avoid being late, many students report reducing their intake of water or other drinks, potentially leading to dehydration.

Dehydration can cause serious symptoms that detract from learning: fatigue, dizziness, poor concentration and reduced cognitive abilities. The human brain is made up of 80% water, and as a result water is essential in neurological transmissions. On a cellular level, poor hydration reduces the brain's ability to transmit and receive information.

Once a student is dehydrated enough to notice they are thirsty, their mental performance including memory, attention and concentration have all decreased by as much as 10 percent.

Urinary Health Issues

Even when students are hydrated enough, avoiding urination can also cause problems, such as lower urinary tract health issues, not to mention affecting a student's ability to concentrate in class.

According to the Urology Care Foundation, the bladder stays healthy when it fills and empties without getting overfull. And holding urine for too long too often can cause lifelong problems carried into adulthood.

While educational institutions can have several areas of concern in regards to urinary health, restrooms play a vital role. A 2014 electronic cross-sectional survey among teachers, as reported in the National Center for Biotechnology Information, indicated 88 percent of respondents (4,166 teachers) encourage students to hold urine, which "can promote or exacerbate LUT dysfunction." The survey also reported dirty restrooms as an issue by a third of respondents.

Dehydration can cause serious symptoms that detract from learning: fatigue, dizziness, poor concentration and reduced cognitive abilities.

Gastrointestinal Health Issues

The avoidance of restrooms can also lead to gastrointestinal issues, such as chronic constipation or incontinence, in younger school children. Stinky toilets, no supplies, dirty floors and walls, and lack of privacy are all reasons children give pediatricians for not using school toilets. This can be problematic both in the classroom and at home, because it can set back potty training behaviors and mean a resurgence in accidents.

Spread of Germs

Unhealthy conditions lead to unhealthy schools thanks to the accelerated transmission of germs and bacteria. Given what goes on in restrooms, toilets, floors and tiled walls can harbor a whole host of bacteria, such as Norovirus, E. coli, Shigella, and Streptococcus. But avoiding restrooms can lead to an additional issue: A lack of hand washing.

Washing your hands after you use the restroom isn't just for germs introduced in the restroom - washing your hands after using the restroom is a way to ensure that the germs and bacteria that get on your hands in day-to-day activity are removed throughout the day.

With nearly 22 million U.S. school days lost to the common cold each year and 38 million lost to the flu, it's within educators' best interests to invest in procedures and policies that keep school restrooms safe and sanitary throughout the school year.

Cubix Inc.'s Saniglaze Solution

SaniGLAZE has been used by educational facilities for decades as a way to dramatically improve the condition and appearance of their tile and hard surfaces-for a fraction of the cost of replacement.

The multi-step restoration process allows schools to sidestep the high cost of ripping out and replacing unsanitary, damaged tile, and instead remove contaminants and instead remove contaminants, ensuring tile and hard surfaces stay cleaner for longer with the custodial efforts that are already happening day-to-day.

Contact Cubix, Inc. to schedule a free consultation where you can learn which services are best for your facility's needs, whether that's intense cleaning, advanced floor, and wall shielding, or a myriad of eye-catching design options to brighten the moods of students and staff.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How Dirty Restrooms Can Negatively Impact Student Health and Learning

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
How Dirty Restrooms Can Negatively Impact Student Health and Learning

# data[].attributes.body
Dirty restrooms can cause students to be absent from school with transmitted diarrhea diseases. Students need to understand the importance of hand hygiene which can be difficult to carry out if the sinks they have access to aren’t clean

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Children spend around one-third of their time in school, where they could be exposed to a variety of physical and psychological harm. Now more than ever, the importance of clean toilets in schools needs to be taken into consideration and how it can affect students.

Students should have access to clean toilets and sinks during their time in school to further prevent the spread of sickness. #FirstClassRentals
Before students are given the opportunity to go back to school, parents should learn about the effects of unclean restrooms.
School Hygiene Affects Learning Abilities

Dirty restrooms can cause students to be absent from school with transmitted diarrhoeal diseases. Students need to understand the importance of hand hygiene, which can be difficult to carry out if the sinks they have access to aren't clean and lack paper towels.

Pro Tip: Additional handwash stations can be implemented in schools to help students practice good hand hygiene.

The Effect of Unclean Toilets

Filthy school restrooms can cause students to miss days at school outside of being sick as well. For example, girls having to miss a day of school for menstrual hygiene if the restrooms at school are inadequate. Some children with disabilities might avoid drinking or eating throughout the day so they don't have to use the toilet, which can lead to serious health issues.

Poor School Toilet Facilities Affect Personal Hygiene

As a parent, you don't want your child's school to normalize bad hygiene practices. Poor hygiene behaviors learned at school can be brought home by students and affect their personal lifestyle. You want your child to be in a clean environment at all times, even in public school restrooms.

Sanitation Solutions for Schools

Schools need clean toilets to promote cleanliness to students and further teach them the importance of washing their hands. The hygiene habits that children learn in school can be carried with them as they grow up.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Importance of Clean Toilets in Schools | First Class Rentals

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Let's take a look at the importance of clean toilets in schools and how unclean restrooms can affect students and their personal hygiene.

# data[].attributes.headline
Things that need to be clean- Ruben Bailon

# data[].attributes.subject
Things that need to be clean- Ruben Bailon

# data[].attributes.body
They should be cleaned at least once a day and especially since there a lot of students in the school that use the bathroom everyday and also they should be cleaned with proper disinfectant and cleaning materials. Things that need to be cleaned are sinks and handles, toilets, trashcans , paper towel dispensers and more. if our school increased the amount of times they clean the bathroom it was be a lot more cleaner for the students to go and use the bathrooms more comfortable and also it will decrease the risk of illnesses spreading throughout our school

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
With COVID-19, the importance of sanitation everywhere has been recognized. This is especially true in regards to school restroom cleanliness. The cleanliness of school restrooms not only impacts students' health, but also their likelihood to use the restroom and how they view the school. Keeping your school restroom clean is important to student health and your school's reputation, so we've created a short guide to improving school restroom sanitation.

Clean Restrooms Often

The first step to restroom cleanliness is cleaning your restrooms often. Restrooms should be cleaned at least once a day, but for optimal cleanliness should be cleaned more than that, especially if it's a large building with lots of traffic. Restrooms should be cleaned with proper disinfectant and cleaning materials. Proper school restroom sanitation will require several things to be cleaned, emptied, or changed:

Doorknobs

Sinks and handles

Toilets

Trashcans

Paper towels dispensers

If your school restroom is currently only being cleaned every so often or once a day, try increasing how often you clean the restroom. This will impact your cleanliness greatly and will decrease the risk of illnesses spreading throughout your school.

Have Touchless or Sanitary Products

While cleaning your restroom is important, having touchless or sanitary products is equally as helpful. Traditional, previously used products encourage touch, which can lead to the spread of germs. Soap dispensers, paper towel dispensers, and toilet handles are all high-touch areas that can increase the dirtiness of your school restroom.

Transitioning to touchless or sanitary products not only lowers the number of germs that are spread on surfaces, but also reduces the amount of cleaning required. Some products include:

Touchless soap dispensers. This would include any soap dispenser that doesn't require the user to use a pump, handle, or other device in order to dispense the soap. Most automatic soap dispensers dispense disinfecting, foaming soap. The Bobrick B-2013 is a great choice for a touchless soap dispenser.

Automatic paper towel dispensers. Automatic paper towel dispensers reduce the need for touching the paper towels or a lever. Touching either of these surfaces spreads germs. The Bobrick B-72974 is a perfect choice of school restroom sanitation.

Automatic flushing toilets. As with the other products, high-touch areas such as levers cause the spread of germs and diseases. Options include automatically flushing toilets or toilets that are equipped with motion sensors.

Incorporate Sanitation Guides

For younger students especially, sanitation guides, posters, or pamphlets are important for including around the restroom. Circular spots that show students where to stand for washing their hands can help students not only remember to wash their hands, but also practice safe social distancing. Guides regarding how long to wash your hands with helpful songs or tricks are also a great way to encourage students to stay clean. Remind students about cleanliness throughout the day to help with restroom cleanliness as well!

Your restroom sanitation reflects the state of your school, and keeping your restrooms clean keeps your students happy and healthy. Don't let sanitation be a problem! Use Choice Builder Solutions to find the best solutions for school restroom sanitation.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
A Guide to Improving Sanitation in School Restrooms

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
With COVID-19, the importance of sanitation everywhere has been recognized. This is especially true in regards to school restroom cleanliness. The cleanliness of school restrooms not only impacts students' health, but also their likelihood to use the restroom and how they view the school. Keeping your school restroom c

# data[].attributes.headline
Bathrooms that are clean and have new equipment could save water - Tan

# data[].attributes.subject
Bathrooms that are clean and have new equipment could save water - Tan

# data[].attributes.body
If the school has newer toilets, it could save the school money since older models of toilets use 3.5 gallons of water per flush, while newer models of toilets only use 1.6 gallons per flush. Also having newer urinals could save a lot of water because a urinal uses 5 gallons per flush. Newer urinals only use 0.125 gallons per flush and some that don't use any water. The third way for schools to save water is by having sensors and timing devices so faucets aren't left open and running. This would make bathrooms look better and more efficient. It would also limit how much water the user is using. Which would result in saving more water.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Having clean, safe, well-maintained washrooms may not enhance a school's reputation-the good maintenance practices may not provide any clues about the quality of the teachers or how well students are performing. But when an education facility neglects washrooms and lets them become unsanitary and unsafe havens for vandalism and bullying, that can affect the health and morale of students and staff.

At a minimum, schools and universities need to provide washrooms that are cleaned regularly to kill germs and prevent the spread of disease; that are outfitted with fixtures and equipment that ward off the temptations of vandalism; and that allow for a level of supervision that deters would-be bullies from using a restroom break to harass vulnerable fellow students. In addition, facility managers looking to save energy and cut costs should seek washroom designs that conserve water and rely less on artificial lighting.

Health focus

A poorly maintained school washroom can threaten the health of students and staff-even those who don't even use the facilities. Without proper cleaning, washrooms can become breeding grounds for germs that can spread disease throughout the school population.

In addition to an effective cleaning strategy, schools can fight the dissemination of germs by selecting the right fixtures and equipment. Frequent and thorough hand washing is a critical step in trying to avoid contact with germs, but even with regular washing, restroom users can pick up germs each time they touch a door handle, a toilet-paper dispenser, a flush handle, a sink faucet, a soap dispenser or a towel dispenser. Equipment that is triggered by motion or is time-controlled enables students to use those fixtures without touching them.

Beware of Bullies

Schools typically don't have an adult inside washrooms monitoring student behavior. Although that provides washroom users with a level of privacy, it also creates the opportunity for bullies to prey on students trying to use the facilities. Even when a teacher or other adult is stationed outside a washroom, many bullies are devious enough to carry out the harassment without drawing the attention of the adult monitor.

Many students who have experienced bullying in washrooms or who fear that they will be a victim begin avoiding school restrooms rather than put themselves in harm's way, according to the International Paruresis Association. Someone who suffers from paruresis experiences anxiety if they have to use washroom facilities when others are nearby.

"The unfortunate introduction to the perils of public restrooms has caused problems for many mild-mannered schoolchildren," the association says. "Forcing children of vastly different ages and physical size to use exposed and unsupervised facilities is unwise .... Some targets of this bullying find it difficult to use public restrooms even when they are adults."

Many newer schools have restrooms designed with an open entrance from the hallway so that students inside don't feel so isolated when using the bathroom. Some designs have placed the sink for washing hands in the hallway instead of inside the washroom so that students spend less time away from the watchful eyes of an adult. Some schools have been known to remove mirrors to stop students from lingering in front of them.

Deterring vandalism

Some of the steps taken to discourage bullying also may be effective in curtailing vandalism in school washrooms. Strategies that enable adults to better monitor student restroom behavior and that minimize the time students spend in the washroom will limit the opportunity for students to vandalize equipment and fixtures.

Choosing the right kinds of equipment in washrooms also can make it too difficult for vandals to inflict damage. Fixtures designed to be tamper- or shatter-resistant and partitions made of materials resistant to graffiti can foil a student seeking to literally leave a mark.

Saving resources

Water is essential to the operation of a washroom, but conservation advocates have found ways for schools and universities to provide washroom facilities with less water going down the drain.

Some older models of toilets use 3.5 gallons per flush. Equipment now available includes ultra-low-flow toilets, which use 1.6 gallons per flush, high-efficiency toilets that use 1.28 gallons per flush, and dual-flush toilets, which use 1.6 gallons to flush solid waste and 1.0 gallons to flush liquid waste.

Many gallons of water also are wasted because of inefficient urinals. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says that 65 percent of the urinals in use in the United States-7.9 million fixtures-exceed the federal standard of 1.0 gallon per flush for commercial urinals. Some use as much as five times that amount.

The EPA's Watersense program, which seeks to encourage conservation and more efficient use of water, calls for urinals that use no more than 0.5 gallons per flush. Some ultra-low-flow urinals use only 0.125 gallons per flush, and several manufacturers offer urinals that use no water.

Sensors and timing device on faucets also help schools conserve water by controlling the flow and not letting a neglectful user leave the faucet open.

In addition to saving water, education institutions can reduce energy consumption in their washrooms with motion detectors and timing devices that shut off lighting when the space is not being used.

Kennedy, staff writer, can be reached at [email protected] .

Related Stories

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Clean and Safe Washroom School Maintenance

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Washroom maintenance is an important component of overall school health.

# data[].attributes.body
A big difference like cleanliness, and maintenance can impacts the school bathrooms and only using the restroom to do your bussines and nothing else. Repainting is just one of many simple solution to inprove the bathroom. Hand dryers and paper towel dispenser should be near the sink so you dont make a mess on the flour and cloud cause a incident. As well as mproving sanitation by reducing waste and preventing the spread of germs.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The store will not work correctly when cookies are disabled.

JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Make a Positive Impact by Updating Your School Bathrooms

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn how making improvements to your school's restroom facilities can save the school money, reduce maintenance costs, and improve sanitation in this article.

# data[].attributes.headline
Article 6 - Jose:- Everyone benefits from clean bathrooms

# data[].attributes.subject
Article 6 - Jose:- Everyone benefits from clean bathrooms

# data[].attributes.body
Students and teachers at Edison Intermediate School are expressing dissatisfaction with the current state of school bathrooms, citing concerns about cleanliness and a need for improvements. EIS has four main student restrooms and one teacher restroom, spread across different areas of the school. Complaints include a perceived decline in restroom quality over the years, lack of privacy, and inadequate cleanliness. A survey indicates that 68% of students believe poorly maintained restrooms reflect negatively on the school's commitment to its students. Faculty members also express concerns about the size and condition of their bathrooms. Some are advocating for the addition of gender-neutral bathrooms. Despite these issues, there are plans for renovations in the next five years, demonstrating responsiveness to the concerns of students and faculty.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
School bathrooms should be very sanitary and clean to benefit everyone at the school. Every single day, students and teachers across the nation use bathrooms at their respective schools. However, many students and staff members in Edison Intermediate School (EIS) seem to desire cleaner and better bathrooms overall across the school. Unsanitary and dirty facilities can cause health issues, and many of these people believe that Edison Intermediate School does not have bathrooms of that caliber.

EIS has four main restrooms for student use, and one main bathroom for teacher use. These facilities are scattered across the school, with four of the bathrooms being downstairs and the other one upstairs in the science wing. There are several hundred students and teachers that attend Edison Intermediate School daily as well.

Firstly, EIS students have noticed for a long time that the quality of the lavatories has been steadily declining over time. "I would never go in the bathroom willingly and the bathrooms are due a renovation or improvement. The bathrooms have been awful since sixth grade," EIS eighth-grade student Jacob Dickey stated.

This shows that over the course of the past few years the caliber of the bathrooms has never been enhanced in the eyes of students. Additionally, even newer students are already sick of the poor restroom condition. "I think the EIS bathroom should be improved with way more privacy between urinals, and just way more space overall," sixth grade student Casey Gilford declared.

Another factor that has been noticed around the school is the cleanliness of these bathrooms and how there is a lot to be desired. Many students and teachers believe that students themselves might be part of the reason why these facilities are so unclean. "No one ever cleans up after themselves, which means that the toilets get very dirty," EIS eighth grade student Alyssa Catalano noted.

Clean bathrooms are vital to the success of students in an educational setting. Poor facilities can cause several students to perceive their school as uncaring when it comes to their education because of the lackluster bathrooms. Dissatisfactory bathrooms in schools seems to be a national problem. "68% of students say school restrooms that are poorly maintained or unclean show the school doesn't care about its students, reflects poor school management and lowers their overall opinion of the school. Nearly half of students describe the condition of their school restrooms as poor or fair," (PR News).

This clearly illustrates that the condition of school bathrooms directly correlates to the overall academic prowess in schools. Furthermore, not only the students desire new bathrooms. "The (women's) faculty bathroom has two stalls for the 50 or more female teachers in the school. The bathroom is about 15 square feet and there is only one faulty sink," EIS eighth Art teacher Mrs. Helen Frees stated.

Even the male faculty bathrooms are not up to standard according to other teachers. "The custodians do a great job cleaning up, but our bathroom is just small and outdated. The student's bathrooms are ten times better, but I only use them after school," EIS Chorus teacher Mr. Stephen Markowski announced.

This exhibits the opinion held by most EIS students and faculty that almost all the bathrooms across the school should be refined. They believe that the quality of the facilities must be improved for the welfare of the students and faculty alike. Additionally, others are pushing for the addition of gender-neutral bathrooms in Edison Intermediate School. "I also believe that the school should introduce gender-neutral bathrooms at EIS. It would make many students feel comfortable to be who they are and would help the school immensely," Mrs. Frees added.

Hundreds of users can strain the resources of even the most diligent custodial crews in schools. On the other hand, restroom cleaning needs to be a routine task in schools; conditions can get out of hand quickly, and students and staff will be exposed to germs which can be very detrimental to health. Conversely, when a school washroom is kept clean and well-maintained, students are more likely to make an effort to keep it that way. "I think students need to do a better job keeping the bathrooms nicer for everyone, I think people should feel like there's a really comfortable and private space for them when they're using the bathrooms," Dr. Bolton expressed.

It is also important to note that resources in the future will be allotted towards school bathrooms. "The other two bathrooms-the one upstairs by the science rooms and the ones downstairs by the cafeteria are being scheduled for renovation within the next five years. They're in the five-year improvement plan," EIS Principal Dr. Matthew Bolton expressed.

The plans for renovations in the future show that Dr. Bolton and others are listening to what the students and faculty want.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
School bathrooms should be very sanitary and clean to benefit everyone at the school. Every single day, students and teachers across the nation use bathrooms at their respective schools. However, many students and staff members in Edison Intermediate School (EIS) seem to desire cleaner and better bathrooms overall across the school.