Innovative and Holistic
Approach to Solving the
Problem of Odor Control
in Public Restrooms
White Paper
Abstract
For decades, the generally accepted methods for combating malodors present in urinal
and toilet rooms have included the application of variously configured urinal screens
and masking scents delivered in a variety of ways. These products, combined with the
performance of janitorial cleaning, produced mixed results.
All public restrooms serve the same utilitarian purpose; however, users experience varying
degrees of satisfaction related to the perceived cleanliness of a restroom and tend to judge
the overall quality of an establishment based on how well the restrooms are maintained1,2.
Therefore, the creation of a positive user experience is paramount.
To that end, Impact Products, LLC conducted surveys, experiments, studies, field visits, and
personal interviews with facilities management and janitorial professionals in order to gain
a full understanding of the root causes of public restroom malodors and to subsequently
develop a holistic system solution.
This White Paper describes the sources of restroom odors, as defined by research,
notes the significant findings, and presents new and unique odor management products
comprising “Barricade, Your Odor Defense System™.” Consisting of four components – The
Barricade Hygiene Screen, Barricade Press-on Urinal Mats and Hand-Dryer Mats, Barricade
Fragrance Stix™ and 30-day Timer Cards (plus free first-of-its kind software) –“Barricade,
Your Odor Defense System” is designed to prevent odors from ever occurring and create a
new clean standard for public restrooms.
Study Methodology
Toledo, Ohio-based Impact Products, LLC, a 50-year-old manufacturer and supplier of
janitorial and sanitation products, undertook a qualitative research study3 consisting of 18
months of field visits, surveys, testing, and interviews with facilities and janitorial managers
to yield insight into the root causes of unpleasant smells in restrooms.
1 Impact Products study conducted at the University of Toledo, September 2012.
2 Article Citation, “It’s the Little Details that Matter: Clean Restrooms” authored by Alan A. Ayers, MBA, MAcc. Mr. Ayers is the Content Advisor, Urgent Care Association of America
and Vice President of Strategy & Execution, Concentra Urgent Care, Dallas, Texas.
3 Study participants included facilities professionals at two educational institutions, The University of Toledo and Ohio State University; The Blackwell Hotel, Columbus, Ohio; The Ohio
State University; Cedar Point amusement park, Sandusky, Ohio and DOVE Building Services.
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Revealing the Root Causes of Public Restroom
Malodors
Eighteen months of qualitative research, including field studies, testing, and interviews with
facilities and janitorial professionals yielded insight into the root causes of restroom odors4.
Uric Acid
Topping the list is uric acid. Men urinating into a urinal (with or without a urinal screen) very often miss the
target, splash urine on the floor and walls—and their clothing—then track the escaped urine across the floor.
Urinal Partitions
Additionally, if the urinals are partitioned, the splashes on the
partitions contribute to the accumulation of malodor.
The research showed that user perception of the cleanliness
of a restroom includes the condition of fixtures4; blotchy and
rusted metal urinal partitions create a negative perception.
Floor Tile Grout
Urine splashed on the floor (in men’s and women’s
restrooms) is absorbed into the grout.5 The odors collected
in the porous grout are released into the air.
Restroom Maintenance as a
Contributing Factor
While uric acid has been clearly identified as the major
odor-generating substance—with the acknowledgment
that various other sources6 contribute to the problem—the
research also revealed how restroom maintenance practices
affect the restroom environment.
Urinal Partitions
Floor Tile Grout
4Impact Products study conducted at the University of Toledo.
5Contracting Profits Manufacturer Roundtable article titled, “Remove Odor From Grout With These Cleaning Techniques,” 11/15/2012 (http://www.cleanlink.com/cp/article/Remove
Odor-From-Grout-With-These-Cleaning-Techniques--1491)
6 Secondary Sources of Restroom Odors:
• Dried-out floor drains
• Splash around toilets (in men’s and women’s restrooms)
• Feminine sanitary napkin and tampon receptacles
• Human excrement and gas, vomit, body odor
• Baby-changing stations
• Lack of ventilation
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Findings
• Preventing odors from occurring saves labor, reduces chemical use, and promotes a hygienic
appearance.
• Urine outside of a urinal or toilet is a key odor generator.
• Strategic placement of fragrancing is a best practice.
• Compliance with cleaning and fragrance change-out schedules is a common issue7.
• Odors occur between cleanings.
• Installing fragrance at or near nose level is optimum.
Restrooms that look and smell clean contribute to the overall positive user experience8. In fact, unsanitaryappearing restrooms will drive up to 33 percent of customers away9, since restrooms reflect the quality of
service provided throughout a business. So if, for example, a restaurant restroom is perceived as dirty, how
might the kitchen look or smell?
In a separate, unrelated study10 in 2013 by Housekeeping Solutions magazine, the respondents were
asked the question, “In order, what areas within the facility are the most challenging to keep clean.” The
areas were listed as restrooms, entryways, carpeting, common touch-points, hard floors, small rooms/areas
with obstacles, and large or open rooms/areas. An overwhelming 54 percent of respondents answered
“restrooms,” with the next highest challenge being “entryways,” at 20 percent.
Further, 32 percent of respondents to the Housekeeping Solutions survey revealed departmental budgets
were expected to decrease and correspondingly, the respondents cited layoffs in cleaning staffs and reduced
cleaning frequencies.
The Impact study yielded similar findings among those responsible for custodial maintenance. The fact that
cleaning frequencies are reduced compounds the problem of odor buildup. The Impact study also found that
janitorial staff does not like to handle and clean traditional urinal screens.
7, 8 Impact Study, facilities management comments
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Refers to odor control assets in restrooms, including urinal screens, urinal fragrance blocks, wall-mounted fragrance dispensers and floor mats.
9 Cleaning & Maintenance Management article, “Is your restroom driving customers away?” authored by Ian West, 9 /19/ 2010 (http://www.cmmonline.com/articles/is-your
restroom-driving-customers-away-6)
102013 Housekeeping Solutions Reader Survey, Corinne Zudonyi, Editor
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Problem Summary
• The root cause of most public restroom odor is uric acid splashing on floors, walls and partitions6.
• Restroom visitors are positively or negatively influenced by the appearance of restrooms.
• If odors are allowed to linger, due to lack of regular cleaning and timely replacement of masking scent
products, the overall perception of the business (e.g., restaurant, hotel, convention center,
amusement park) will suffer.
IMPACT STUDY RESULTS
Impact is the first janitorial and sanitation maintenance products company to discard conventional thinking
about urinal screens as deodorizers and to redefine their purpose as barricades to prevent the generation of
odors.
The Impact study found that odor control is not just about masking a foul odor with a pleasant one, it’s about
preventing odors, floor pitting, and partition degradation (from urine spatter) from ever occurring.
To develop a comprehensive, holistic solution required the development of a systems-based approach
encompassing the entire cubic footage of a restroom.
Knowing and strategically addressing
(1) where and why odors occur,
(2) how to combat them,
(3) what odors are preventable
(4) and when to redeploy odor control
comprise the solution.
Further, the study revealed that the solution must be simple and efficient. In order to meet or exceed the
requirements set forth by facilities managers, the solution must decrease labor time and overall costs
associated with janitorial maintenance, including preserving floors and partitions that are compromised by
urine outside of the urinal.
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Barricade - Your Odor Defense System™ — Impact’s
Simple Holistic Solution For Creating A Positive User
Experience In Public Restrooms:
Barricade Hygiene Screen
To protect the user’s clothing and shoes by preventing a substantial percentage11 of urine splash-back from
urinals, Impact has introduced the first product designed with an innovative (patent pending) plastic screen
configured to prevent splattering of urine flow.
This uniquely designed hygiene screen allows for easy cleaning, front and back, with traditional disinfectants—
thereby reducing labor and reducing product replacement cost, versus conventional screens. The Barricade
Hygiene Screen is available in two sizes, fits 90 percent of all urinal designs and lasts up to 6,000 flushes.
Barricade Press-on Urinal Mats and HandDryer Mats
To further promote a healthier restroom environment, Impact
developed (patent pending) disposable, press-on mats to be
placed under urinals. Designed to effectively absorb 16-plus
ounces of fluid12, the mats provide a defense against urine
dribbles and tracking, reduce the danger of slipping on a wet
floor, and preserve the integrity of floors and grouting.
Barricade Hygiene Screens are
Made in the USA.
Its (patent pending) adhesive backing holds tight and leaves no
residue. Press-on urinal mats are easily applied to flat-surfaced
floors, maintain their adhesion, and after 30 days13 of dampmopping, are easily removed. Upon removal, the mats can be
rolled or folded for disposal.
Press-on mats applied under hand-drying areas, including
paper towel dispensers and warm-air blow dryers, absorb
water drips and soap residue, further contributing to a cleanerappearing and safer environment.
Strategic Fragrancing: Barricade Fragrance Stix™
Working with a major consumer brands fragrance manufacturer, Impact developed a simple, solid-state
polymeric diffusion system. When strategically and stealthily applied (stealth mounting deters theft and
vandalism) within the odor generating zones in a public restroom, Fragrance Stix produces a pleasing scent
and a positive user experience.
Barricade Fragrance Stix comes in two sizes, 12-inch and 4-inch. Non-toxic and
recyclable, they contain low VOCs, no asthmagens, and no phenols.
Lasting 30 days strong14, Fragrance Stix are available in 11 new signature scents for male,
female and unisex restrooms and generate the right amount of fragrance where it’s needed.
Two of the fragrances feature olfactory disruption technology: the fragrance formula
effectively reconfigures the interpretation of the malodor. Olfactory disruption fragrances
are recommended for areas where secondary odors are generated, e.g., baby changing
stations, refuse cans used for diaper disposal, and bins used for the disposal of feminine
hygiene products.
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The Odor Genie Software Application
Every restroom is different and requires a unique fragrance load in each “fragrance zone.” In order to achieve
optimal coverage and realize the full potential of this holistic system, Impact Products has developed, in
tandem with Fragrance Stix, the industry’s only software program (available free to users) that enables the
facility manager/janitorial staff to understand where and how much fragrance should be deployed in each
zone.
By entering information on traffic, fixtures, cubic footage, cleaning frequency, and scent level desired, the Odor
Genie software (barricade.impact-products.com) will output the number and type of products required to
achieve desired results. The Odor Genie also covers the best practice deployment of each product included in
“Barricade – Your Odor Defense System.”
30-day Timer Cards
As cited earlier, compliance with regular cleaning schedules and product change-outs is
a common challenge. To provide a consistent, positive restroom experience for guests,
Fragrance Stix and urinal/hand-dryer mats deployed to combat odors must be changed
out on a regular 30-day schedule15 .
A simple product change-out reminder tool is included in the system for the benefit of
the janitorial staff. Impact’s 30-day Timer Card is easily activated, can be hung on a cart
or behind a supply room door, and visually indicates the time progression toward the
end of the 30-day cycle.
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Summary
Public restroom experiences create real and lasting impressions on guests. By employing Impacts’ “Barricade
- Your Odor Defense System,” the holistic solution to address the root cause of restroom malodors, the
restroom experience is elevated and the overall impression of a facility is positively affected16.
Product Information and Availability
To learn more about Impact’s holistic odor management products, please contact:
Customer Service online at www.impact-products.com
or call 800-833-1541
Impact Products, LLC . 2840 Centennial Rd. . Toledo, OH 43617-1831
Copyright Impact Products LLC, November 2013
11 As confirmed by visual inspection of splatter collection photos taken during testing; documented in “Urinal Splatter Report,” March 20, 2013
12 “Urinal Splatter Report,” NPIPD/Impact Products LLC, March 20, 2013
13 Tested on varying floor types, grout patterns and geometries to emulate the most common floor coverings in business, industrial and institutional restrooms. A standard side-press
mop and bucket were used for daily damp mopping of all samples.
14 Impact Products’ Hedonics and Intensity Study, 11/20/2012
15 Assumes a moderately trafficked restroom. Heavily used facilities may require more frequent change-outs of Press-on urinal mats/Press-on hand drying mats and Fragrance Stix.
16 “Survey: 73 Percent Of People Believe A Bad Restroom Indicates Poor Management,” CleanLink, 9/19/13 http://www.cleanlink.com/news/article/Survey-73-Percent-Of-People
Believe-A-Bad-Restroom-Indicates-Poor-Management--16079
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