Education is the number one priority for our school aged children. When parents hug and kiss their kids goodbye for the day, they expect school leaders and administrators to keep them physically safe and emotionally sound. Many parents are aware of the issues with restrooms in our K-12 schools. From unsanitary conditions, to being a prime bullying location— all the way to the long term health effects of avoiding bathrooms — dirty restrooms can have a significantly detrimental effect on student health and learning.

With students being in school an average of 7 hours per day, it is unhealthy for them to avoid necessary bathroom breaks. Given how often adults avoid public restrooms, it makes sense that students often avoid school bathrooms. However, while adults often have the ability to choose and visit a bathroom of their choosing, students don’t have the luxury of selection and are forced to use school bathrooms.

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, but unlike adults, school children often have no say in the cleanliness of the restrooms he or she has access to.

Impacts on Student Health

When students avoid unsanitary and smelly restroom facilities, it can create a variety of problems. Students may be tardy after searching for 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 (lower urinary tract) 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%.

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. Holding urine for too long and too often can cause lifelong problems carried into adulthood.

While educational institutions can have several areas of concern regarding urinary health, bathrooms play a vital role. A 2014 electronic cross-sectional survey among teachers, as reported in the National Center for Biotechnology Information, indicated 88% of respondents (4,166 teachers) encouraged 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.

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 handwashing.

Washing your hands after you use the restroom isn’t just for germs introduced in the bathroom – 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.

Improve Health and Stop the Spread of Germs

Tile restoration may be the solution to stop the spread of germs. Restoration services are available at a fraction of the cost of replacement and offer products that can decrease the spread of germs in schools and increase health, safety and attendance of your students and faculty.

This is an excerpt from our full report, available here.

Frequently Asked Questions About School Restrooms and Student Health

Why do school restrooms matter for student health?

School restrooms matter because students spend much of their day on campus and rely on school facilities for basic hygiene, hydration, and bathroom access. If restrooms are dirty, smelly, unsafe, or poorly maintained, students may avoid using them, which can negatively affect health, comfort, focus, and learning.

How can dirty school restrooms affect student learning?

Dirty restrooms can distract students from learning by causing discomfort, stress, dehydration, and avoidant behavior. When students avoid drinking water or hold urine for long periods because they do not want to use the restroom, their concentration, energy, and classroom performance can suffer.

Why do students avoid school restrooms?

Students may avoid school restrooms because of odors, dirty floors, dirty walls, lack of supplies, lack of privacy, bullying concerns, poor maintenance, long lines, or fear of being late to class. Even if a restroom is available, students may avoid it if they do not feel it is clean, safe, or comfortable.

Can restroom avoidance lead to dehydration?

Yes. Some students reduce how much water they drink during the school day so they can avoid using the restroom. This can lead to dehydration, which may cause fatigue, dizziness, poor concentration, headaches, and reduced cognitive performance.

How does dehydration affect students in the classroom?

Dehydration can reduce attention, memory, energy, and mental performance. Even mild dehydration can make it harder for students to focus, participate, retain information, and perform well during the school day.

Can holding urine cause health problems?

Yes. Holding urine too long or too often can contribute to lower urinary tract issues and bladder problems. Students need regular access to clean, safe restrooms so they can use the bathroom when needed without fear, embarrassment, or delay.

How can school restrooms affect gastrointestinal health?

When students avoid school restrooms, they may delay bowel movements for long periods. This can contribute to constipation, discomfort, accidents, and other gastrointestinal concerns, especially among younger students.

Why are odors in school restrooms a serious issue?

Odors are more than an appearance problem. Persistent restroom odors can indicate moisture, bacteria, urine contamination, porous grout, poor ventilation, or inadequate surface maintenance. Odors can also discourage students from using the restroom, which may contribute to avoidant behavior and health concerns.

How do school restrooms contribute to the spread of germs?

School restrooms can contribute to germ spread when surfaces are poorly cleaned, supplies are missing, handwashing is skipped, or bacteria and contaminants remain trapped in porous tile and grout. Toilets, floors, walls, sinks, handles, and other restroom surfaces can all become points of contamination.

Why is handwashing important in schools?

Handwashing is one of the most important ways to reduce the spread of germs in schools. If students avoid restrooms or if restrooms lack soap, supplies, or cleanliness, handwashing may decrease, allowing germs to spread more easily throughout classrooms, cafeterias, buses, and common areas.

What illnesses can spread through poor restroom hygiene?

Poor restroom hygiene can contribute to the spread of germs associated with colds, flu, gastrointestinal illness, and other infections. Restrooms with poor sanitation, missing supplies, or hard-to-clean surfaces can increase the risk of cross-contamination.

How can restroom conditions affect school attendance?

Poor restroom conditions can affect attendance by contributing to illness, discomfort, dehydration, urinary issues, gastrointestinal problems, and avoidance behaviors. Cleaner, safer restrooms can help support healthier students and a better learning environment.

Why are school restroom floors and walls difficult to keep clean?

School restroom floors and walls are difficult to keep clean because they are exposed to moisture, soil, urine, bacteria, odors, cleaning chemicals, heavy traffic, and frequent use. Tile and grout surfaces can become porous, stained, and odor-prone over time if they are not properly restored and protected.

Why does grout become a problem in school restrooms?

Grout is porous and can absorb moisture, bacteria, urine, dirt, and cleaning residues. Once contaminants penetrate the grout, routine mopping or surface cleaning may not remove them completely. This can lead to recurring odors, staining, discoloration, and sanitation concerns.

How can SaniGLAZE help improve school restroom conditions?

SaniGLAZE can help restore school restroom tile and grout by removing embedded contaminants, restoring grout lines, sealing porous surfaces, and applying protective systems that make restrooms easier to clean and maintain. This helps address the underlying surface problems that routine cleaning alone may not solve.

Is tile restoration better than replacing school restroom surfaces?

Tile restoration can be a better option when the existing tile and grout are structurally sound but stained, odor-prone, porous, or difficult to maintain. Restoration can reduce cost, downtime, demolition, dust, and disruption compared to full replacement.

When should a school consider restroom restoration?

A school should consider restroom restoration when restrooms have persistent odors, stained grout, surfaces that look dirty after cleaning, cracked or missing grout, student complaints, moisture problems, or maintenance teams that must repeatedly deep clean the same areas.

Can restroom restoration help custodial teams?

Yes. Restored and protected tile and grout surfaces are typically easier to clean because contaminants are less likely to penetrate into porous grout. This can help custodial teams reduce repeated scrubbing, recurring odors, and ongoing maintenance frustration.

Does restoration replace daily restroom cleaning?

No. Restoration does not replace daily restroom cleaning. It improves the condition of the surface so daily cleaning becomes more effective. Schools still need consistent cleaning schedules, soap and paper supplies, ventilation, inspections, and maintenance procedures.

How can schools make restrooms healthier for students?

Schools can improve restroom health by maintaining consistent cleaning schedules, keeping supplies stocked, improving ventilation, addressing odors quickly, repairing damaged surfaces, preventing bullying, allowing reasonable restroom access, and restoring worn tile and grout before problems become severe.

What is the best first step for improving school restroom conditions?

The best first step is a professional restroom surface evaluation. A SaniGLAZE Service Provider can inspect tile, grout, odors, moisture, stains, and surface condition to determine whether cleaning, restoration, sealing, or replacement is the right solution.