Poll: Foul Odors Could Be Keeping Patrons Away

Holding your nose isn’t going to make your facility smell better and it will most likely turn your facility guests away—for good.

A new survey from Oxy-Gen Powered shows the importance of not letting your guard down when it comes to odor control in your facility and reinforces the idea that when people encounter malodors, many change their perceptions of a facility or take steps to avoid it in the future. 

According to the Oxy-Gen Powered’s online Harris Poll that surveyed more than 2,000 U.S. adults ages 18 and older, a majority (93%) say a foul odor would negatively impact their perception of an organization

“No building occupant or visitor wants to be greeted with an unpleasant smell in a lobby, restroom or anywhere else in a facility,” said Andy Piucci, vice president of North America sales for North America, Oxy-Gen Powered. “This research highlights the risk organizations take when they fail to properly eliminate indoor odors caused by urine, feces, kitchens, mold, mildew, pets, and more.” 

More than half of Americans say after experiencing a foul odor in an organization’s facility they would assume the facility is not clean (56%) or they would look for an alternative facility (54%). Half (50%) would spend less time in the facility, 46% would tell friends, family, or colleagues about the incident and more than one in three (34%) would never return to the facility again. 

The survey results also offer a closer look at the types of businesses most affected by unpleasant smells, and restaurants topped the list: 79% of those surveyed said a foul odor at a restaurant would negatively impact their perception of that business.

Foul odors in a hotel would negatively influence three in four of respondents’ (75%) opinions of that business and nearly two in three (64%) would think adversely about a shopping mall or retail store with foul odor issues.

Malodors would also negatively impact more than half of Americans’ perceptions of entertainment venues (63%), office buildings (57%), and gym/fitness centers (56%). 

Tackling foul odors is one of the toughest challenges of cleaning professionals. Find some tips for eliminating unpleasant odors in your facility here.