What We Learned About Washroom Hygiene: Insights from FM Expo 2026

Insights from Facilities Managers and Hygiene Teams

At Facilities Management Expo 2026 in Johannesburg, the Nuwkem team spoke directly with facilities managers, service providers, and operations teams responsible for washroom hygiene across a wide range of South African facilities.

In addition to discussions at our stand, we conducted a short, informal survey to gain clearer insight into the day-to-day challenges influencing hygiene standards in commercial environments. The survey explored the challenges facilities managers face, the perceived impact of washroom hygiene, and whether organisations are considering changes to their current hygiene programmes.

While every facility has its own challenges, many of the conversations we had at the expo centred around the same concerns. Whether managing a single site or multiple locations, facilities professionals spoke about the ongoing pressure to maintain standards, control costs, and keep hygiene solutions running reliably.

Current Washroom Hygiene Challenges in Commercial Facilities

For many organisations, washroom hygiene has become part of the overall facility experience rather than simply a maintenance responsibility. In commercial buildings, it plays a direct role in how facilities are experienced by tenants, visitors, and employees.

One thing that stood out was how much responsibility is placed on facilities teams today. Expectations around cleanliness and user experience continue to increase, yet budgets and resources often remain unchanged. Maintaining hygiene standards is no longer just about servicing equipment; it requires systems that perform reliably across multiple touchpoints, particularly in high-traffic washrooms.

Equipment reliability remains the biggest challenge

Of all the challenges raised, 41% of respondents identified equipment reliability as their biggest concern, making it the most frequently cited issue in the survey. Interestingly, conversations at the stand echoed the survey findings. Many facilities managers spoke about the frustration of dealing with dispensers and systems that require more attention than they should, and the need for reliable washroom hygiene solutions.

In high-traffic commercial environments, even minor equipment failures quickly become visible and can undermine overall hygiene standards.

When equipment is unreliable, the impact is immediate. Facilities managers reported dealing with increased maintenance requirements, more service call-outs, greater downtime, and a higher likelihood of user complaints. In busy environments, these issues can quickly affect perceptions of the facility as a whole.

As a result, many facilities teams are prioritising dependable performance from existing systems rather than introducing new technologies.

Consumable reliability: a recurring operational challenge

While equipment reliability was the most frequently mentioned issue, consumable reliability and consistency came through as the next most common concern in the survey.

Many facilities managers raised challenges around inconsistent product performance and supply reliability, particularly in environments where washroom usage is high and expectations remain constant throughout the day.

In practice, this often means consumables that do not perform consistently under pressure, or supply chains that make it difficult to maintain the same standard across multiple sites.

Taken together, equipment and consumable reliability highlight a broader point raised during the expo conversations: washroom hygiene performance is only as strong as the consistency of the systems behind it.

Top Washroom Hygiene Challenges in South African Facilities

Beyond equipment reliability and consumable consistency, other themes included:

• Equipment reliability and consistent operation
• Maintaining hygiene standards across multiple sites
• Budget constraints and cost pressures
• Rising user expectations and complaints

Although facilities vary by sector and scale, these challenges reflect a shared operational reality. Hygiene solutions must be dependable, scalable, and cost-effective to support long-term facility performance.

Washroom hygiene is now a business-wide concern

The survey also revealed just how important washroom hygiene has become to overall facility performance. Perhaps the clearest finding from the survey was that 95% of respondents believe washroom hygiene has a meaningful impact on their facility. Respondents consistently linked washroom hygiene to tenant satisfaction, visitor experience, employee wellbeing, brand perception, and regulatory compliance. Notably, 64% selected all of the listed impact areas, indicating that hygiene is seen as influencing multiple aspects of facility performance at the same time.

What stood out from the responses was how broadly facilities managers view hygiene today. Rather than focusing solely on compliance or maintenance, many see it as something that affects the experience of everyone who uses the building.

Facilities teams are actively reviewing their hygiene solutions

Survey responses showed that around 44% of respondents were either considering changes to their hygiene programme or actively evaluating their options over the next 12 months. Some facilities teams are preparing upgrades within the next three to six months, while others are planning changes over the coming year.

Strong interest in assessments and expert input

One finding we didn’t expect was the level of interest in hygiene assessments and quotations from specialist providers. Among respondents who answered the question, almost 90% expressed interest in receiving a hygiene assessment or quotation. Many facilities managers indicated they would welcome external evaluations to better understand how their current setups are performing.

For many facilities teams, an external assessment offers a useful way to understand whether current systems are performing as well as they should, especially across multiple sites.

What these insights mean for facilities managers

If there was one common thread running through the survey responses, it was the need for reliability. Facilities managers want systems that work consistently, require minimal intervention, and support the standards they’re expected to maintain. At the same time, washroom hygiene is increasingly recognised as a contributor to broader business performance, not just day-to-day operations.

Closing thoughts

Feedback from FM Expo 2026 confirms one central message: the fundamentals matter. Reliable systems, consistent performance, and practical solutions remain at the core of effective washroom hygiene management.

For us, one of the most valuable parts of the expo was hearing directly from the people responsible for managing these environments every day. The conversations reinforced that while new technologies and innovations have their place, reliability, consistency, and service remain the foundations of successful washroom hygiene programmes.

While these expectations are not new, they are becoming more critical as pressure on facilities teams continues to grow. For organisations managing multi-site and high-traffic environments, the challenge is no longer just improving hygiene standards; it is maintaining them consistently over time.

The discussions we had at FM Expo 2026 don’t end with the event itself. If any of the challenges highlighted in this article sound familiar, we’d welcome the opportunity to continue the conversation. Whether you’re reviewing your current hygiene programme, exploring ways to improve reliability, or looking for practical advice on maintaining standards across multiple sites, our team is always available to help.

Get in touch with the Nuwkem team to continue the conversation.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the biggest washroom hygiene challenge for facilities managers?
Based on the feedback from FM Expo 2026, equipment reliability was the most frequently mentioned challenge, particularly in high-traffic environments where downtime quickly becomes visible.

2. Why is washroom hygiene important for businesses?
Facilities managers highlighted that washroom hygiene directly impacts visitor experience, tenant satisfaction, employee wellbeing, and brand perception, making it a key part of overall facility performance.

3. Are facilities managers planning to change their hygiene programmes?
Yes. Survey responses showed that many organisations are currently reviewing their washroom hygiene programmes, with some planning upgrades within the next 3 to 12 months and others actively evaluating alternative solutions.