What does cleanliness have to do with restroom accessibility?

Written by: Beth D'Arcy

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“A restroom people avoid isn’t serving them.” —Louis Do, Accessibility Consultant

If a restroom is too dirty to use, it’s not truly available to people who need it. That’s why we take cleaning so seriously. 

Expanding access to public restrooms is our mission, and cleanliness sits at the heart of it. We’ve reimagined public restrooms from the ground up using modern technology, so people have access to hygienic and safe restrooms whenever they need to go. 

We’ve moved away from traditional cleaning schedules that leave so many public restrooms unusable, and instead operate under a service model that keeps public restrooms consistently and reliably clean all day long. 

Why we clean Thrones multiple times a day

Cleaning restrooms by usage is cost-effective. 

Restroom usage varies based on where it’s located, the time of year, and what’s happening in the neighborhood. A restroom in a busy transit hub and one in a quiet neighborhood park can end up in vastly different conditions by midday. 

Yet, most cities stick to the same cleaning schedule for all facilities regardless if it had five visitors or fifty. Even this is challenging for many cities. A 2025 audit of Seattle park restrooms showed that staff often don’t have enough time to visit every restroom on their route before their shift ends. 

We take a proactive, data-driven approach to keeping Thrones consistently clean throughout the day without over-extending our team or budgets. Instead of following a cleaning schedule, we take real-time usage data and user cleanliness scores to calibrate how frequently each unit should be cleaned. 

So if a Throne sees consistently high usage during peak hours or receives a 3.5 out of 5 cleanliness rating, we know to clean that unit more frequently. It keeps costs down and cleanliness levels high.

Learn exactly how we use data to keep Thrones sparkling clean.

Reliably clean restrooms keep people coming back. 

People naturally gravitate toward businesses and public spaces where they feel taken care of – and a clean, reliable restroom plays a huge role in that. 

According to the annual Healthy Handwashing Survey by Bradley Company, 68% of Americans say they’re more likely to return to a business after a positive restroom experience. 

People feel confident knowing they’ll have access to a clean, well-maintained restroom at their favorite park, shopping district, or train station, so they’re more inclined to venture out and see the sights. 

Our users consistently tell us they feel more confident exploring and enjoying their communities because they know a clean restroom will be there when they need one. 

“Having a clean restroom for me and my kids as we come spend time at the park brings me peace of mind. Thank you.” —Deforest Park, Long Beach, CA Throne User

Clean restrooms improve accessibility for everyone. 

When you hear “accessibility”, you probably picture wheelchair ramps, wide doors, and grab bars. That’s a critical part of making a public restroom accessible, but cleanliness is an equally important factor. If a facility is too dirty to enter or unhygienic to use, these accessibility features become unusable or unsafe. 

Checking to see if a restroom is hygienic and safe before using it isn’t an option for everyone. “As someone who’s totally blind, I don’t enjoy touching things in public,” says Louis Do, Throne’s Accessibility Consultant, “Cleanliness is never my favorite part of using any public facility. If I'm with someone, it’s a little easier, but otherwise it takes very careful planning around bodily needs.” 

It’s also important to remember that for many, public restrooms are a daily necessity and the only restroom option. Unhoused residents, people with medical conditions, parents with young children, and so many others rely on having a safe, usable place to go while out in public. 

Keeping Thrones clean is our way of making sure everyone in a community can access a clean, safe restroom when they need one.  

"When cities invest in accessibility, it's a clear sign they want you there." - Louis Do, Accessibility Consultant

Clean restrooms get treated better.

Thousands of people use Thrones every day, so we’ve learned a thing or two about how people behave in public restrooms. 

Most of the time, people treat them with respect. We actually see communities develop a real sense of ownership over Thrones, especially in places where restrooms are scarce. Cleanliness has a lot to do with that. Keeping Thrones clean sets a standard that our users are happy – and proud – to uphold.

"There’s a lot of research showing that if someone walks into a nice place, they’ll leave it nicer,” says Jess Heinzelmen, co-founder and COO of Throne, “That's why we stay on top of cleaning. We want to make sure every Throne feels well-cared for the moment you walk in.” 

Keep reading: Why nicer restrooms get vandalized less

About Throne’s cleaning service model

We use an in-house cleaning management system powered by real-time data to ensure Thrones stay consistently clean throughout the day. 

Every time someone uses a Throne, we ask them for feedback and a cleanliness rating. We know within minutes if a unit needs attention.

Our algorithms calculate when a Throne needs to be cleaned based on usage levels, number of uses since last cleaned, cleanliness ratings, and user feedback. It’s how we’re able to clean dozens of Thrones multiple times a day and rapidly address urgent cleanliness issues when they arise. 

“I used the Throne about 3 hours ago, left a message that it was dirty. When I came back to use it it was cleaned. Thank you.” —LA Metro Throne user

Bring clean, reliable public restrooms to your city 

When people trust that a restroom will be clean and available the moment they need it, they feel more confident, connected, and free to enjoy their own community. 

We’re here to help you reimagine what public restrooms can be. Get in touch with our team to learn how Throne can work for your city. 

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