If you work in a K-12 school, you know that keeping restrooms in working order can feel like a never-ending test of endurance. It isn’t just about cleanliness — it’s about durability.
In fact, a recent survey found that 65% of schools experience vandalism or damage to their restroom dispensers.1 Whether it’s soap dispensers ripped from the wall, hand sanitizer refills intentionally tampered with, or units simply breaking under the extraordinary daily wear and tear of a bustling learning institution, the problem is widespread, frustrating, and costly.
Why has this phenomenon become so acute, why’s it a problem, and what can be done about it? Let’s learn:
When “Trending” Becomes Trouble
Part of the challenge is the rise of viral social media trends that encourage students to tamper with school property for views and engagement. Some may remember the “Devious Licks” TikTok trend, where students bragged about stealing or destroying school fixtures—including restroom dispensers. While that specific challenge may have been expelled, the behavior it inspired continues. New “extracurricular activities” have emerged, from stuffing paper towels into dispensers to force malfunctions to testing just how much force it takes to break a unit off the wall.
Beyond Restrooms: The Ripple Effect of Dispenser Damage
When dispensers are out of order, it’s not just an inconvenience—it’s a well-being risk. Without easy access to soap and sanitizer, hand hygiene compliance might drop, which could increase the spread of germs to classrooms, cafeterias, and hallways alike. Dispenser damage also sends maintenance teams into what feels like detention, forcing them to deal with unexpected repairs and replacements that stretch already limited budgets.
A Smarter Approach to Tougher Environments
Schools need dispensers that make the grade—ones built to withstand the realities of high-traffic, high-use, and sometimes high-risk environments. That’s where durability really matters. Fortunately, it’s not just the troublemakers who have innovated.
PURELL® dispensers are designed for the demands of the school day. The FMX-20™ high-capacity soap dispenser helps keep maintenance to a minimum. Even the standard CS4 dispenser is a workhorse designed to handle everyday schoolhouse chaos.
Their A+ rated installation service ensures a seamless, stress-free transition from damaged dispensers to durable PURELL dispensers.
Summer Break: The Perfect Time for a Deep Clean
With students out of the building and classrooms quiet, summer is the ideal time to take stock of a school’s hand hygiene infrastructure. A thorough deep clean isn’t just about freshening up—it’s about ensuring that facilities are set up for success when the next school year begins.
Many schools received donations of hand sanitizers during the pandemic, but some of these products may now be expired or no longer meet evolving needs. Checking dates and replacing outdated stock with effective, trusted PURELL brand solutions ensures schools remain well-equipped.
If soap and sanitizer dispensers have taken a beating, summer is the perfect time to swap them out for durable, tamper-resistant PURELL dispensers. Taking the time to audit hand hygiene stations throughout the building can help identify gaps before students return. Ensuring that every hallway, classroom, and cafeteria has easy access to well-placed, fully functional dispensers can make a real difference in encouraging strong hand hygiene habits.
By spending summer break this way, schools can get rid of broken dispensers and expired product to start the new academic year with a clean slate—both figuratively and literally.
This content was provided by GOJO.
- GOJO Industries, Inc., Internet survey, 006-141 NA ONLINE QUANT PURELL BRAND EQUITY TRACKING 2024 – K-12 Education, 21 October 2024. ↩︎
