Are you considering locking your restroom to make your maintenance efforts easier? Be sure to factor into your decision whether the benefits of such are worth the impact this will have on the impression you are making. Locked restrooms do make for a difficult situation. Usually the restroom is at the back of the store. Once someone in need has reached the bathroom door, it can be quite uncomfortable to walk back to the front of the store, sometimes even waiting in line to ask for a key (or being embarrassed to ask in front of others), and then making the trek to the back again. Have you considered using employees who inevitably have times that they are just standing around to do frequent light cleaning? By doing this, you can keep your restroom unlocked, have a clean presentation at all times, and avoid coming across as rude and inhospitable to your good customers.

For one customer's thoughts on locked restrooms and their impact on impressions and repeat business, read this post: