Enhancing Hygiene and Minimising Item Loss in Public Restrooms Using Smart Sensor Technology

Abstract

Public restrooms often face challenges related to hygiene and user behaviour, particularly the issue of forgotten personal items, which can lead to clutter, sanitation concerns, and reduced user satisfaction. This study presents a prototype system designed to address these issues using smart sensor technology. The system includes a designated area for personal belongings, real-time item detection using sensors, and an automated alert mechanism to notify users before they leave items behind. While the current implementation operates locally using an Arduino microcontroller without internet connectivity, the system is architected with scalability in mind, allowing for future integration with Internet of Things (IoT) components such as Wi-Fi or GSM modules. Initial testing demonstrated an alert accuracy rate of 85%, with 75% user compliance and 80% user satisfaction. These results highlight the potential of smart sensor-based systems and eventually IoT-enabled solutions to enhance hygiene, reduce clutter, and improve user experience in public restrooms. Future work will focus on enabling real-time data analytics, remote monitoring, and deployment across multiple facilities.