What to Watch Out For in Public Bathrooms

I totally agree!! Plus--don't these people wash their hands when they are done going?!! If you are going to wash your hands--I mean wet them, put soap on them, lather them for at least 30 seconds then rinse them--what will it matter if you touch the toilet flusher handle? What is truly disgusting is the number of people who don't wash their hands when they are done! If I were the people flushing with their foot, I would be more leary of touching the door handle to leave!!

This person has the right idea. If your that picky you need a clump of trees along the highway. AMEN

I'VE KNOWN WOMEN TO TAKE A DUMP AND THEN CHANGE THEIR TAMPON AND DUMP BOTH IN THE TOILET AND NOT FLUSH. THAT IS DISGUSTING.

LADIES, WHEN YOU TAKE A DUMP PLEASE FLUSH IT SO OTHERS DONT HAVE TO SEE YOUR WASTE MATERIAL FLOATING IN THE TOILET!

For real! I'm the haqppy camper who cleans the bathrooms in an interstate restaurant. More diners than not DO NOT wash their hands when leaving! Many will pee all over the seat, and let's not even think about those who have morning sickness. At least TELL someone you puked all over the place, and try not to walk in it on your way out!

I agree, Some people are over the top on sanitary issues. I think your comment is too relaxed on the issue. This topic is relevant and one should care rather the are sitting in feces. Kudos to the foot flushers the squatters and all non nobbers:)

As a land surveyor I find myself stuck in the city (where there are no unattended clumps of trees) and wind up using public restrooms. Given the choice, I will flush with my foot. However, in male restrooms where urinals are the norm, the hand must be used. I really don't have a problem; since, I immeadiately wash my hands and most restrooms, these days, provide anti microbal soap. My real problem comes when opening the door to leave.
I use a paper towel to insulate my hand form the undoubtedly filthy door and, holding the door open with my shoulder, toss the towel into the trash. If the can is close to the door I make it every time, If it's at the back of the room. I'm about 50% form the door line. Ifeel guilty about throwing it on the floor, but we're talking safety here! Mc Donalds are off my list since most of them don't provide towels (only air dryers)

Ok come on guys....do you wash your hands at home after you pee? No you don't ( unless you pee on them by mistake) I know that guys at work will wash there hands when someone is in the bathroom/locker room, but when no one is there they pee and leave. Just like me.

Amazingly, they do manufacture toilets that have the flushing mechanism on the floor beside the toilet! Unfortunately, I've only encountered one - at a rest stop in NH. I couldn't help but comment about it to the attendee, who said that everyone who uses them loves the idea. And pointed out that a floor flusher, designed to be use by feet, is the least likely to break - whereas all those flush handles & auto-flushers are the most breakable part of a public toilet. So if you don't want to see "out of order" signs in the restroom, or if you want your tax dollars used for something besides fixing public bathrooms (state rest stops, municipal buildings, etc...) campaign for foot flushers. If you're starting a business please install them in your restrooms. And spread the word, because we need more foot flushing toilets in the USA!

i agree . i mean thats what saop and water is for right?

kudos, there are more germs on the floor, than what lurkes on the handle.
germs can survive up to 48-72 hours, depending on the type of bacteria or virus.
that is why they make the waterless soap now, to control the spreading of germs.
come on people, buy some waterless soap, carry it in your pocket or purse, when your done, wash with with regular soap, then after you leave the restroom, put some waterless soap on your hands, to remove any remaining germs. and for the super paranod, use a papertowel , to open the door, and use toilet paper to flush the toilet.

I agree with Enough. One little tip that I've found useful instead of your foot is to take a handful of toilet paper when you are finished, grab the flush mechanism and then quickly throw the toilet paper in the bowl as it is flushing. Walla! Your hand doesn't touch the handle or push button and neither does your foot. Oh, BTW, my girlfriend twisted her ankle by flushing with her foot; it slipped off.

You have a point there, but did you know that you can actually get certain STDs from sitting on a public toilet? That is one of the biggest reasons as to why people don't want to sit on the toilet in a public restroom. Would you want to risk it? Especially women who are pregnant...they could get any number of things that could harm them or their baby. Think on that for a little bit.

I've seen some pretty gruesome public toilets...as we all have. It seems the messy offenders are lacking some sort of moral fiber. As for myself, I wipe the seat when I'm done, make sure everything goes down, and after I wash my hands, I wipe off any water I may have splashed on the sink, and throw my paper towel in the garbage can. However, I don't care what you say, unless it's a button shoulder length on the wall, I'm flushing with my foot!

In California the public toilets are required to offer seat covers which help a bit to make things a little more comfortable. However, when towels are not available, I wipe my hands using a seat cover or toilet paper like a towel and then throw it in the trash; sometimes outside the toilet if the trash is too far away. Public toilets all over the country should require the seat covers. I keep forgetting to bring them with me when I travel. Some airplanes have them and some do not...even on the same airline.

I totally agree. If everyone would just be normal, we wouldn't have to worry as much about all the germs. You should be washing your hands after using a public restroom anyway; so if you don't, it's your own fault for carrying away all those germs.

Germs are germs. There are no "your germs/their germs". There are just a lot of germs. What matters is what you chose to do about them. That's why hovering is rediculous.

Sorry but I can't count on people to be as considerate as I am. So I will continue to hover and flush with my foot. I will never ever in my young black life sit on a public toilet. For one, I know it is not bleached as much as I bleach mine. I keep Clorox wipes by my toilet so my kids can wipe the seat if they sprinkle when they tinkle. For two I don't know what kinds of Communicable diseases the person before me had that used that toilet. Hep C, Bacteria Vaginosis, Trich and other bacteria infections can be transmitted from a toilet sorry. Ugh if your nasty ass is sittin on a toilet then wonderin why your cooch smells like Old Fish

Yeah, wash your hands, it's simple! Germs are everywhere, so the main key is to wash your hands!! Your never going to avoid germs, and here is an idea to people who can't stand the thought of opening the bathroom door...buy your own hand sanitizer! Some are so small to just put in the pocket of your jeans.

okay thats DISCUSTING. first of all, how is that in any way making it harder if we flush with our feet???? does it enable you to flush normally somehow? No. It doesn't actually and two.. If you wana get some gross skin transmited disease on your ass, be my guest but that doesnt mean we all have to and finally, I know that not everyones sprays all over the toilet only a chalenged few so there.

What really gets me is the people who think it's a great idea to flush with their feet, yet use their hands to open the stall door. Everything gets touched by people who don't all observe the same practices. The toilet, the stall door, the faucet and so on. Everyone has their own issues and comfort levels. I witnessed women at work who'd share a bathroom with just a few other people on the floor use paper towels to turn on the faucet and then again to turn them off. I think people get a little too out of control. Don't get me started on the germ-a-phob parents who bubble their kids and then wonder why they get insanely ill by time school starts and their immune system is overloaded. Our bodies are smarter than we give them credit for and they will fight bugs. Our 'quick-fix' society just wants a magical pill for everything and we have no idea what most of those medications due to our bodies besides the feeling better that we seek. Humanity has survived far worse than a dirty bathroom.