Bathroom etiquette

[Nie0214]

I don't wash my hands because I carry hand sanitizer in my purse and use it after I leave the restroom. I figure the door handle on the way out probably has the most germs in the place and you touch it after you would normally wash your hands.

I wash my hands and use the paper towel to open the door (because of people like you who open the door without washing!) then use sanitizer when I get to my desk / purse / whatever.

Did anyone see Mythbusters on the dirty toilet seat last night?

 

[Judy in Texas]

I hate it when the person in the next stall is talking on the telephone. I think restrooms should be a No Phone zone.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

If I were you, I would probably head back to work and loudly ask "hey, who didn't flush or wash their hands just now in the bathroom?"

Funny bathroom story though...

One time I had to pick up my dry cleaning on the way to work so I would have a pair of pants to wear. I had jeans and tall boot on when I got to work and I went right into the bathroon to change. After I was changed and walked into the lobby of the office, I saw one of the other girls whispering and looking over her shoulder towards the bathroom. I asked the receptionist what was going on and she said that the girl thought that there were two people in a stall in the bathroom. It took me a second to realize that my boot (mid-calf with 3.5-4 inch heel) were tall enough that when I took them off in the stall and stood in my socks, it could look like there were 2 sets of feet in the stall. I even pulled up my pant leg and showed her my boots to prove that they could look like that to someone who couldn't see the top of them!

I do as much as I can to avoid contact with anything in a public bathroom. I flush with my foot, wash my hands, and after I leave, I use hand sanitizer (which is connected to the outside of my handbag).

What I hate about public bathrooms is how very little room there is between the door and the toilet. It's like you can't get the door open or closed without your clothes rubbing up against the seat.

 

[Angelhalo]

Ok that makes sense. But still... maybe restrooms should be required to have hand sanitizer AND soap at their facilities. Hand sanitizer has to have a certain amount of alchohol in it doesn't it? I mean in order for it to kill germs? I just think we should all do our part to be "flu fighters" and not washing your hands is not helping...

Maybe the person in the bathroom didn't flush because they KNEW they weren't going to wash their hands so they were saving germs from getting on their hands?! Haha what a weird mindset?

I don't understand the flushing part but I am one of those who only washes their hands part of the time. I have VERY bad excema on my hands and the sanitizer with Aloe in it is the only thing that doesn't tear my hands to shreds. I can't be getting my hands wet throughout the day or it's all over, I'll be LITERALLY scratching the blood out of my hands by the time the day is over. I use toilet paper to open the stall door to come out, then I toss the toilet paper in the trash and grab grab two paper towels. (With our system there is no way of touching the other papertowels. Only my two get touched).

I use one to open the bathroom door. I toss it in the trash at my desk. I use the hand sanitizer that I have on my desk. I then put a dab of sanitizer on the papertowel and use it to wipe off the pump on the bottle and then I throw it away. I have had my excema issue all of my life. I know what works and doesn't work for my hands. If people want to think I am gross, I really couldn't care less. They can walk a week with my excema and see if they'd be washing their hands every single time they use the restroom. Seriously after all this effort, does anyone really think that I prefer this method? Wouldn't I LOVE to be able to just walk out and wash my hands every time??? Of course I would! But, I can't. My hands have good days here and there when I can wash them, but it is up to me and me alone to decide that.

I try to judge not, lest I be judged because I never know who might be in a similar situation to myself.

ETA: When I am making food or decorating cakes, I wear gloves

 

[scrapquitler]

Maybe the non-flusher assumed the toilet was an auto-flush one? Most public bathrooms have them now, and I usually assume that it will be auto-flush and sometimes realize on the way out of the stall 'hey, I didn't hear it flush!' and go back to check...it would be easy enough for me to not think about it if I assumed auto-flush.

 

[Heidict]

The only think I can think of re: the flushing is that maybe she was sort of absent-minded and just expected it to be an auto-flush toilet?

They're around almost everywhere these days, to the point where I'm surprised to see a public toilet that is still manual flush.

But we are sealed off, you have to have a badge with access in order to get into where we are, so the chances of it being someone who wasn't familiar with our bathrooms is pretty slim, but you never know. Maybe someone here for a meeting or something.

 

[Heidict]

I'm glad that I don't spend my day worrying about whether my coworkers flush or wash.

Heck, I'm glad that this is all I have to worry about.

 

[Hillbeans]

I just wonder what the reactions would be if the OP worked at a restaurant?

 

[jjarman]

So, you get "bathroom germs" on your purse and the bottle of hand sanitizer, then after you use the sanitizer on your hands you put the cap back on, throw it in your purse, and close your purse...thus transfering back the "bathroom germs" on your now "sanitized" hands....

Most bathrooms that have the door opening inward from the bathroom have a large trashcan right beside the door. Wash your hands, use your paper towel (or if they have air dryers then a tissue or a bit of TP) to open the door, throw the towel in the trash...."bathroom germs" are gone. See?

And using hand sanitzer isn't as good as plain old fashioned soap and warm water.

I hate to wash my hands cause I can never get them dry and then they stay cold. I use hand sanitizer. I keep a bottle on my desk just for this. I also have a nice smelling one in my purse. But when I use it I squirt it in my hand, close the cap, put back in my purse then I rub it on my hands. Few germs.

 

[C.Ann]

Because people have "so little time" these days??

Yuck!

 

[Judy in Texas]

I hate to wash my hands cause I can never get them dry and then they stay cold. I use hand sanitizer. I keep a bottle on my desk just for this. I also have a nice smelling one in my purse. But when I use it I squirt it in my hand, close the cap, put back in my purse then I rub it on my hands. Few germs.

What would happen if you met someone on the way back to your desk and had to shake hands?

The restroom is a bit of a stroll from my desk. Every once is a while someone is giving a tour and stops to chat since I have sort of an interesting job. When introduced, I shake hands with those in the group. It's just not right to shake hands with people when you haven't washed your hands. GROSS!!!!

 

[Stacerita]

Next time, make sure you take a gander at the stall occupant's shoes!

Always check the shoes. I do this whenever someone comes in, just in case. Strange I know.

 

[DancingBear]

I don't wash my hands because I carry hand sanitizer in my purse and use it after I leave the restroom. I figure the door handle on the way out probably has the most germs in the place and you touch it after you would normally wash your hands.

If the handle is full of germs it's because of folks like you, right?

 

[lillygator]

So, went into the restroom here at work, there are 4 stalls and nobody else was in there. Just as I get into my stall someone else comes in and goes into a stall.

It's quiet in there, no music or anything, so you can't help but here that they are peeing. Twenty or so seconds later you hear them leave the stall and go out of the restroom. They did not flush the toilet or wash their hands.

I was 10 seconds to late in seeing who it was! Dang it, I wanted to know which one of my co-workers is disgusting!

Yes, I know from a previous thread that there are a myriad of reasons why someone would not wash their hands, however, why would someone not flush the toilet? Seriously, is there any logical explanation for this?

No, the toilet was not broken. I know this because I went and flushed it before I left the bathroom.

maybe they have wet wipes or hand sanitizer in their purse?

 

[disney1990]

I won't wash my hands in a place that I know uses antibacterial soaps. If that is the case, I use a hand sanitizer, which is alcohol based.

http://www.grinningplanet.com/2005/10-04/triclosan-article.htm

 

[dismom2]

I don't wash my hands because I carry hand sanitizer in my purse and use it after I leave the restroom. I figure the door handle on the way out probably has the most germs in the place and you touch it after you would normally wash your hands.

It's people such as yourself who are putting the germs on the bathroom door handle to begin with---don't you see that? Because of what you are doing, the next person who touches that door is going to get the germs from your unwashed hands---thank you very much.

And I was going to say the same thing as the other PP-- you are getting the nasty bathroom germs on your purse and the bottle of antibacterial hand gel.
That makes no sense.

 

[dismom2]

I don't understand the flushing part but I am one of those who only washes their hands part of the time. I have VERY bad excema on my hands and the sanitizer with Aloe in it is the only thing that doesn't tear my hands to shreds. I can't be getting my hands wet throughout the day or it's all over, I'll be LITERALLY scratching the blood out of my hands by the time the day is over. I use toilet paper to open the stall door to come out, then I toss the toilet paper in the trash and grab grab two paper towels. (With our system there is no way of touching the other papertowels. Only my two get touched).

I use one to open the bathroom door. I toss it in the trash at my desk. I use the hand sanitizer that I have on my desk. I then put a dab of sanitizer on the papertowel and use it to wipe off the pump on the bottle and then I throw it away. I have had my excema issue all of my life. I know what works and doesn't work for my hands. If people want to think I am gross, I really couldn't care less. They can walk a week with my excema and see if they'd be washing their hands every single time they use the restroom. Seriously after all this effort, does anyone really think that I prefer this method? Wouldn't I LOVE to be able to just walk out and wash my hands every time??? Of course I would! But, I can't. My hands have good days here and there when I can wash them, but it is up to me and me alone to decide that.

I try to judge not, lest I be judged because I never know who might be in a similar situation to myself.

ETA: When I am making food or decorating cakes, I wear gloves

Doesn't the alchohol dry your hands out?

 

[Wall-E1]

Here is my public bathroom etiquette list:
Toilets

1. Flush - As the OP has pointed out, it's disgusting. I am all about conservation and try not to take long showers, but I do splurge when it comes to toilet bowls. I flush after each trip. So please remember, the patron who comes into the stall after you has no desire to see what you ate for dinner the night before.

2. Wipe - I have come into stalls and seen your business in the bowl, unflushed. There is no toilet paper in the bowl. We all lead busy lives. Perhaps you could wake up a few minutes earlier each day, which would give you the extra few minutes needed to wipe yourself. It would also save me from having a horrifying image burned into my brain for the rest of my life.

3. Farting - I know, sometimes a toot can just slip out when in a stall. I'm talking about the people that release their gas on an unsuspecting restroom without abandon. The bathroom is filled with a symphony of sounds that are being released, as if we are attending an extended performance of "Wishes - The Night Time Spectacular". When the farting starts, my peeing stops. I don't know why. This is really annoying because I then need to find a different restroom to complete my business.

4. Shutting and locking the stall door - I have no desire to see you conducting your business on the toilet. I have walked past open stall doors and seen grown men going about their duties (get it, duties). Have you no shame? Nobody likes enclosed spaces, but this behavior is ridiculous. Also annoying is the surprise pooper. This is when I open a stall door and find a man on the toilet bowl. Please lock the stall door. I don't like being surprised. Also, if you are in the stall, why so silent? Why not say, "someone in here", or cough. Something. Anything. Just alert me to your presence so I don't have to see something that will scar me mentally.

Urinals

1. Proper spacing - If there is a wall with twenty urinals, and I am the only other person utilizing one, why must you pick the urinal right next to me? Again, this action will make my stream of urine stop midstream. If this is your way of trying to meet someone new, just go into any bathroom stall and jot down any of the numerous phone numbers that advertise "calling for a good time".

2. Aiming - Okay, the urinal is directly in front of you. How do you miss? Why is there a puddle of urine on the floor all around the urinal? When this occurs I am forced to take a wide stance in the restroom. We all know what happened to a certain senator that took a wide stance in a public restroom not too long ago. I do not like giving this mixed message to my fellow restroom visitors. So, if you see me in front of a urinal with a wide stance, I'm not looking for romance, I'm just trying to keep my feet out of the puddle of urine.

3. Talkers - No, I'm not interested in discussing last night's game while doing my business. I need complete concentration while performing. Talking to me just breaks my concentration, again causing a stoppage. I know that you are very excited about that last second victory, and I am truly happy for you, but leave me alone.

Sinks

1. Soap - Dipping your hands under the faucet for five seconds is not a cleaning. There is a new technological advancement that is sweeping restrooms nationwide. It's called soap. With this miraculous chemical, hands can be properly sanitized. Don't fear it. It is not the stuff of black magic or sorcery. It is perfectly safe to use and should not be feared. Soap is our friend.

2. Ignoring the sink - It is there for a reason. Your hands have been near places on your body that may not be sanitary. This is why sinks are there. Even if you are unsure whether or not you got a little too close while wiping, why chance it? Make me happy, just wash your hands to be safe.

 

[jjarman]

What would happen if you met someone on the way back to your desk and had to shake hands?

The restroom is a bit of a stroll from my desk. Every once is a while someone is giving a tour and stops to chat since I have sort of an interesting job. When introduced, I shake hands with those in the group. It's just not right to shake hands with people when you haven't washed your hands. GROSS!!!!

Bathroom is only about 12 feet from my office. Besides, I am not touching anything in the bathroom except the doorknob and the thing to flush. I work in a medical environment and everyone is washing hands all the time. We are probably the cleanest place around. I just don't like to wash my hands.

 

[jjarman]

I know we should wash our hands or at least use the hand sanitizer but some people take it just way too far. I saw a very interesting documentary about the polio virus. Did you know we did not have polio epidemics until we got sanitized water and public sewage disposal? That is because people were exposed to minute amounts of the virus all the time and so built up an immunity to the virus. It was not until after we dd not have the polluted water that we started having the epidemics. Now I am not saying we need to go back to dirty water but it just shows that our bodies need to be exposed to germs to build up an immunity. I hardly ever get sick. Maybe it is because I don't wash my hands all the time.