Unless its an automatic flush, do you use your foot to flush the toilet?

[wvjules]

You get your paper towels before you wash your hands, so you don't have to touch the towel holder with clean hands? What about the germs you have put on the paper towels from your un-washed hands? Where do you put the towels while you are washing your hands? If you put them under your arm, what about the germs that are on your clothes? The air-borne germs that come from people coughing or sneezing and not covering their nose/mouth?

I just use my elbow to dispense the towel, after I've washed my hands with warm water and soap, after I've flushed the toilet with my hand.

You don't have to touch the paper towels. Just let them hang there while you are washing your hands then rip off when you need to dry them.

 

[goofyernmost]

Why not leave s syringe on the toilet seat after all its their fault for putting their bare flesh on it. I mean really until I joined the disboard I had never heard of anyone flushing the toilet with their feet so as far as you are concerned you will flip the bird to ainy one who dares to flush the toilet as it was designed to be flushed just so you can avoid some germs?

This is so funny really. Use your foot to flush a toilet that is designed to be flushed by hand, then encourage everyone to do the same thing. Now you have mega-germs on everything especially your shoes that you will pick up with your hands later on covered with whatever germs you had on them plus everyone else's. Me thinks that this germ-phobia thing is not very well thought out.

Germ's as we define them are not always a bad thing. They are everywhere, you cannot escape them. They are on your skin right now. They are necessary to keep you alive. So everyone that is inclined to sit home encased in a plastic bubble please do so but stop over contaminating my world so you can unrealistically think you are avoiding something. As I said, we are a silly species.

 

[attain]

You get your paper towels before you wash your hands, so you don't have to touch the towel holder with clean hands? What about the germs you have put on the paper towels from your un-washed hands? Where do you put the towels while you are washing your hands? If you put them under your arm, what about the germs that are on your clothes? The air-borne germs that come from people coughing or sneezing and not covering their nose/mouth?

I just use my elbow to dispense the towel, after I've washed my hands with warm water and soap, after I've flushed the toilet with my hand.

yes, I put the paper towels between my elbow and my side while washing my hands. My clothes are not going to get *that* much dirtier for the few seconds it takes to wash my hands. After watching people wash their hands, and then rub their nose on their sleeve before getting papertowels out of the dispenser with the same sleeve, I'll take my chances. Rarely do I have someone standing next to me sneezing and coughing while I'm washing my hands. I don't hang out in bathrooms. Get in and out as fast as possible. Airborne germs aren't anymore of a concern to me in the bathroom than they are in the general public.

What do you do when the towel dispenser handle is wet from everyone's wet hands? Germs spread faster through water than air. Your elbow is wet after using the dispenser and then it is on your clothes. My hands get those same germs, but I wash them off.

 

[Thumper_Man's Wife]

I guess I can also be considered one of the rebels. I don't think I've ever done the whole foot flush thing. I know some people feel it is safer and if they feel better doing this, so be it. My reasons are this:

Number 1: because I have little to no balance so I know I would probably fall and hurt myself

and 2: because the way I see it is this: When you flush the toilet, it splashes. It does this everywhere, even at home. With that "splash" comes bacteria from urine or feces. Again, this happens anytime you flush, anywhere. That bacteria lands on the floor of that bathroom stall you go in, (true some bacteria is probably on the toilet itself or on the flush handle). your feet are planted firmly in that stall floor, and then when you are finished, you use that same foot to flush the toilet. So now you just transferred bacteria from the floor to the handle (remember, not everyone flushes with their feet). You then walk out, wash your hands, etc. That bacteria that you just got from that bathroom, is on your shoe, whether you know it or not. (and you didn't wash the shoe vigorously with soapy water did you?) That will be transferred to the hotel room, your home, your luggage, etc.

To me, I believe that the bacteria from that bathroom is more than likely miniscule and is easier wiped clean from my hands when I wash up afterwards, then worrying about having more than the miniscule bacteria on my shoe from where I step in the bathroom and adding to that bacteria by touching my shoe to every other surface that could have that bacteria on it. Does that make sense...

In other words...I see no point in foot flushing. but to each their own.

 

[Ppufi]

I never use my foot to flush a public toilet. I don't think that is very considerate for the next person, and I think it's just plain dumb. Sit on the toilet (so you don't hover and make a mess for someone else to clean up!), flush with your hand, use warm water and soap to wash your hands before exiting the restroom. Common sense. Some don't have it and are just too paranoid in using a public bathroom.

Youch. I'd hardly say that trying to keep away from germs in a public restroom implies a lack of common sense.

 

[luvmy3]

This is so funny really. Use your foot to flush a toilet that is designed to be flushed by hand, then encourage everyone to do the same thing. Now you have mega-germs on everything especially your shoes that you will pick up with your hands later on covered with whatever germs you had on them plus everyone else's. Me thinks that this germ-phobia thing is not very well thought out.

Germ's as we define them are not always a bad thing. They are everywhere, you cannot escape them. They are on your skin right now. They are necessary to keep you alive. So everyone that is inclined to sit home encased in a plastic bubble please do so but stop over contaminating my world so you can unrealistically think you are avoiding something. As I said, we are a silly species.

Germs I can handle but what I am not willing to risk is that the person before me did not get some of their urine or worse some of their feces on their hand while wiping, and then proceed to flush with said hand leaving even a miniscule drop of their bodily fluid or excrement on the handle for me to touch. I'm sorry but that I cannot handle

 

[goofyernmost]

Youch. I'd hardly say that trying to keep away from germs in a public restroom implies a lack of common sense.

Well, no insult intended but, actually it kinda does. You are not staying away from anything, in fact, you are multipying it. There are more likely that type of "germ" on your shoes then on the handle and you are going to eventually touch your shoes. So...it just makes sense to not worry about it and just go wash your hands.

Germs I can handle but what I am not willing to risk is that the person before me did not get some of their urine or worse some of their feces on their hand while wiping, and then proceed to flush with said hand leaving even a miniscule drop of their bodily fluid or excrement on the handle for me to touch. I'm sorry but that I cannot handle

Yea, but as stated...it is still there on your shoes. Hopefully you disinfect your shoes before you touch them. If not, you just wasted a lot of time and helped make someone else's risk higher.

 

[clovergirl5]

Wow!!! I can't believe how defensive everyone is about this topic. And I am considered arrogant?? I guess we should all agree to disagree and do what makes us feel safe. I am an avid foot flusher and always have been. Others are hand flushers and are happy with that. I think it is a comical topic but it just goes to show how different strokes for different folks make up this world of ours. No need to defend yourselves if you are happy with your method. Whatever floats your boat is fine.

Ok...so since I am considered ARROGANT let me take this a step further. How about I do not allow people to walk on my floors with their shoes. I have a hallway to take them off when you enter!! I dont think I am arrogant, at least I am not trying to be. It was just how I was brought up. Do I wear slippers in the house? Sure do, and they have never been worn outside. I can't prevent EVERY germ from entering my home and I dont try to. I just try to keep things at a minimum. No need to get upset and start name calling. I think its just a matter of personal preference and we should respect each others views and opinions no matter how far to the left they are from ours. Hand flush or foot flush, this is a FUNNY topic!!

Me either....nobody wears their shoes in my house. Not even me! I have kids that play around on the floor. Don't want anyone's dirty shoes on my carpets. Germcity! Blech. I wouldn't even want to know if someone swabbed the bottom of my shoe, whats on it

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

wow, this thread..

 

[momrek06]

Foot flusher.

 

[luvmy3]

Well, no insult intended but, actually it kinda does. You are not staying away from anything, in fact, you are multipying it. There are more likely that type of "germ" on your shoes then on the handle and you are going to eventually touch your shoes. So...it just makes sense to not worry about it and just go wash your hands.



Yea, but as stated...it is still there on your shoes. Hopefully you disinfect your shoes before you touch them. If not, you just wasted a lot of time and helped make someone else's risk higher.

I'm not sure how you do it, but I don't touch the soles of my shoes when I take them off
BTW I'm not making anyone's risk higher, they do that to themselves by placing their hand on that handle when they have no idea what has touched it before them. I happen to think of that before I flush, use my foot, thus lessen my risk. You are all free to do the same

Me either....nobody wears their shoes in my house. Not even me! I have kids that play around on the floor. Don't want anyone's dirty shoes on my carpets. Germcity! Blech. I wouldn't even want to know if someone swabbed the bottom of my shoe, whats on it

No shoes in my house either. A little FYI for anyone interested, the dirtiest surface in your home is the bottom of your vacuum. Yes, I disinfect mine

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Hold on. Flag on the play!

I'm not sure which statement I find to be less believable:

• That fact that some person actually taught you to flush with your foot (An action that a child being taught to use the toilet would be incapable of doing.)
• or that you actually have THIS conversation with everyone that you know.

Lol, you're joking right? I didn't think it was an abnormal thing for children to go into the restroom with their parents in public places. My mom uses her foot to flush and by observation, I learned that is what one does.

How this was brought up is via the Dis. I'm not talking about the past week or so when this has been discussed, but this is certainly not a new topic of DIS... although I think it was in the grossest things in the parks thread, idk. Anyway, after reading that people actually touch the handle (which I thought odd since I never knew otherwise) I asked my friends one time when we were in a big group and just about everyone said they used their foot if they could. Thos who said they used their hands, they were all male and even most of them said they use the foot method when not using a urinal or bush.

Other people speed, so I should be allowed to speed, officer.

And wow, really? Speeding and foot flushing are anything but similar.

 

[bananda]

Fingers!!! Now that was an unexpected option!! I guess you do what you gotta do!!

breaking the mould

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I used to never do it, but then I started working in an elementary school. We have no adult sized toilets in our entire building which means you are bent over very far to get to the plunger. What really started the habit was this one toilet. It is the only stall in the bathroom near my room that has a working lock. It is incredibly difficult to flush. It requires a lot of force and I've found it's much easier to flush with my foot.

Now it's just becoming habit when I'm out in public. One thing that keeps me doing it is reading an article that stated that when you flush droplets from the toilet spray out in about a 6 foot radius. When I think about leaning over with my face over the bowl in those tiny stalls to flush the toilet... ew.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Now it's just becoming habit when I'm out in public. One thing that keeps me doing it is reading an article that stated that when you flush droplets from the toilet spray out in about a 6 foot radius. When I think about leaning over with my face over the bowl in those tiny stalls to flush the toilet... ew.

Lol, this is why I open the door before I flush to make a quick get away.

 

[Lil Lil]

I ALWAYS use my foot. A long long time ago I used my hand in the restroom at my former job, but the toilet handle was always wet and gross. I mentioned it to the girls at work and they were like yuck!! You should be using your foot not your hand. I learned the hard way. Never again will I use my hand. I always use my foot!

 

[bananda]

One thing that keeps me doing it is reading an article that stated that when you flush droplets from the toilet spray out in about a 6 foot radius. When I think about leaning over with my face over the bowl in those tiny stalls to flush the toilet... ew.

thats why i always lose the lid. if the toilet has no lid, i refuse to use it.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

thats why i always lose the lid. if the toilet has no lid, i refuse to use it.

LOL. Sadly, most public restrooms do not have this, and I simply can't hold it all day. I do close the lid in my house though and it drives me nuts when other people don't. Aside from the spewing, it keeps things from falling in the toilet. My mom actually flushed a cell phone at work! When she leaned over to flush, it fell out of her pocket and went straight down the pipe.

I normally only do it at school just because those tiny toilets are so close to the ground. Every once in awhile I'll do it somewhere else just out of habit, not with any intentional thought. Either way, I'm going to wash my hands. (And I'm one of those dispense towel after washing and open door with bare hands kind of gal.)

 

[LoraJ]

What do you foot flushers do about pulling up your pants and zipping them?

 

[Lovely2CU]

Do "foot flushers" wear protective gloves all day, so as not to pick up any germs elsewhere? Do you kick your shoes off because I touch the soles of my shoes sometimes.

Germs are EVERYWHERE, you know, not just in the restroom!

Signed: a proud hand flusher!