Restroom Germs

We all use the public restroom at one time or another, usually at a school, office, theatre, store or sporting event. Thousands of people visit these same restrooms. One can only imagine how many varieties of microbes are left by these users on doors, faucets, soap dispensers, towel dispensers, and toilet flushers. The best public restrooms will provide automated, sensor-operated dispensers, toilet flushers, and a sanitary door opener so that the public is protected from cross-contamination by disease-causing microbes that can thrive on these objects.

Lately, modern airports and theatres have installed the "s-curve" exits, eliminating exiting via a door. First we usually start with flushing a toilet and these tips can help. If you have to flush yourself, use your foot instead if possible or shield your hand with toilet tissue. Aerosoled droplets will reach twenty feet from a flushing toilet so turn your head away.

After opening the stall door, wash your hands. Hopefully the soap dispenser and water faucet are sensor-operated, if not, try to operate them with your wrist or back of the hand, especially the water faucet because now your hands are clean and you want to keep them clean.

Next deal with the towel dispenser. We are seeing more of the touchless variety or center-pull type where you are dispensed a sanitary towel. When there is no way to exit without touching a door, use that towel to open the door and toss it in the nearby trash can. Leave it on the floor if there is no trash bin so as to make the restroom maintenance aware that they should place the trash near the door.

One word about those automatic hand dryers, if they are provided instead of a towel dispenser, use some toilet tissue to dry your hands. Unfortunately they are not cleaned regularly and spew out any germs in them. Following these steps will not only protect you from picking up germs left by prior users, but also decrease microbes left by your use.