Whether you’re traveling overseas or just visiting a new city, you may need to use public restrooms. Public restrooms can be a scary place, but that doesn’t mean you should stop using them. In fact, it’s really important to use public restrooms. So how do you stay safe?
If you’ve ever wondered what the safest way to use a public restroom is, then read on!
Pay attention to the following things:
The first thing is to make sure that the stall door closes and latches behind you. If it does not, find another stall or wait until one becomes available. If there is no latch on the door, place something heavy in front of it before going in so that it cannot be opened from the outside.
Before sitting down on the toilet seat, look under it for anything unusual, such as paper clips, pins or other sharp objects. Then use your foot to flush any paper towels lying on the floor before sitting down so that they don’t fall into your pants leg while using the toilet.
When possible, use a single-occupancy restroom
If the line at a public restroom is long, or if you are in an unfamiliar area and cannot find a single-stall restroom, then use the stall closest to the door. The walls of these stalls tend to be less dirty since people have less time to touch them as they pass through. Do not touch anything other than toilet paper when using this stall; try not to touch any surfaces at all.
If possible, use disposable gloves when washing your hands or placing them on wet surfaces like sinks or faucets so that you can keep germs from spreading through your skin even if you don’t make direct contact with them yourself (although this does not prevent transmission via airborne droplets).
Go solo
The most effective way to stay safe in a public bathroom is to go solo. This way, you can avoid using the facilities if they’re occupied by another person. If you have to use a public restroom with someone else, wait outside until they emerge.
If they don’t come out after 10 minutes or so, it’s probably safe for you to enter the stall and make sure everything is clear before proceeding with your business.
Avoid touching anything other than the toilet paper
To avoid spreading germs, you should always keep your hands off of door handles and toilet seats. If you absolutely must touch something other than the toilet paper dispenser, use a paper towel to open the door first or grab another clean one from a dispenser at the entrance. You can also use an alcohol gel or hand sanitizer on your hands before leaving if you feel like they need additional cleaning.
Use soap dispensers
Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly and the easiest way is by using commercial soap dispensers. This is especially important if you’ve used a paper towel to open the door or wipe down surfaces. Those towels are covered in germs from other people’s hands, so this step will help kill off some of those germs on your skin before you touch anything else or go back into the public area of the restroom. Never use regular solid soaps, as they retain bacteria on them.
Washing your hands properly with water and antibacterial soap is the best way to get rid of germs. Make sure that you spend at least 20 seconds scrubbing them thoroughly. And don’t forget about those hard-to-reach places — between your fingers, under your nails and in between your knuckles!
Constantly think about where your hands are, and what they’re touching
Public restrooms are full of germs, so it’s important to be aware of what your hands are touching at all times. The following are touch points that should be avoided:
· Paper towel dispensers and paper towels themselves. These items often rest above the toilet seat and can come into contact with it if you pull them out of their housing.
· The toilet seat itself—don’t touch it! Someone else may have touched it before you (gross). If there’s a lid on the toilet seat, don’t lift it up or put your hands underneath. Just use the seats that belong to you!
· Touching any part of your face while in the bathroom—your hands could have been touching something gross!)
Follow these tips and you’ll be safe!
