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It’s completely valid if public bathrooms give you the ick—they definitely carry their fair share of germs and can seem like a necessary evil when you’re traveling or otherwise on the go. In this article, we’ve outlined some of the best tricks and trips to help you use a public restroom as hygienically as possible.
Things You Should Know
- Use a clean-looking business’s restroom when possible, rather than using a busier, more germ-infested one (like an airport’s).
- Pick the bathroom stall that’s closest to the door, since it may be a little less germy than the other stalls.
- Wash your hands thoroughly after using the restroom and do your best not to touch anything during your visit.
Steps
Expert Q&A
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QuestionWould it be better to use a germicide to clean my hands?Dr. Chris M. Matsko is a retired physician based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With over 25 years of medical research experience, Dr. Matsko was awarded the Pittsburgh Cornell University Leadership Award for Excellence. He holds a BS in Nutritional Science from Cornell University and an MD from the Temple University School of Medicine in 2007. Dr. Matsko earned a Research Writing Certification from the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) in 2016 and a Medical Writing & Editing Certification from the University of Chicago in 2017.You can use a Purell gel afterward to kill the bacteria and sanitize your hands.
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QuestionWhat if the back stalls are clean and I use one?Dr. Chris M. Matsko is a retired physician based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With over 25 years of medical research experience, Dr. Matsko was awarded the Pittsburgh Cornell University Leadership Award for Excellence. He holds a BS in Nutritional Science from Cornell University and an MD from the Temple University School of Medicine in 2007. Dr. Matsko earned a Research Writing Certification from the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) in 2016 and a Medical Writing & Editing Certification from the University of Chicago in 2017.We recommend using the first stall; however, if the back stalls are cleaner then by all means use them instead.
Tips
- Keep a face mask on hand in case the bathroom smells a little funky. In a worst-case scenario, stuff your nose beneath the neckline of your shirt or breathe into your elbow (like you’re about to sneeze).Thanks
References
- ↑ https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0028132
- ↑ https://www.bhg.com.au/how-to-pick-the-cleanest-stall-in-a-public-toilet
- ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-bacterial-horror-of-the-hot-air-hand-dryer-2018051113823
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/the-dirty-truth-about-hand-dryers
- ↑ https://www.transgendermap.com/social/safety/
About This Article
To safely use a public bathroom, try picking the first stall, since the middle and last stalls tend to be more popular and often have more bacteria and germs. Once you choose a stall, avoid putting your belongings on the floor, since this is one of the dirtiest places in the bathroom. When you’re done using the bathroom, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and hot water for at least 20 seconds to get rid of any bacteria you may have picked up. Then, thoroughly dry them with a paper towel or air dryer. As you leave the bathroom, if you can, use your elbow to open the door so you don’t pick up any more germs. To learn how to find the cleanest public bathrooms, read more from our Medical co-author.
