Door handles in public toilets

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We all have had to use a public toilet (restroom) at some time or other and have probably come across an example like the one in the film Trainspotting aptly named 'The worst toilet in Scotland'.

However in this article I hope to show you that even in the cleanest public loo there is a serious design flaw that even if it isn't a health risk, is guaranteed to turn your stomach if you think about it too much.

Doors usually open into a room and this feels right and has always been the way. For example you walk into your house through the front door and you generally open a door and walk into your bedroom.

The door on your toilet quite often swings inwards as well, although this is not always the case as my one has to be opened and that brings me right to the point that I am trying to make. How many times have you used a toilet in somewhere such as a pub or restaurant and observed someone else walk straight out after doing their business without stopping to wash their hands?

I can't speak for female toilets, but this happens quite regularly in male toilets and especially in the toilets that are in pubs. What bothers me most though is that the doors to these toilets are quite often of the type that you have to push to go in and then pull with a handle to leave. This doesn't make much sense to me as it means you have to use the same handle that someone who may not have washed their hands has just used.

Toilet door handles should be on the opposite side

Wouldn't it make much more sense to have toilet doors work in such a way that you could pull a handle to go in and then push the door to exit, thus avoiding contact with door handles?

I'm not sure how feasible this would be and I suspect there is a good reason why things are the way that they are but it's just something that really bothers me.

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Good point, but hands spread germs more readily than clothing. Shake hands, touch door handles, objects etc. Your're clothes are generally only touched by you. I guess you could re-infect yourself if you were to then fondle your clothing after washing your hands. OMG, this is getting ridiculous. So you see. We really should all walk around naked, and that's a more scary thought than the germs.

Mosey 14-May-2009 11:11

What always strikes me is that to be really hygenic the wash basin would have to be inside the loo!

Think about it; you "adjust your clothing" while inside the cubicle, so any germs on your hands end up on your clothes before you even get a chance to wash your hands!

grumpyoldwoman 14-May-2009 10:36

You don't need to be obsessively scared of germs to realise some basic sense of hygeine. Washing one's hands after wiping one's backside is a very basic hygeine routine that everyone should have done their entire lives from the age of about 3 upwards. I find it shocking there are people out there who don't do it. I blame the parents.

Hygeine Fan 14-May-2009 09:14

I completly agree with you!!! I have Mysophobia (which is the fear of germs) and I will wait in the toilets until someone else opens it to go out or until someone else comes into the toilet so I dont have to touch the door handle. And I wont go anywhere with out hand sanitizer!!! It makes me cringe when people leave the toilet without washing there hands and I find it disgusting!!! What makes them think that they can spread there germs to everyone else. My fear of germs has become so bad that it has rubbed off onto my little sister but she is no where near as bad as I am.

stephanie 13-May-2009 18:24

Kirkus, apparently the germs in excrement very easily penetrate several layers of toilet tissue anyway. Unless you wash your hands properly you're spreading them around. I've seen people walk out of the toilet without washing hands before.

Simon 03-May-2009 00:05

I will never be fond of thin toilet paper. Excuse me, but I have to wipe some hazardous waste with that and if I can see my hand behind one sheet, then it's as if I'm cradling my own feces. Ew. Repulsive. Frightening. Vile.
Meanwhile, I agree with you on toilet doors. I, myself, use my foot sometimes (only in really grimy bathrooms) to turn the handle in order to flush the toilet.

Kirkus 02-May-2009 20:25

Are you all OCD about washing your hands? Seriously get a grip (of the toilet door handle) carry some spray with you and disinfect it if you feel you must, or wipes or something, do you know how many germs and bacteria grow on everything we touch?

Ex handwasher 13-Feb-2009 19:04

Just open the door through your sleeve when entering or leaving wc, this will ensure some protection from bacteria or germs.

Lij 12-Jan-2009 10:54

My home grown patented invention is the answer to all your problems. - A rotating public toilet door handle with provision for two aerosol spray canisters within a chamber which releases air-freshener into the restroom, whilst simultaneously sanitizing and deodorizing the handle. In pulling the handle towards you, the system is activated by the rotation and in so doing, leaves the handle germ free for the next individual and so the cycle continues.

The intention behind the invention, is not to have existing handles removed altogether, but to provide the general public withn a choice should they prefer to grasp a germ free handle when exiting a public convenience rest room.

Basically, (as I'm a one-man-show active pensioner) what I would like to do is form a working relationship with a bathroom accessory manufacturer of note, that would be interested in refining, further developing and manufacturing my product (****** *******) to it's full potential and worthiness in the market place. Interested (only if you're trustworthy and genuine) please contact me on wainman@mweb.co.za

SunRayStar 01-Sep-2008 12:43

hey guys do you know how many germs are on a publiic toilet seat?(not the really nasty ones just regular public toilets)

toiletman 26-Sep-2007 00:39

This is totally dicusting but soo true. I just saw my crush and I told him about it. He was totally grossed out but he asked me out. I go to jwj and I live in Jacksonville Florida.

sweet 'n' low 11-Sep-2007 15:38

What type of germs can you catch from not washing your hands? I have to do a poster on it for school and I have no idea! It's for tomorrow and all I can think about is samanela! Help me please!

R 02-Sep-2007 12:40

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Door handles in public toilets

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