A Germaphobe’s Guide To Public Restrooms

Wash And Dry Your Hands

Many public restrooms have automatic water and soap dispensers, but there are still restrooms that do not. If the public restroom you are using does not have an automatic water and soap dispenser, use a paper towel to turn on and off the faucet. It is not unlikely that the handle of the sink might have traces of human fecal matter. If your hands have traces of human waste, you need to ensure that your hands are scrubbed and thoroughly sanitized. Many illnesses and deaths are associated with poor hand washing practices. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that over a million deaths per year caused by infections and disease associated with improper hand-washing could be prevented.

Exit The Public Restroom

As you prepare to exit the public restroom, grab a paper towel and open the exit door with it. If no paper towels are available and direct contact with the exit door handle is unavoidable, upon exiting the public restroom, use the hand sanitizer that you wisely travel with inside your bag. Use these tips for a more hygienic public restroom experience. Remember that to help avoid using the public restroom, use the restroom at home before going out as often as possible. When using the public restroom, remember to do your best to not touch any surfaces directly, close the lid of the toilet, flush with your foot or toilet paper and back away quickly, use paper to turn on and off faucets that are not automatic, and to exit the public restroom. Lastly, to stay healthy and clean remember your ABC’s: Always Be Cleaning (your hands).