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public loos - sit or crouch?

(225 Posts)
MamaCaz Tue 16-Jun-15 22:01:45

Another thread has set me wondering about this. When I use public loos for a wee, I never sit on the seat, but crouch above it. That's what my mum taught me to do when I was a child because the seats are often dirty, so I've always done it. Do many of you do the same, or do most people sit down?

I should add that on the very rare occasion that I have to use a public toilet for more than a wee, I will cover the seat with toilet paper before sitting. Not easy, as sometimes it flies off onto the floor just as I'm lowering myself onto it!

Is it just me?

bikergran Wed 17-Jun-15 21:30:16

well I just carry my artificial willy with me grin problem solved smile

granjura Wed 17-Jun-15 21:31:41

lol- now I know, I will probably be shot for this, but here goes. I grew up in a countra where public toilets were always very clean ;)

Ana Wed 17-Jun-15 21:37:24

Yes, but you have lived in the UK too, granjura. Did you notice a difference in the standard of hygiene in public toilets?

granjura Wed 17-Jun-15 21:43:55

I value my life too much to continue this conversation ...

(actually I did, loos in the UK in the 70s were dreadful! but they are much much better now ;) I lived in the UK until 2009)

Ana Wed 17-Jun-15 21:46:54

Not sure why you're being so defensive, who's going to threaten your life just because you can't countenance crouching or hovering over a toilet seat granjura?

I was just wondering what growing up in a clean-toilet country had to do with your level of fastidiousness.

Ana Wed 17-Jun-15 21:48:34

And BTW I am one of those who has never hovered and wouldn't be able to now anyway - I actually tried it today in our downstairs loo as an experiment and my knees wouldn't hold out for more than about 10 seconds! grin

granjura Wed 17-Jun-15 21:58:01

I do think that you rather missed the 'lol' and the ;) - I am the least fastidious person I know- and I do not, and am not able to, hover - my point exactly.

So again 'lol' and ';)'

merlotgran Wed 17-Jun-15 22:08:11

When I was nearing the final stages of labour with DS, who was born at home, the midwife said it would help things along if I went to the loo. She stood me up and I assumed she was going to help me to the bathroom. She then shoved a bucket between my legs and said, 'Hover!'

He was born very shortly....funny that. grin

Matella Thu 18-Jun-15 00:25:00

I got my mum some disposable loo seat covers from amazon for Christmas for a joke and she says it was the most useful present ever. She cannot hover any more and used to spend ages covering the seat with loo paper.
I invested in a she-wee after nearly tumbling down a on to a foot path with knickers round ankles when out walking. It is strange at first to wee standng but v practical.

Daisyanswerdo Thu 18-Jun-15 00:36:58

I think the loo paper we had at school was called 'Bronco'. Probably a cheaper version of Izal.

NfkDumpling Thu 18-Jun-15 07:20:02

Oh, gosh yes - Bronco and Izal. - the waterproof stuff! My gran used Izal because she said it was 'medicated'.

downtoearth Thu 18-Jun-15 09:45:10

I wonder when sitting if people coming in to the loo can see my exposed gusset when underwear round my ankles,under the gap in the door.

it is difficult to hover when you have a across the shoulder handbag,it gets in your line of vision when crouching.I do not like placing my bag on the floor for several reasons,I expect a hand under gap in door to appear and snatch and I will be unable to give chase with knickers round ankles,and secondly any spillage and my bag will go straight in it,I read somewhere that the bottom of your handbag (outside) has as many germs picked up from such places....there aren't always hooks on doors to hang them..don't get me started on when wearing a bulky winter coat and disrobing becomes necessary,and throw into the mix if you are unfortunate to have a faulty lock on the mid crouch handbag round neck,thick overcoat and the door opens as someone wants to share your space....game over ..

Lilygran Thu 18-Jun-15 10:12:33

downtoearth grin perfect description!

janerowena Thu 18-Jun-15 10:40:49

When I broke my ankle last year, I was so pleased to have the use of a stick until fairly recently. I really miss it, I was able to sit in the loos with broken locks that no-one else could use, and push the door shut with my stick whilst hanging my bag on it! Not idea obviously, but I quite miss that stick now when I enter a broken run-down ladies - and they do still exist. You can always tell when a restaurant chain isn't doing all that well, the loos really suffer.

granjura Thu 18-Jun-15 15:12:50

This thread is so funny (sorry, apart from the broken ankle). Matella, it helps if you stop walking before you pee ;)

MamaCaz Thu 18-Jun-15 15:53:40

Going back to who's responsible for wet seats, I would have thought that both sitters and hoverers might occasionally 'sprinkle' the seat while getting into position if their bladder control isn't what it used to be!
Or is that just me?blush

I bet that a few grandads here on Gransnet are finding this thread quite educational grin

jinglbellsfrocks Thu 18-Jun-15 15:56:40

I can't do the Shewee thing. Well, it works fine at home in the bathroom. Get behind a hedge and - wet trousers. hmm

jinglbellsfrocks Thu 18-Jun-15 15:59:39

When crouching in the great outdoors, you do have to know which side your aim veers towards. To avoid a wet shoe. And don't think many women, after several births, pee straight downwards.

jinglbellsfrocks Thu 18-Jun-15 16:00:14

I don't. Not 'and'

MamaCaz Thu 18-Jun-15 16:07:23

How true. Jingle grin

MamaCaz Thu 18-Jun-15 16:11:08

Actually, I don't think I ever did. Even when I was expecting my first, I used to end up with a wet hand when trying to pee into the small marg-sized container they provided at the pre-natal visits for a urine specimen. I was lucky if there was enough in it when I'd done!

downtoearth Thu 18-Jun-15 16:23:22

when outside should one not take in wind velocity and direction,and would one abandon ones umbrella at same time grin

downtoearth Thu 18-Jun-15 16:24:54

Does the queen have a favourite position I wonder..or perhaps a sheweehmm

MamaCaz Thu 18-Jun-15 16:46:36

I wonder - but doesn't she take her own toilet seat with her when she travels? I seem to remember reading or hearing that Charles does, anyway.

I wonder if she's on Gransnet. She might even have contributed to this thread already. Come to think of it, who was it that referred to 'Game of Thrones'? grin

Elegran Thu 18-Jun-15 17:09:32

I believe it has been debunked that Charles does - one of those meeja myths that won't die. Toilets are regularly redecorated and renovated where royalty is likely to go for a royal wee, and out-of-bounds to everyone else once they have been titivated up, so they don't neeed to take their own.