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public loos - sit or crouch?

(224 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?

aggie Tue 16-Jun-15 22:07:45

better idea is to swab seat with a wipe and sit down , not good for your tubes to be kinked when you wee

Ana Tue 16-Jun-15 22:08:54

Blimey, I've never even thought about it and I doubt my knees would hold up enough for a 'crouch'!

What on earth do you think your bum's going to catch from a toilet seat...? confused

Mishap Tue 16-Jun-15 22:09:10

It's crouching over the seat that causes the dirty seats as the aim is problematical!

jinglbellsfrocks Tue 16-Jun-15 22:09:47

It's the hoverers that sprinkle on the seat. Plonk yer bum down. hmm

Mishap Tue 16-Jun-15 22:14:13

x posts!

posie Tue 16-Jun-15 22:14:17

Another croucher here, smile

merlotgran Tue 16-Jun-15 22:15:51

If I tried to crouch I'd wee all over the floor. hmm

Ana Tue 16-Jun-15 22:20:09

"It's no use standing on the seat
The crabs in here can jump ten feet!"

(often seen scrawled on school toilet walls! grin)

Lona Tue 16-Jun-15 22:26:16

I don't hover, but I've always understood that it's better for your bowel function to be in a crouched position.

AshTree Tue 16-Jun-15 22:26:31

It's far more bovver with a hover. I simply cannot wee like that, it all just seizes up. Keep a pack of wet wipes in your handbag, that does the trick grin

Ana Tue 16-Jun-15 22:28:52

But how can you crouch over a standard-sized toilet? Unless you're a giant? hmm

Nelliemoser Tue 16-Jun-15 22:40:21

I can pee standing up (accurately aimed) over a toilet bowl (but not if it is a high seated disabled one) I can still crouch down quite easily as I have I done that for years now as any bending twinges my back.

Ana Tue 16-Jun-15 22:48:24

How weird! I've never known anyone who does that.

And no one has yet said what they think they might 'catch' from a public toilet seat...hmm

Soutra Tue 16-Jun-15 23:13:26

DO NOT FLUSH WIPES DOWN THE LOO!!
They do not dissolve and have been a fundamental factor in the creation of fatbergs in our sewers. So as I cannot imagine anybody wiping a loo seat then putting the wipe back in their handbag or pocket, the suggestion of using a wipe on the seat is not recommended.
I go along with the "plonk yer bum down" school of lavatorial thought.

AshTree Wed 17-Jun-15 00:04:05

Did I say it flush the wipes? It happens that I am as well informs as you Soutra. They go in the sanibin.

AshTree Wed 17-Jun-15 00:05:55

I, not it. And happened, not happens. Stupid phone!

AshTree Wed 17-Jun-15 00:06:56

Time for bed I think - correcting the wrong word grin

Grannyknot Wed 17-Jun-15 07:12:51

This thread reminds me of the Frank Zappa lyrics ..."I got it from the toilet seat, it jumped right up and it grabbed my meat" grin

There is no way I could crouch on a toilet seat, it would be more like drunken swaying and clutching at the walls. And then my knees would lock and I wouldn't be able to get up.

I do check out each cubicle until I find one that I think passes the 'wrinkle your nose at it' test ...

So far, so good!

kittylester Wed 17-Jun-15 07:15:37

Well, my mum said that you can catch awful diseases off toilet seats! I also heard that you can even get pregnant! shock

Most public toilets are really clean now compared with the ones my mum was talking about so I sit - I never even think about not!

NfkDumpling Wed 17-Jun-15 07:22:53

I have occasionally, having desperate need, had to use a really revolting loo and yes then I do go back to mum's instruction to hover. But I agree with Kitty most loos (in the UK) are much, much cleaner than in our youth.

(And not only can you get pregnant from a loo seat, you can also get piles. I know this to be true - my gran told me and she was always right)

Falconbird Wed 17-Jun-15 07:59:07

I went into a public loo sometime ago. I was busy thinking about something else and suddenly realised I was sitting on someone else's wee - ghastly. shock shock

I'm now very careful and look all over the loo seat before sitting down.

soontobe Wed 17-Jun-15 08:05:33

Not just you MamaCaz.
So everyone happy to sit on someone elses' wee? No thanks. I dont do that in my own house. I am not going to do it somewhere else.

NanKate Wed 17-Jun-15 08:11:39

I do envy my dear 4 year old GS who finds an appropriate tree pulls down his shorts and aims as high as he can. His dad used to do the same. smile

A couple of years ago DH and I (or is it me !) were in a wood when the call of nature came. DH suggested I went behind a large tree. I had forgotten how tricky outdoor weeing was and somehow wet my knickers. hmm

Falconbird Wed 17-Jun-15 08:22:54

My auntie was adept at outdoor weeing. Unfortunately I can't do it now because I've got a bad back and can't crouch down without pulling a muscle. What to do? Just have to hold on until I find a loo. My mother could wee standing up in the days of dresses, I used to be impressed.