Public toilets

I have horrifying memories of these Pits of Hell from long ago.

I would never go near one, nowadays, even if I was offered the Crown Jewels.

I stay clear as much as I can.
But I would say generally, they are better than they used to be. Locally anyway.

loo roll - I always imagine kids.
Better than other things imagined.

I have a physical problem which means I need the loo fairly urgently sometimes! Can’t win

Well you’re very lucky you don’t need to go near a public loo then Crumbly
I use public toilets and many are looked after fine, in fact very well, some aren’t, but that’s how life is unfortunately.
But I would never turn my nose up at a public loo they have come to my rescue more than once

Some people swathe the loo seat with paper before sitting on it.Presumably for hygiene reasons, then if any of it falls on the floor when they stand up, they leave it there because it would be unhygienic to pick it up because it might be contaminated by anything that may have dripped on the floor and dried from other people, and they are afraid of touching it.

I was brought up never to make contact with the seat in a public loo, but just hover squat above it. But in my childhood, there was no soft tissue and Bronco would never have stayed on the loo seat. It would just have slipped off.

Some of the worst public toilets I have come across have been in hospitals!

I very often have to use one when on holiday or out for the day my bladder is not that brilliant. They vary on cleanliness but most are fine. I have never put paper on the seat or hovered above it unless they are the cold stainless steel type and have managed to get to this age without any adverse effects. Has anybody actually caught anything from a public toilet seat ? Probably not

People must report disgusting public toilets. My late Mum needed to use them a lot and many were dreadful. I always reported them and usually sent photos.

All those I reported locally have now been renovated and are very much better. It has taken a long time but I consider that a good result.

I think the main problem is not instructing cleaners into how to do a thorough job. When you go to places like Spain, Croatia and Portugal toilets are absolutely spotless. In Croatia they have ladies sitting at the door and you drop a few coins in their basket and they ensure the minute you leave the seat is washed down, the floor mopped over and toilet rolls, soap etc is replenished ready for the next person.

I haven't seen any decent graffiti for ages. The last I remember was written along the bottom of the door above the gap: Beware of limbo dancers

The ones around here have all been closed by the council!

ViceVersa

The ones around here have all been closed by the council!

So where do people go?

I do know (and was surprised to learn) that councils do not have a responsibility to provide public toilets although most do.

People use cafe or McDonalds loos if caught short some pubs too it’s really not good enough.

Greyduster

Some of the worst public toilets I have come across have been in hospitals!

Oh goodness, yes, me too.

I had the misfortune to spend 3 months in a hospital in Gloucestershire in a surgical ward mainly housing patients who'd had abdominal surgery.

I cannot describe the state of the patients' toilets, it was absolutely awful.

Unfortunately, the cleaning staff were only available at set times so it was left to the nurses - who were virtually always running with one or two nurses short - to maintain the toilets. There were occasions when it was almost impossible to set foot in them because of the numerous 'samples' lying around on the floor...

My OH used to bring me a constant supply of antibacterial wipes for the cleaning-sessions that were needed on most visits.

Never have I been so happy to get home to my own bathroom which my partner had kept pristine in my absence...

I’ve never been in a decent public toilet. They are all disgusting.
I use cafes, pubs or restaurants if need be. They won’t deny you.

Primrose53

ViceVersa

The ones around here have all been closed by the council!

So where do people go?

I do know (and was surprised to learn) that councils do not have a responsibility to provide public toilets although most do.

I do know (and was surprised to learn) that councils do not have a responsibility to provide public toilets although most do.

That surprised me, too Primrose53.

Because it's an 'optional' service, no surprise to learn that "widespread closures and reductions accelerated sharply after 2010 due to severe budget cuts and austerity measures."

I live in a small Cotswold tourist town - there used to be a public toilet on the main thoroughfare - close to all the shops, pubs and restaurants. Much used.

It's now been converted to a 'bijou' house and was snapped up almost the moment it came on the market...

The abundant flower-beds along the main street have also been abandoned, too. And the road and pavements are hardly ever swept. The town now looks decidedly shabby.

However, we do the best we can as a community to tidy, clean and maintain the flower-beds.

When tourists ask where they can find public toilets - we direct them to the nearest pub - or the nearest public toilet, which as a good 20 minutes walk away - or much longer if you are not fleet of foot...

Our church toilets are always spotless, however when I go to check after Mass, I am shocked at the state, in which a few individuals leave them. I have an idea, who it is, but obviously can"t say anything.
Of course, I find myself cleaning up.

There is one parishioner in particular, who every Saturday, leaves the disabled toilet in a mess, often not flushing.
I am aware that there are hidden disabilities, my DIL has a stoma and I have RA and also diverticulitis.
However, I do not urinate on the floor, leave sodden toilet paper on the floor, and faeces for others to clean up after Mass.
It is disgusting.

On a positive note, the toilets at Silverburn Mall are always spotless.

One thing that is good about Australia is that 99% of public toilets are very clean. Not the case in many of our nearby countries ! Exceptions are the bush drops but not much can be done without water.

I hate the toilet paper on the floor, usually in a puddle of water - well I tell myself is water 😬
We tend to avoid public loos and go in a cafe or pub, pay for a cuppa or soft drink and use the facilities.
I also hate sinks in public loos where there is also loo paper resting in water around the sinks. What is that all about??

I live on London and there are no public loos where I live. I go to the nearest shopping centre but I feel sorry for the cleaners as they have a thankless task s some people are so filthy.

Many years ago I was on a bus trip, I had chicken for lunch. Just made it to the loo and the results went everywhere, up the walls etc. I felt so ill, was so embarrassed and have never forgotten it. God help the cleaner.

My friend brought me back a box of disposable loo seat covers from the USA as she knows how anal I am about public loos, (no pun intended).
I’ve never seen them here.
Worst toilets I have ever been in was Debenhams in Manchester. Just disgusting I complained.
I don’t know why some woman would wipe faeces up the walls.
I always use tissue to open all the doors & dry my hands as there is more bacteria coming out of those hand dryers, than using a paper towel.
Also for the hoverers, my urologist said it’s the worse way to have a wee & to stop doing it as it doesn’t empty the bladder properly.

I really don't like public toilets but when you really have to go, any toilet is a good one!

MT62

My friend brought me back a box of disposable loo seat covers from the USA as she knows how anal I am about public loos, (no pun intended).
I’ve never seen them here.
Worst toilets I have ever been in was Debenhams in Manchester. Just disgusting I complained.
I don’t know why some woman would wipe faeces up the walls.
I always use tissue to open all the doors & dry my hands as there is more bacteria coming out of those hand dryers, than using a paper towel.
Also for the hoverers, my urologist said it’s the worse way to have a wee & to stop doing it as it doesn’t empty the bladder properly.

To the amusement of my grandchildren when they were younger, I would drape sheets of loo paper over the seat before anyone sat on it.

I clean toilets and it's a demeaning job and should be better paid in my opinion. If cleaners have to go and clean faeces off walls they need to be paid at least £25 an hour then they can feel valued .

Primrose53

ViceVersa

The ones around here have all been closed by the council!

So where do people go?

I do know (and was surprised to learn) that councils do not have a responsibility to provide public toilets although most do.

Good question - I'm guessing they just pop into the nearest cafe/bar/restaurant or supermarket and use the ones there? I mean, don't get wrong, they were pretty grotty public loos even when they were open, but it was better than nothing.