Toilet Tips for Those Who Fear the Flush

To pee or not to pee? Thanks to the pandemic, that is the question on the minds of many Americans when nature calls in a public place.

A brand new survey reveals how Americans are changing their habits to avoid public restrooms during the pandemic.

  • Nearly half (46 percent) are using public restrooms less than they did before the pandemic due to safety concerns.
  • 1 out of 3 have left a public restroom without using it due to a lack of cleanliness. 
  • 15 percent say they held their breath when using a public restroom to potentially avoid breathing in germs.

The hygiene heroes of Enviro-Master put together an important checklist so travelers and other people who are out and about can protect themselves if a communal commode is the only option.

Public Restroom Safety Tips 

  • Look for a sign or certificate that shows the restroom has been disinfected and treated electrostatically with hospital-grade germicide. 
  • Be prepared. Bring disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer in the restroom with you in case the facility is not well taken care of.
  • Wear a face mask to reduce the chance of particles in the air coming in contact with the mucus membranes in your mouth and nose — which can be an entryway for disease into the body.
  • Touch as little as possible in public restrooms, including your face.
  • Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.
  • Skip the hand dryer. Use paper towels, if possible. It may be a good idea to travel with a small pack of hand towels in case none are available.  Research shows that air hand dryers can harbor germs and blow them back on your hands. 
  • Know this: Hand towels laid out on a counter (rather than pulled out of a covered dispenser) are exposed to all the germy particles floating around in the restroom, too. 
  • Smear on hand sanitizer once you leave the restroom.
  • Get in and get out quickly. We still do not know how long we need to be exposed to the virus to become infected. Reducing your time in an enclosed space like a restroom can reduce your risk of getting sick. 

The Restroom Renegades 

Hygiene heroes at Enviro-Master have been ridding restrooms of dangerous germs and bacteria for the past ten years. They even use a gun the company calls the Virus Vaporizer to spray a hospital-grade germicide that knocks disease-causing germs inside a public bathroom. Check out this video of the gun in action. 

Author Profile

The Editorial Team at Lake Oconee Health is made up of skilled health and wellness writers and experts, led by Daniel Casciato who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We aim to provide our readers with valuable insights and guidance to help them lead healthier and happier lives.