Toilets/Restrooms

R

Rose65

Well-known Member
Location
United Kingdom
They matter to me very much, especially in restaurants. You know when you visit a place with a glittering exterior but then when you go to the toilet it is ghastly!
My hairdressers is like that, I always feel relaxed and comfortable, excellent service and attention. But I dread the toilet area as it is so neglected - cobwebs in corners, a toilet that barely flushes, tap produce only cold water and no soap. I don't say anything because I do not know what to say.

I hate the ones at fast food places and supermarkets, often truly horrible. I wonder at how people can leave them like that.

Yet some places have fantastic clean toilets - like a local theatre I recently went to, the ladies loos were immaculate with every tile shining, beautiful handwashes and big lovely clean mirrors. But why are mirrors often so high up - too high to check your hair and face!

Do restrooms matter to you? To me they are vital for hygiene.
 

They do matter very much. Having suffering from problems from digestive issues I learned where there were clean restrooms to and from work. I got lucky the last 7 years I worked it was only about two miles from home. The type of colitis I had is now in remission, it has made my life so much better. I am still aware of the restrooms everywhere I go out of habit but I do not have to be out and about that often.

As we age seems there are so many of us that deal with different types of incontinence or urgency. This is another hidden, ignored problem by the public. I have always allowed older ladies to go before me if there was a line unless I had a desperate need for the facilities. We should always be polite in restrooms and make sure we are looking after each other.
 
Rose65 said:
I hate the ones at fast food places and supermarkets, often truly horrible. I wonder at how people can leave them like that.

Yet some places have fantastic clean toilets - like a local theatre I recently went to, the ladies loos were immaculate with every tile shining, beautiful handwashes and big lovely clean mirrors. But why are mirrors often so high up - too high to check your hair and face!

Do restrooms matter to you? To me they are vital for hygiene.
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It does matter. Growing up without a mother, she died young, my siblings and I quickly learned that if you want a clean lavatory make sure you leave it as you would like to find it.
 

Many public restrooms are in horrendous condition, and I seek one out only if truly desperate. A rudimentary cleaning operation is often necessary even before one begins to use the toilet. I have encountered unspeakable things in public toilets, like soiled and discarded underwear. The distain that many have for even flushing the toilet when done has caused some places to put in “self-flushing” toilets that flush automatically, although these too can be quite disconcerting.- - Oh the horror, the horror! 🚽🙀
 
here in the Uk we've lost many public toilets... instead people have to use toilets in pubs or malls.. or coffee shops, ...not good enough.. and many places like coffee shops put signs up saying.. ''if you're not spending money here then you can't use the loo'' paraphrasing ...and that's understandable, but with council cutbacks, and the public bathrooms one of the first to go.. what are people supposed to do?.. especially the elderly, who are often now staying home because they fear being caught short when they're out..
 
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It's very important. I once entered a restroom (American for "toilets") which was so filthy and disgusting that I turned around and walked out. No way was I going to use it. It was in an otherwise clean-looking restaurant, with a wonderful salad bar, very popular and inviting. But that restroom was worse than anything I've ever seen in a gas station. It made no sense to me.

I've never gone to that restaurant again, and this happened about 10 years ago.
 
There's nothing like walking into a McDonald's bathroom on a busy day. If they were around when Dante was writing, they would be the 6th level of Hell. I have to catharize myself, so I need a clean BR. I don't know what it is with hair stylist places, but the bathrooms haven't been cleaned, or repaired since God was a kid.
 
If I go to a restaurant that has a filthy restroom, it makes me wonder about how clean they keep their kitchen and I won't go back again. I've even mentioned it on the way out the door when someone asks, "How was everything?" I've said, "The restroom is disgusting, and I won't be back because of that."... and out the door I go. I've been in port-a-potty's that have been cleaner than some restrooms. :rolleyes:

I'm happy to say that my hairdressers restroom is pristine. :)
 
I am walker dependent now and I need the extra room of the handicap stall. It never fails recently that when I go into a public restroom that stall is occupied by someone who really doesn't require it. There are always open stalls. Twice its happened that the only stall in use was the HC stall. Both women left without making eye contact or saying a word.
 
Wigglestein said:
It never fails recently that when I go into a public restroom that stall is occupied by someone who really doesn't require it.
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Well mea culpa for that. The handicapped toilet stalls are "accessible" but they are not "reserved" for handicapped people. Ditto if the baby changing table is in that stall, not reserved for people changing babies.
 
The cleanest restroom I’ve ever been in (with the exception of a five star hotel)
is the world’s largest convenience store and gas station. It’s in Texas and soon to be in Tennessee.
It’s called Buc-ee’s.

They have won many awards for their exceptionally clean restrooms. They have a full time attendant in each!
I sound like a commercial 🤣

I have gone several times and the restrooms are immaculate. People traveling the U.S southern states use Buc-ee’s as a great rest stop.
They have a deli and a crazy amount of great food and snacks, basically everything. They really do have the cleanest restrooms!

Well, except for that one five star hotel with the gold swan faucets 😂
 
Yes the condition of a toilet makes a difference to how I feel about the establishment I’m visiting.

There’s a gas station stop on the way to the city and the toilet room is exceptionally clean which I truly appreciate. We don’t always purchase gas but either way, the staff is always polite and respectful towards me.
When leaving I will always acknowledge them and say thank you. From visiting this place, it’s clear that many others use the place strictly for washroom purposes since it’s always busy. To me personally that’s impressive and no matter what time of day, it’s always clean and smells nice. I’m more than happy to give this establishment my business just for that reason alone.

Once while in the city of downtown Toronto I went into a McDonalds to use the washroom and it was beyond disgusting. It clearly hadn’t been cleaned for days and the stench was something awful. Even if I was hungry and liked their food, there’s no way I’d purchase anything from them. I almost put in a complaint to McDonalds head office but didn’t. It wasn’t worth my aggravation and not a place I’d be visiting again anyway.
 
I hate using a bathroom when out, I do carry something that I make at home out of paper to cover the toilet seat before I sit on it. I found out that you can buy the same kind I make.
 
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There's a Albertson's grocery in the next town. They used to have a nice lady's room right next to the Men's room.
Since they went "any gender" both bathrooms are terribly dirty, all the time!
It makes you wonder about the deli and meat dept. Shouldn't everything be clean where there is food?
 
The nastiest restroom ever was when my mom and I drove from Kansas to Santa Fe for a vacation. There was a detour and we got lost. We went hours without seeing anything and then finally a bar.

We had to go badly and it was a one person bathroom. It was also that time of the month. The bathroom was filthy and the sink was laying on the floor. I used it and then asked the bartender if I could buy a bottle of water and paper towels to wash my hands. Unfortunately there wasn’t any soap available.

One of the nastiest experiences of my life. My mom was extremely picky but also had no choice but to use it because we were out in the middle of nowhere.
 
Let's be honest. If a restaurant isn't taking the time to ensure their bathroom is clean and serviceable, then the kitchen isn't going to be great either. It's not like the bathroom isn't part of the overall health of an establishment. Of course, at the like of a MacDonalds.... well let's just say you're dealing with the general public, and the general public these don't seem to care about much.
 
Teacher Terry said:
The nastiest restroom ever was when my mom and I drove from Kansas to Santa Fe for a vacation. There was a detour and we got lost. We went hours without seeing anything and then finally a bar.

We had to go badly and it was a one person bathroom. It was also that time of the month. The bathroom was filthy and the sink was laying on the floor. I used it and then asked the bartender if I could buy a bottle of water and paper towels to wash my hands. Unfortunately there wasn’t any soap available.

One of the nastiest experiences of my life. My mom was extremely picky but also had no choice but to use it because we were out in the middle of nowhere.
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Since it was so nasty and it was out in the middle of nowhere, I think I would have found a bush to go behind! (And have!) ;)
 
Yes they do. We have a gas station in town with stand alone bathrooms. No heat or AC but they are kept very clean. Since this station is off a freeway, I assume they get use as people stop.

Most places keep them decently clean. But that hair dresser place sounds terrible.
 
When a washroom is left defiled by the users, you have to wonder if they think they will never need one again.

Locally, I‘ve learned which ones are acceptable and plan my excursions around these.
 
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