wet – ewwwww!  It’s the worst.  So check that seat and either opt for another stall or make a big wad of paper and wipe it off before             you sit.  Or better yet, carry those disposable seat covers with you!

• Don’t use the air dryers!  A friend I know who works in industrial décor says those air dryers just circulate bacteria in the bathroom and they’re not good to use.  So opt for paper towels.  But if those aren’t available, shake your hands to dry them!

• Use your purse handles!  If the door to a stall won’t shut, you can hang your bag on the corner of the door and wedge it shut with your purse straps.  It works!

• Don’t get in a hurry!  Sometimes, we feel we must hurry because someone is waiting on us to use the stall, or because we have to get to the next event. Hurrying while using the bathroom can end up in bladder infections when we don’t empty our bladders completely. Sigh, rest, and finish…til the job is done.

• Don’t use your phone! Nothing’s worse than delaying because you’re talking to someone instead of doing your business.  That person can surely wait a few minutes.  And it’s rude to take up time talking, and really awkward to have people listening in on your conversation!

• Phone in bag!  I carry my phone in my back pocket of my jeans or shorts, often.  However, I have to remember to remove it before using the bathroom or it might end up in the toilet (yes, this has happened!)  It’s better when I remove my phone and place in my bag before I sit down. 

• Be observant!  If there’s a crowd, don’t stand in front of the mirror styling your hair or applying your lip gloss.  No one should have to wait to wash their hands because we’re trying to look prettier, should they?

• Watch your back!  If you’re wearing a long cardi or have something hanging off your backside from your clothing, grab it and pull it around front before you sit – to avoid exiting the bathroom with toilet water on your outfit (again, ewww!)

• Check before you sit!  This is a no-brainer, but sometimes we forget to see if there’s actually toilet paper on the roll before we go.  That’s a total disaster and awkward to ask a stranger next door to “hand” you some.  And nasty, too.

 

There are some things we hopefully have learned as an adult, but often we get lazy or don’t consider others or let down our guard when it comes to staying safe and clean and healthy.  Bathrooms that aren’t cleaned regularly are not appealing at all, but there are some things we can do to help us all…and prevent ourselves from leaving with drips and feeling dirtier than when we stepped inside.