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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To wish this about toilets when your out?

66 replies

Netcurtainnelly · 15/09/2025 14:36

Fed up of toilets stinking when your out.
Everywhere like library toilets, airport toilets, shop toilets. public toilets, station toilets it absolutely stinks.

Sometimes it makes you gag.
Why aren't there any air freshners in toilets that intermitentely pump out a nice fragrance.

Also it could be triggered when people use the toilet.
After all we usually open the window and spray round when using the toilet when we are at home.
Shouldn't it be the same when you use the toilet out?
🙄😪

OP posts:
Netcurtainnelly · 15/09/2025 16:58

HeartbrokenCatMum · 15/09/2025 16:23

The only public toilets I know that are nice are the ones that are constantly staffed. In Leeds market eg there is a woman in there constantly spraying with nice disinfectant, air freshener, wiping, mopping, topping up loo roll.

That's nice, I know one like that too. It won awards.
Recently moros yried to vandalise it.

OP posts:
Netcurtainnelly · 15/09/2025 16:56

NoelFurlong · 15/09/2025 14:52

I don’t use public toilets, but air fresheners smell revolting and wouldn’t be appropriate as some people can react to them.

I find them more offensive than the smells they’re meant to mask.

No way really????

I can't see how a lovely scent even if mild, can't smell better than shit.

Do you not like perfume either?

OP posts:
CatamaranViper · 15/09/2025 16:52

Airfreshners set off my eczema around my eyes, ears and mouth so please lets not install these everywhere as I quite enjoy being able to see, hear and eat.

I agree with PP who said people need to stop hovering over the loo seat. I HATE accidentally sitting in someone else's piss or seeing drops of it all over the floor. Just sit and wipe people!!!

CoffeeCantata · 15/09/2025 16:29

Netcurtainnelly · 15/09/2025 14:48

Instead of fragrance, how about odour-neutralising technology (e.g., activated carbon, ozone-free ionisers, or natural filters).
There must be a way round it.

Sounds expensive!

And, being realistic, if the toilets often lack basics like paper, I don’t think there’s much hope for fancy stuff like this.

Ventilation is the way to go even if it means being cold.

Whatwouldnanado · 15/09/2025 16:28

Air freshener things make me wheeze. Decent extractor fans please.
I would also like more public loos to have the dryers above the sink not across the room to avoid the trail of dribbled water on the floor.

Harrysmummy246 · 15/09/2025 16:26

Netcurtainnelly · 15/09/2025 14:36

Fed up of toilets stinking when your out.
Everywhere like library toilets, airport toilets, shop toilets. public toilets, station toilets it absolutely stinks.

Sometimes it makes you gag.
Why aren't there any air freshners in toilets that intermitentely pump out a nice fragrance.

Also it could be triggered when people use the toilet.
After all we usually open the window and spray round when using the toilet when we are at home.
Shouldn't it be the same when you use the toilet out?
🙄😪

There usually are air fresheners, they're fake and not pleasant for many people.

FuzzyWolf · 15/09/2025 16:25

I have an autistic child who is triggered by air fresheners.

HeartbrokenCatMum · 15/09/2025 16:23

The only public toilets I know that are nice are the ones that are constantly staffed. In Leeds market eg there is a woman in there constantly spraying with nice disinfectant, air freshener, wiping, mopping, topping up loo roll.

SushiForMe · 15/09/2025 15:51

Netcurtainnelly · 15/09/2025 15:32

Where do you work lol.

Haha office in the city.
Someone said about the air freshener smell, actually it doesn’t smell of anything, you can just hear the sound when it triggers. Still chemicals I guess.

Netcurtainnelly · 15/09/2025 15:49

BauhausOfEliott · 15/09/2025 15:42

That's expensive to install and maintain.

It's a toilet being used by multiple people. It's going to smell of shit sometimes, and your shit smells just as bad as anyone else's, so you need to accept that sometimes a toilet won't smell like roses and moonbeams.

I never said mine didn't lol.
There's always room for improvement and new ideas though.

OP posts:
CoubousAndTourmaIet · 15/09/2025 15:46

SushiForMe · 15/09/2025 15:17

I have that at work, air freshener that auto triggers at regular time intervals.

Best loos I have ever had at work, if I might add, in addition to the air freshener we have in every cubicle a seat cover dispenser and an antibac wipes dispenser. Single sex. Oh and the cleaner seem to be there every 2h so spotless clean, soap never empty etc. Sorry for the bragging post 😂

When my husband worked in an office he had to get changed and showered before coming near me because of these auto trigger air fresheners in the loos. As soon as he walked through the door, the house stunk. Thankfully he now works from home.

As a sufferer of severe asthma and chronic migraine, I can't even go shopping any more because everywhere stinks of artificial fragrance. I wish it was more widely known how hazardous these chemical cocktails are to people with lung conditions or neurological illnesses.

StrawberrySquash · 15/09/2025 15:42

Tortielady · 15/09/2025 15:16

This. More Changing Places for the many people with high levels of need and more dedicated disabled loos as opposed to those that have to double up with baby change facilities. I detest being in contention with babies for something we both need - how ignominious! And more loos generally - proper loos with proper doors and not those space-age things that are timed to open after say, 15 minutes while you're sitting there in all your glory 😳

Spending a penny shouldn't be an ordeal, but it too often is.

Edited

Does the sharing not mean there are more places that get a disabled loo and baby change? Doubling up adds efficiency which makes the bar to justify one lower. Obviously in a busy place there should be extra provision, but in quieter places it can make sense.

BauhausOfEliott · 15/09/2025 15:42

Netcurtainnelly · 15/09/2025 14:48

Instead of fragrance, how about odour-neutralising technology (e.g., activated carbon, ozone-free ionisers, or natural filters).
There must be a way round it.

That's expensive to install and maintain.

It's a toilet being used by multiple people. It's going to smell of shit sometimes, and your shit smells just as bad as anyone else's, so you need to accept that sometimes a toilet won't smell like roses and moonbeams.

ilovesooty · 15/09/2025 15:41

dailyconniptions · 15/09/2025 15:01

Yanbu. They are gross.
Yabvvvvu to spell you're (you are) as your.

Do you feel better for nitpicking at someone's SPAG?

Catwalking · 15/09/2025 15:39

LuckyShark · 15/09/2025 14:51

I just wish EVERYONE would sit the fuck DOWN on the seat

Then the pee would go in the bowl where it is meant to go. No mess, no splashing, pleasant for every user.

There are no diseases on toilet seats.

STOP HOVERING!

Nah thanx,
I’m for wiping down the whole seat to get rid of last users sweat streaks!
& always sit on my hands too for extra safety 🤨.

AllrightNowBaby · 15/09/2025 15:37

Supermarket toilets are always immaculate and don’t smell bad.
They’re the main ones I go to though, so can’t comment on many others.

Netcurtainnelly · 15/09/2025 15:32

SushiForMe · 15/09/2025 15:17

I have that at work, air freshener that auto triggers at regular time intervals.

Best loos I have ever had at work, if I might add, in addition to the air freshener we have in every cubicle a seat cover dispenser and an antibac wipes dispenser. Single sex. Oh and the cleaner seem to be there every 2h so spotless clean, soap never empty etc. Sorry for the bragging post 😂

Where do you work lol.

OP posts:
SingingintheRadiator · 15/09/2025 15:25

hairyunicorn · 15/09/2025 15:20

My work has one of the auto air fresheners in the toilets, makes them smell like floral shit!

Came to say this. It doesn’t work, the two just mingle together into an even more disgusting dig. Maybe some kind of extractor fan would be better?

hairyunicorn · 15/09/2025 15:20

My work has one of the auto air fresheners in the toilets, makes them smell like floral shit!

GleisZwei · 15/09/2025 15:18

Toilets should always have opening windows or a good extractor fan. Air Freshener just masks the smell imho and can make it more sickly.

SushiForMe · 15/09/2025 15:17

I have that at work, air freshener that auto triggers at regular time intervals.

Best loos I have ever had at work, if I might add, in addition to the air freshener we have in every cubicle a seat cover dispenser and an antibac wipes dispenser. Single sex. Oh and the cleaner seem to be there every 2h so spotless clean, soap never empty etc. Sorry for the bragging post 😂

Tortielady · 15/09/2025 15:16

Seawolves · 15/09/2025 14:54

I just wish there were more Changing Places so those who need them could have personal care in a timely manner in a warm, safe environment.

This. More Changing Places for the many people with high levels of need and more dedicated disabled loos as opposed to those that have to double up with baby change facilities. I detest being in contention with babies for something we both need - how ignominious! And more loos generally - proper loos with proper doors and not those space-age things that are timed to open after say, 15 minutes while you're sitting there in all your glory 😳

Spending a penny shouldn't be an ordeal, but it too often is.

dailyconniptions · 15/09/2025 15:01

Yanbu. They are gross.
Yabvvvvu to spell you're (you are) as your.

Seawolves · 15/09/2025 14:54

I just wish there were more Changing Places so those who need them could have personal care in a timely manner in a warm, safe environment.

SusanChurchouse · 15/09/2025 14:53

I’m just glad to be past the stage of using baby changing facilities as the smell of nappy bins made me hurl. At least adult waste gets flushed.

I do generally find gender neutral loos to be less clean and tidy than ladies only facilities.