to the loo seat hoverers. why?

[mousymouse]

just why?

and why not wipe your own piss off the seat?

have my suspicion who it is in the office but am not quite sure

I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that people are contaminated with faecal bacteria from their waists to their knees.

Most likely because what do you do after a poo? Wipe? Then what next? I would bet that most people pull up their pants/adjust clothing/fasten belts. With pooey hands. Most public loos don't even have the option to wash hands before making yourself presentable.

So yes, the seat is contaminated, the flush handle, and the door knob, with other peoples' poo bacteria and viruses.

Well, I think adverts have a lot to answer for, - making out that the lavatory is a sort of hellmouth of disease, waiting to engulf anyone who approaches.

Take those ads for the blob of gel that you squirt onto the inside of the bowl, to 'continuously clean' it every time you flush.

A toilet surface is made of smooth ceramic, with no cracks or cervices for bacteria to hide in. It sluiced through ten times a day with two gallons of DRINKING GRADE water. And if that wasn't enough, no one ever touches it inside. And how does this advertise itself? 'No germy cage to touch'. It admits that the only time you ever put your hand into the toilet is to change a rim block. So why not just NOT have one?

And don't give me that 'flushing the loo ejects bacteria into the air onto your toothbrush' nonsense. If you really believe that, are you saying you'd prefer a mixture of toilet water and bleach?

I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that people are contaminated with faecal bacteria from their waists to their knees.

Probably. And their hands. And faces (what do you touch with your hands?) And mostly we're fine

I usually have dettol wipes in my handbags, so I can wipe the seat before sitting down. but I still don't like to wipe piss of seats...

maybe the french hole-in-the ground toilets would be a solution. hovering for everyone.

Mostly we're fine, but viruses have a nasty way of being transmitted by the faecal/oral route.

Do whatever you like in there, but for the love of God, wipe the seat and/or pick up and flush away the toilet paper you've carefully placed between your buttocks and the loo! I do not want to know whether you are a hoverer or a padder!

The other thing that drives me mad, but that I've seen much more in the US than elsewhere is loo flushing handles/mechanisms and the wall around them covered in dirty footprints because people refuse to touch them because they're 'dirty' and operate them with their feet instead. Depending on heght, some involve impressive high-kicking manoeuvres.

I do wish public toilet external doors were all either automatic or swing doors, though - I do mind touching the handle, given that other people's post-loo hygiene can be dubious.

I don't care whether people hover or not, but do wish they'd wipe the seat if they dribble on it, and generally try to leave the place as they'd wish to find it. Just good manners surely?

Mostly we're fine, but viruses have a nasty way of being transmitted by the faecal/oral route.

Yeah, but everyone gets ill from time to time. And the precautions you would have to take (endles wipes, never touching anything, wearing surgical gloves all the time etc) to avoid EVER catching ANYTHING would, in my mind, ruin your life far more than the occasional bout of illness does. Plus your immune system needs to be encountering new stuff all thetime to keep it on its toes.

Although possibly I feel so strongly about this because I've seen two people's lives ruined by OCD with a fixation on washing and contamination.

I don't have germ fear though, I don't think I am going to catch anything from sitting on the loo.

I just can't bear to sit on a seat that someones naked bum has just been on.

I have sat before and it was still warm.

I must be the only traveller who just loved the toilets in Thailand, I think the hole in the ground jobbies are a brilliant idea.

ever thought of a she pee

Pub loos in Cheltenham are disgusting.

They look all prim and staid, but piss all over the seats and the floor, and leave humungous great logs everywhere,

I see Tiger. Well I am an emetophobe, and whatever I say on here, I'm aware that I must restrain myself from OCD behaviour in RL.

OneHandFlapping, I'm really sorry to hear that. That must be pretty difficult, - I can see how easy it would be for that condition to start affecting your life.

That's what a big wad of loo roll is for, to press buttons and open doors with.

Nudge door open, get wad of loo roll. Lock door, drop wad of loo roll down loo. Hover, wee, etc, check seat is ok. Rearrange clothing. Grab third wad of loo roll.

Open the loo door with the wad of loo roll. Turn round, press flush button with wad. Throw in loo. Exit.

Voila. At no time have you actually been in contact with anything apart from yourself and some loo roll. Although, if someone now tells me that public loo roll is heaving with germs, I shall have to start taking my own.

I clean my hands with wipes btw, not using those yukky sinks. Ugh.

Given the toilet flush/toothbrush issue, I should imagine the hoverers leave a fine mist of urine all over the cubicle including the loo roll holder, and up the back of their coats.

This thread is making my OCD act up - yuck!
I avoid using public toilets unless absolutely desperate. Its too unbearable to think about the levels of bacteria in there.

The best thing about US supermarkets, is that most provide antibacterial wipes and you can wipe down the handle and the area where you leave your purse.

Sorry, I am one of those who moves the flush handle with my feet!

I much prefer a hole in the ground. Having lived in Asia, it's much more hygienic. I really miss it plus you get properly cleared out having a poo or a pee because of the angle of your body when you squat. We like to think we're oh-so-hygienic in the west but lots of people I used to work with would climb up and squat when faced with a Western-style loo. I do this at festivals.

Anyone else hold their handbag under their chin when peeing?

Not whilst balancing in a squat on a loo. I'd probably fall in.

i dont really care about bacteria levels as i can wash my hands. much harder to wash your arse in a public toilet and people who hovver should at least make sure they wipe the seat after generally pissing all over it.

it irritates me beyond belief

I hover. I also aim very well. Jinks, I can even piss into a pot while Standing Up and the pot is about 15 inches in front of me, on the floor.

(a bloke taught me this. It's amazing.)

I was told by my teachers at school that you CAN catch STDs from toilet seats. But it just disgusts me really to sit on something that someone else's arse has just sat on.

So I avoid public loos. I wouldn't hover in a friend's house though, that's just weird. And if I do get any on the seat I always wipe it off.

Also if you shower and wear different clothes every single day it might not be so much of a problem - but I am skanky and like to wear my jeans more than one day.
And our bathroom isn't working at the moment...(another story)

Also in this modern age it seems often that there is disdain if you care about hygiene, while similar disdain if you do not embrace the entire spectrum of sexual activity. Which to me appears an anachronism.