Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To really dislike downstairs loos?

177 replies

ThomasRichard · 21/05/2017 18:03

Especially if they open onto the living room! I don't want anyone hearing me wee/ sort out pads/ pass wind etc. Blush Asking to use the upstairs bathroom is basically announcing to everyone that you're going to do a poo. Argh!

OP posts:
AlexRose5 · 22/05/2017 17:53

Talk about a first world problem Confused
As a family of seven I was over the moon to have a downstairs loo after five years of interrupted showers and endless loo queuing Shock
Honestly was like a bloody domino effect... I'd move in the general direction of the bathroom and suddenly all the kids bladders world start working .
Not the most beautiful experience in the world...walking out of the kitchen and hearing my hubby pooping ... But I personally am willing to filter that side of it for the convenience lol

possumgoddess · 22/05/2017 17:56

Not a downstairs loo, but the very worst I ever had to visit was at my then (now ex) sister-in-law's house. They were so proud they now had an inside toilet, which her husband had fitted exactly at the top of the stairs, in a sort of cupboard with a door that did not reach the floor or the ceiling. So quite apart from smells or noises, there was also the (not so) wonderful feeling of knowing that anyone coming up the stairs if you were sitting on the loo could see practically up to your knees (and the rest). I can quite understand how nice it must have been to not have to go out to the yard in the middle of the night, but quite frankly as a guest I would rather have gone down the road to the pub than have had to visit their very public toilet.

Maireadplastic · 22/05/2017 18:09

I don't like the ones by the front door.

allwomanR · 22/05/2017 18:16

Our loo comes straight off our kitchen as it used to be an outside one that was converted when the kitchen was extended- I always offer the upstairs one to guests unless they are my elderly grandparents...

Littlenic73 · 22/05/2017 18:23

My parents' downstairs loo opens onto a little corridor between the kitchen and the garage. It's quite secluded so never bothers me although some people call it the tradesman's loo. I'd love a second toilet in our house, especially in the morning.

SherbrookeFosterer · 22/05/2017 18:36

I don't like en suites for the same reason, especially if your other half doesn't close the door.

They basically turn your bedroom into one big toilet. Yuck!

LarrytheCucumber · 22/05/2017 18:49

With you there Sherbrooke.

CattyMcCatface · 22/05/2017 18:56

Our downstairs loo is off the hallway but adjacent to both living room and kitchen doors. There is no window in it but we have an expelair (sp?) fan which comes on with the light. It makes quite a noise so I have never noticed any toilet noise from any occupant (and I hope noone hears me!) I have a spray air freshener in there that people can use if needs be.

stinkarella123 · 22/05/2017 19:17

I viewed a house last year which had the bathroom straight off the living room, it put me off, there was also a bedroom straight off the living room, very strange

thenightsky · 22/05/2017 19:37

Slightly off topic... but has anyone ever managed to soundproof the bathroom/downstairs toilet?

DH sounds like he's giving birth in there

I play music loudly when we have guests Grin

Reebs123 · 22/05/2017 20:51

Downstairs loo is for guests, especially male ones. I lived in a new build & you could hear everything from upstairs loo because of the plumbing or something. Shock

LarrytheCucumber · 22/05/2017 20:51

We stayed in a hotel in Tokyo which had various music options on a set of switches on the actual loo. There were other options including a water spray, but the music is what I remember.

DaveMinion · 22/05/2017 20:56

Yabu. I love having a downstairs loo. Ours is in the hallway (not under stairs) the other side of the hall from the lounge. You can't hear a thing with both doors closed. You can hear more from the upstairs bathroom as it's above the kitchen.

DaveMinion · 22/05/2017 20:57

Btw we have a pooh where you like policy. DH tends to go upstairs for smell reasons. I'm a lady so smell of roses of course Wink

Deidre21 · 22/05/2017 20:58

Don't these downstairs toilets have windows?

Original poster
ThomasRichard · 22/05/2017 21:06

cynthia that's a tricky one. It doesn't really open onto the kitchen so I'd prefer to keep it there but I see what you mean about wall space. Hmm...

'First world problem' it may be but so are other things that cause embarrassment that are considered worthy issues, like mixed sex hospital wards and food in postnatal care...

OP posts:
tanfield90 · 22/05/2017 21:27

Our family home had an upstairs and a downstairs loo but my dear mother had a real problem with the downstairs one, probably because it was in the cloakroom next to the kitchen. I only remember her using it once in all the years we were there, and that was because she was caught short big time on a drive home from somewhere. She absolutely couldn't wait !! She had a similar issue with the loo near the kitchen in our country retreat (yes, we were very fortunate), even though there were two doors separating the rooms.

As I so often say to anyone who will listen, 'a bog is a bog'.

Mumtomadhouse · 22/05/2017 22:39

My Mil downstairs toilet right next to the front door which is also on the other side next to the lounge completely agree with u hate having a wee at her house!!

Teabagtits · 22/05/2017 23:00

At 34w pregnant and extremely uncomfortable I'd love to have a downstairs loo. I wouldn't care at the moment if it was a commode in front of the telly as long as I didn't need to tackle the stairs every two minutes for less than a teaspoons worth of pee.

I do have an embarrassing off living room loo story from my first visit to the ex-in laws whereby I not only stank the place out but blocked the toilet with my humongous toalie and had to deal with it knowing everybody knew I'd just killed the household environment. There should be more space between the toilet and a sofa!

Touchmybum · 22/05/2017 23:13

Our house is just under 20 years old and the loo is between the kitchen and the living room, off the hall. Having said that there's 2 doors to close between each. As someone else said, you can sit on the loo and watch the telly! I don't though, but I could! I wouldn't choose to put a toilet where ours is but it was a godsend for toilet training.

Dh is forbidden to poo in it as well but doesn't always do as he is told.

cabbage67 · 23/05/2017 08:49

My friend used to have one in her kitchen! I'm glad we do have a downstairs loo however, as I'd hate people going upstairs and seeing what a tip it usually is

Kokusai · 23/05/2017 09:47

Don't these downstairs toilets have windows?

Not very often. But they should have good ventilation.

ChocChocPorridge · 23/05/2017 10:05

We had one that opened on to the living room. Yes, it's a bit weird ( and as they say on coaches, kept for 'light usage only') when there are adults around, but by God it's good for little ones and especially when potty training..

Mumtomadhouse · 23/05/2017 14:35

Yeah Mil does have a window

AyUpMiDuck · 23/05/2017 15:53

My downstairs cloakroom/loo door opens onto a corridor but it backs onto the kitchen so I always run the tap if I am doing a poo. Not very environmentally friendly but it spares my blushes. There is an extractor fan which masks some noise. I believe this is compulsory for new builds and planning regs if you don't have a window .