To want normal bloody taps!

[WomanStanleyWoman2]

This is lighthearted as it’s not a big deal by any means - BUT, it has made me want to scream a few times recently.

Over the past few weeks, across a combination of restaurants, bars, airports, train stations and theatres, I’ve been to the toilet and dealt with:

Taps that ‘work’ on sensors if you flap your hands about like Tippi sodding Hedren in The Birds but that stop producing water if you move your hands even slightly below the spout.

Taps that I thought worked on sensors, but actually worked by foot pedal (thank you to the kind woman who spotted me doing my Tippi routine and let me in on the secret)?!

Taps that produce either only cold or only hot water - no temperature control whatsoever. One is unhygienic; the other is useless when yoh want to splash cold water on your face in 30-odd degree heat 🥵

Very old-fashioned looking taps that had been retained for aesthetic purposes, but only produced the slightest dribble of water - you needed to push the button underneath to produce water from a modern tap hidden in the plumbing above.

A ‘hand wash system’, where soap is followed by water, followed by the hand dryer, in very strict order - so you can’t just use the water without soap, and if you’ve finished washing your hands and want to dry them, tough luck - the dryer won’t come on until the water stops.

What is so wrong with an ordinary, basic set of taps (or mixer tap)? Turn one way for on, the other for off. One is for hot, one is for cold. Want more water? Leave it running. Had enough? Turn it off. Plumbing should need training to install, not bloody use!!

I mean - yes. But the UK is a country that pioneered and still installs separate hot and cold taps. So…

I prefer not to have to touch the taps, tbh.

I’m totally with you OP. Drives me mad. They need to start putting ‘tap instructions’ above the sink. I left a tap on the other day because I thought it switched itself off, but was still running by the time my hands were dry. I’m not sure I’ve come across a foot operated one yet though. Just a normal in off tap. That’s all I want.

You forgot to mention the taps that have such a short spout, its right close to the edge of the sink that you cant actually get your hands under them

Or the ones that are push activated and then never turn off. Do you wait, do you 'pull' on the push bit to stop the water flow, do you just go and leave the bathroom to flood - who knows

@WomanStanleyWoman2

Taps that produce either only cold or only hot water - no temperature control whatsoever. One is unhygienic; the other is useless...

Unhygienic? Why?

What is so wrong with an ordinary, basic set of taps (or mixer tap)? Turn one way for on, the other for off. One is for hot, one is for cold. Want more water? Leave it running. Had enough?

What is wrong is that a large proportion of the population are imbeciles and will leave the taps running when they leave. If there's an option to insert a plug, so much the better: they'll put in the plug and leave the taps running.

Auto soap before the water is horrifying. I’m allergic to almost all soap and have to carry my own. It’s a rare allergy, but it’s not that rare. We have online support groups and everything and they aren’t small. Someone really didn’t think that one through.

The handwash systems are awful and seem to be set to the wrong speed. I've never finished washing my hands before the drier comes on! Barely enougn time to sing Happy Birthday once, let alone twice.

Foot operated one has got me before. Was there for a good few minutes til I figured ir out

It's taps for the lowest common denominator.

Mostly those who won't bother to turn them off or those who will sue due to being scalded.

I don't even bother with them anymore. They're nearly always dirty or broken. I bring a packet of wipes and hand sanitizer with me.

I can’t be alone in thinking it’s better to wash your hands with hot water?

And not enough water to get the soap off!

I like the sensor taps as it's good to avoid touching taps in public conveniences. The taps I detest are the grotty push ones that produce about 3 secs worth of water before you need to press again. Usually have to repress about 5 times.
Yuk, horrible to have to keep pressing the grimy tap. I. always use antibac on top once I've left the toilets.

I hear you , I dread trying to operate things outside my own home anymore.
I'll be using service station loos next week on a road trip and I will probably do it all wrong or try to see what the people at the side of me are doing so I won't look a complete tit trying to wash my hands.
Ditto hotel showers. I've learnt to check them out first and get the general idea of operations first before I need to use them.

The systems are the worst! You never get the correct amount of soap/water/air and end up doing a second cycle that then wastes soap.

I don't see the problem with a push button tap that turns itself off. If I get any dirt on my hands from touching it that will dealt with by the fact I'm washing my hands!

Also give me a cold tap too!

It's not more hygienic to wash your hands with warm water. To kill bacteria with hot water you would have to suspend your hands in water of over 60 degrees C for over 10 minutes.

When you wash your hands, you are removing bacteria (mechanical removal) with soap and the water temperature is immaterial. It's just nicer when it's warm and so maybe you'll wash your hands for longer.