To want to shut off downstairs toilet

[Daisydu]

It’s next to the kitchen. You have to walk through the kitchen to get to it. I hate it. I’ve tried telling everyone in the house it’s not to be used for no2s because I think it’s bloody gross. But the kids don’t always listen and quite frankly I just don’t want it there anymore. We have a perfectly good bathroom upstairs. 9 people in our house though which does make me question in a bit. We’re renting so can’t get rid of it altogether but we also have zero storage in this house so we could use it for that. What do you guys think? Would I be silly to just shut it off? Honestly the fact it’s next to the kitchen winds me up

How large is the opening of the window?

Could you buy some grid like trellis thing to nail onto the window?
Giving you fresh air but not accessible for the cat.

Incense really kills the smell of anything.

I kind of understand why it’s gross to you but yes it would be bonkers to shut it off.

Some ideas to make it better

• one of those room sprays attached to the door that sprays nice smell when the door is opened or closed.
• one if these that covers the base of the door, it might psychologically help to cover as much of the door as possible. www.shein.co.uk/1pc-Detachable-Door-Bottom-Sealing-Strip-Brown-Gap-Sealing-Tape-For-Home-p-12229189-cat-1960.html?skucode=I05vai5yjoip&url_from=ukadplash2211177213154854one-size_GPM&cid=16905480361&setid=&adid=&pf=GOOGLE&gclid=Cj0KCQjwwtWgBhDhARIsAEMcxeAcgTE4sgWQ3CHkBPwT_m8cqbW1UKRoBUgErNkKKErJxajO4pkR0X0aAhHpEALw_wcB
• Could you potentially put something outside the door to cover it so you don’t have to look at it? I’m thinking, temporary curtain rail and curtain?

Does the loo door open directly into the kitchen?

Yes. You come out the bathroom and the fridge freezer and cooker are both right by the door. Directly next to the door either side.

With 9 people in the house, no. It can't be shut off.
It's perfectly acceptable and allowed by planning. You used to have to have a small corridor between the loo and the kitchen but you don't have to any more.
Mine was the same in my last house.
Just leave the window open if you are worried about smells.

Yeah, this is very common in older houses, especially terraces.

When you leave our bathroom, you open the door and you're right in front of the fridge (to the left) and the oven (to the right). It's built as an extension of our kitchen.

Leave the window open and as a clever Pp said, get some trellis to put over it. It won't be that cold now, it's March!

I'd get rid of the cat before I got rid of my downstairs loo!

Also shit stinks, its normal. It doesn't last.

I’d ask if I could have an extractor fan fitted in the toilet window, get a spring for the door so it shuts a put something in the cistern that smells nice for each flush.clean it twice a day and it won’t smell.

Do people put down the seat when they flush in your house OP? If not then all those pop and urine particles floating in the air of your WC and every time door is opened and closed coming out into your kitchen and landing on all the surfaces. And the smell

Vile

Why do you want the cat to 'stay out?'

As has been said, it's ludicrous to shut off one of two toilets when there are NINE PEOPLE in your house. Me and DH live alone together (2 kids left some years ago,) and we have one toilet in our little 2-bed cottage. Even THAT is an issue sometimes, as he spends an hour in the bathroom when he goes in. Coz whilst I don't need to 'go' when he asks if I need the bathroom before he hogs it, I DO need to go almost an hour later sometimes! So one toilet with just 2 people can be an issue sometimes. One toilet for NINE would be farcical.

Stupid design though, having the downstairs loo next to the kitchen. Our last house (bigger than we have now-we downsized) had 2 toilets. One in the bathroom upstairs, and one by the back door, next to a little 3 X 5 foot cupboard, and a good 12 feet away from the door to the kitchen diner or lounge etc.

Very common in Victorian houses. I’ve lived in many houses where the only bathroom is off the kitchen.

Looking at room plans for downstairs loos I've seen some real horrors, one was off the dining room!

I understand your view
When I was househunting I saw a house that ticked lots of boxes BUT the downstairs loo was a door off the kitchen - it just felt too close and too disgusting
(I always thought there had to be two doors between a loo and a kitchen....)

I have a similar issue in my bungalow although it’s the hallway which gets any smells! In a small house though, smells soon travel through!

I find that by opening the window just a small amount ( so my neighbours sneaky cat can’t get in) and then a quick spray of odour neutralising spray before opening the bathroom door is enough to contain the smells in the bathroom.

I grew up in a house where it was one bathroom between 8 of us. It was manageable but no privacy whatsoever as we could never lock the door as someone else always needed the toilet whilst another in the bath or shower. We also had a very strict bathroom rota in the morning and if you missed your slot then you were late for school or work.

Agree with you OP that it's gross having a toilet that opens into the kitchen but unfortunately with 9 in the house it's a necessity. I think you need to be proper strict with your family and ensure number 2s are done upstairs unless it is an absolute emergency.

When we had our extension done (about 15 years ago) mid terrace , the planning laws were 2 doors between a toilet and a kitchen.

Ours leads into the hallway , (so you have to go through the hall then the through-lounge-dining room to get to the kitchen)

I know the planning restrictions have changed and the 2 doors doesn't apply

I think you need to deal with your issue. I'm not that keen on the 'sound effects' - our downstairs loo is off the hall but next to the kitchen and living room. I wouldn't be without it though! Let's face it, everyone performs bodily functions!!

Not sure how you are grossed out by the loo but happy to train your toddler using a potty? Now they ARE gross. Get one of the toddler seats and a stool to climb up, so no disgusting po's and no transition to using a proper toilet.

I feel sorry to the poor cat. Booted out in the cold when he doesn't want to be. Can't you train him not to beg when you're eating (our current two cats don't and neither did our last one) or confine him to the loo while you are? Or feed him at the same time? It's good for children to be brought up with a love of animals.

Lighting a match in the loo instantly gets rid of any smells. It’s the old way! I don’t know why so many people bother with sprays (yuk) or opening the window - works, but takes a while, and not ideal in the winter.

9 people. One Bathroom ?!!!

I've lived in two house's with downstairs bathrooms off the kitchen. As long as there's a space between the kitchen and bathroom and two doors it shouldn't be an issue. Plus with 9 people in the house you need more than one toilet.

This. You sound horrible "I hate" " I don't want" What about the other 8 people in your house? And why have a cat just to lock it out. Words fail me

Ask a plumber if it is possible to insert a type of urinal on seat ! ( so it is PEE only)

If you leave the window open and it’s cold, people are more likely to poo upstairs.

No space. The door to the bathroom opens directly into the kitchen with the cooker right by the door and the fridge freezer the other side.

You mean, the loo door opens into the kitchen, with no other door between them? [shocked]
Unless there is a hand basin in the same room ad the toilet, that isn't allowed.