Mumsnet users share their experiences of public loos with Domestos

[EllieMumsnet]

This activity is now closed

Trying to find a loo when you’re out and about with your kids can be challenging. How many times have you asked if your DCs need to go before you leave the house and then they are demanding a toilet not even five minutes into your outing? We’ve all been there! Which is why at Domestos we want to know about your experience of public loos.

How often do you need to locate a loo when you’re out with your family? And how difficult are they to find? How do you feel when you have to go in and ask staff to use the loo in a pub? Or a café you weren’t planning on buying a coffee from? Or do you even ask? Are you ever met with resistance from staff when you ask to use their loo? What would you change to make this experience easier?

Here’s what Domestos have to say: “Domestos believe everyone deserve access to a clean, safe toilet. In the UK the problem is locating a public toilet when we’re out and about, in other countries the problem is far more serious. Domestos is committed to providing solutions, and have an ambition to help 25 million people around the world get cleaner, safer toilets by 2020.”

Whatever your experience is with public loos, post them on the thread below to be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply

[hanarees]

I don't think there are enough public loos - and often the ones in most cities are filthy and the queues are long.
I wouldn't mind the system used in many countries where you pay a small fee to at least guarantee their cleanliness!
Having said that, there should also be facilities available for those who are homeless.

[cathryn1]

I have a 3year old who always needs the toilet in the most awkward places I can always bet on it, she likes to sing on the toilet which some people in public toilets don't seem to like ..... I wish there was more public toilets and cleaner ones too

[PhilTB54]

Wet wipes and an alcahol spray to clean seats, handles etcand packs of tissues as there's never any loo roll

[Emmamaryd]

Some are cleaner than others. They invariably smell quite bad.

[OctaviaOctober]

I've noticed it seems harder to find a public loo these days. There used to be a public toilets block in my town but it got demolished a few years ago. McDonalds is usually the best bet, or a large supermarket.

Another problem is that baby changing facilities are still often found in the women's loos. How are fathers supposed to change their babies if they're out without a woman?

[jamielmdjs]

I totally understand the desire to save water, but it has had a negative effect on public loos. Without running water in urinals, using neutralising devices instead, they smell worse than before. None of the devices or pads really keep the whiff away.

It's not a big issue compared to what some countries have to deal with, in general they are usually relatively clean.

[piggypoo]

I always use a tissut to open and close the doors when I use these loos. They are always usually disgusting, or have no loo roll left, so I always carry extras with me! I am sure I've stopped us catching Norovirus by doing this! :)

[Jade5093]

I do hate public toilets! I normally try to find nice ones if my kids need to go. And I mean NEED.

[cathyov]

My youngest daughter always seemed to need to visit the toilet whenever we went past one and some of them could be quite unsavoury. She was very good at loudly telling everyone about the toilets when they were not very clean or declaring after we had queued quite a while that she could not possibly use them and that the toilet paper was faulty!

[eandoauntie]

I must say yesterday we were all really pleasantly surprised. We spent the whole day at Wicksteed park so lots of toilet trips - they have just redone lots of areas of the park including the toilets - we all commented on how much nicer they were - it used to be something we would put off until they couldn't hold it any longer.

[angela121262]

I would prefer to pay for going to the loo for attendant wages, and soaps etc. If a public toilet is unattended it is usually dirty.

[kittykomp]

I've never had an issue with them

[Dessallara]

We try to use the ones at the shopping centres. We try not to use toilets on the trains because they always seem to be dirty :/ it is difficult sometimes with kids because you don't want them to use dirty toilets so sometimes we have to spend money in cafes just so our girls can use a clean toilet :/

[emene]

To be fair we've never really had a problem restaurants always seem to be nice about it. The ones on the train scare me a bit as its all electronic and i get scared we will get locked in also on a flight can be a nightmare as we both have to fit in the toilet.

[EllieMumsnet]

Congratulations ILoveMyDressingGown for wining the £300 voucher