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

[BaconCrispsGone]

I'm pretty good at finding public toilets. Would never dream of using toilets in a cafe etc without buying something

[MakeTeaNotWar]

I wish more shops had public loos, both for me and the DC sake. It's usually an unpleasant experience - stinky, puddles on the floor, sometimes no toilet paper. I've seen some really disgusting things over the years.

[laundryelf]

Lots of councils have closed the public toilets due to lack of funds. Used to have some really nice toilets with staff who took money and kept place clean. They would put up pictures and have fresh flowers, or plastic and some pot pourri.
We holiday in Scotland a lot and sometimes drive for miles to find a toilet that's open. Often the toilets are in a disgusting state but you have no choice.
The tourist information centres used to have toilets but they are closing too.
In some places, Elgol on Skye and Plockton, local community have taken over the upkeep of their public toilets, and do a really great job.
We really need to invest in providing good, clean toilets everywhere for everyone to use and especially if we want to attract both foreign and domestic tourists to boost our economy.
Perhaps we should make teenagers do a three month national service where they do things like clean public toilets, help build new ones, litter pick and similar jobs interspersed with fun activities and learning to cook, clean and be more independent before they start university or college?

[NastyCats]

I hate it when the floor is all wet and feel like you are getting wee all over your shoes. Even worse when it's summer and you are wearing flip-flops.

And why is it that people think it's fine to drop loo roll on the floor and not pick it up. Would they do that at home?

I do love a really good public loo. The ones in Wells were brilliant last time I visited 12 years ago and they played Christmas carols.

[asuwere]

I think we've been quite lucky that we've never struggled to find a toilet when out (excluding countryside walks!) Sadly not always in the best condition but never awful. Its annoying when they've been designed by someone who hasn't ever tried to use them though; eg not enough space to close door without climbing over toilet or the hand dryers being so high that the water drips down your arms/up your sleeve!

[Gazelda]

I've never struggled to find a public loo, but wish there were more Changing Places facilities for those with a disability.
People with disabilities shouldn't be prevented from going out simply because there aren't suitable loo facilities.

[voyager50]

As someone who seems to have a weak bladder I have always needed to find a toilet myself frequently when out and about so I was already adept at finding them - having a child with me has made it easier as I can pretend it's him that needs to go! I have no problem going into a pub or hotel just to use the toilets.

It is much better than using ones by the beach that are either filthy or lack facilities - the ones we used in Wales last week were clean but only one of the six cubicles had toilet paper and no soap was provided - thank goodness for hand sanitiser!

[WindyWednesday]

Hand dryers are terrifying for some children. The sudden noise and echoey space causes so much bother. Real fear.

Never clean, hand soap usually empty.

In my town, years ago there were toilet attendants who sat in a little office as you went in, always clean, always soap and loo paper. Fresh flowers at the sinks. I’m sure they won awards for the loos. Always felt safe as well. Cost 10p per visit. Such a shame that’s a thing of the past.

[Butteredparsn1ps]

The biggest bugbear for me is the state some people leave toilets in. I won't go into details - let's be honest we've all seen them - but why would you leave a toilet like that?

I agree with the PP upthread about hoverers. Seems some folk can't put their delicate buttocks on a loo seat, but think it's acceptable to piss all over it.

Next on the list - hooks. Not expensive and saves you putting your bag on the floor.

And while I'm ranting, what about increasing the ratio of female to male toilets?

[ScreamingValenta]

I recently saw the same as @pinkdonkey (Exeter Services) - I thought it was a terrible idea. I don't want to have to put the lid up and down on a public loo.

I'd never use the loo in a pub or cafe without buying something.

Availability of public loos is quite variable. I don't like having to pay - not that I grudge the money, but I don't always have change and you can't check the cleanliness of the cubicle first.

[EggysMom]

The "put lid down then flush" toilets work on a combination of air and water, using far less water than normal toilets (hence why they are eco). We've had them installed at work. I'm not a fan, as it means I have to lift the lid to check whether a toilet is clean to use, instead of simply glancing in the cubical.

Our work loos also seem to suffer from black mould spots around the rubber seal, but that could just be our cleaners doing a poor job.

[StickChildNumberTwo]

I tend to use loos when I have the opportunity, to try and avoid that sense of desperation when you can't find one. Doesn't always work, and I'm sure our local Tesco think that's all I go in for!

I was in one today in a big venue where the automatic flush was somewhat overenthusiastic - it flushed twice while I was sat there, and then wouldn't when I stood up...

[Tortycat]

Dont normally have problems finding a public loo, but dc1 hasnt been out of nappies that long.

Dirty public toilets are awful with young dc, as they make a bee line for toilet seats, loo brushes etc. If loo brushes could be kept higher up in a holder on the wall it would make my life a lot easier!

[del2929]

absolutely hate public loos- but when you gotta go you gotta go

[ToffeeNosed]

Finding a loo in Torquay was bad enough but Teignmouth was impossible.

Every direction to the public toilets ended in locked doors and asking the nearest person where the next loos were.

In the end there was a small gaggle of us.

Eventually we had to get back to town to go to the Pavilions which were the only option. Not very nice for guests having lunch to see a stream of tourists hopping about queuing for the loo.

Later we explored the town and the need arose again but we were too far from the Pavilion. It seemed the churchyard was the only option until I spotted a porta-potty amongst the road works. Grim. We had to keep watch while we snook in, then I heard a car, panicked and nearly ran out with my kegs down.

Poxy seaside places. For ever 10 teashops there should be one open public loo. It's put us off visiting again!

[Bostin]

My own personal hell is when the cubicle is so narrow that if you do decide to sit you end up with your hip wedged next to the sanitary bin. Which hopefully gets a clean but even so.

[aggga8]

I hate public toliets, they are dirty ane bad smell. I wish use more stronger detergents or clean more often.

[JudgeRulesNutterButter]

Ugh. By the time one of us has waited with the pushchair while the other has got both DC relieved and washed, we are both thoroughly bored and fed up. We definitely plan our days out to avoid needing the loo while we’re out, or at least to end up somewhere “reliable” like a John Lewis at the likely critical moment.

[chibsortig]

I hate public loos, the women (i only have experience of womens loos being a woman) who use them are gross. I try not to take the kids in them as i feel like we need to go through sheep dip troughs after using them.
Bad experiences with dirty loos put me off. Why do they just discard dirty sanpro on the floors and smear the walls :/
I try to only use ones with visible cleaners.

[TheWizardofWas]

Wish they still existed on the High St. Mainly locked up or turned into tanning salons or bars now. I tend to sneak into pubs. The Coffee chains demand a code now. Sometimes, I will ask if the DC can use the loo, without buying any thing. I have been know to go up to the 5th floor to find the onscurely located loo in a dept store. Yes, they can be mucky. Should be paid attendants etc etc. I always find it annoying when you have to, or are supposed to chuck coins in a plate abroad, but I guess that pays someones rent. I hate the station ones where you have to pay 50p to get through a barrier. I think those are on the wane now though. Train toilets are amongst the worst though.

[kateandme]

hate public toilets.they are something I will almost certainly avoid at every cost.
I will fear going into a café or pub if I need the loo but haven't used them for costom and I hate that feeling.you shshouldnt need to explain to use the bathroom.

[MrsMarigold]

Usually we manage to find a public loo, or just go into a pub or restaurant and ask.

We've rarely been refused, but we live in London where I imagine there are more.

If the kids have been refused, I've been known to challenge the person refusing and ask if they really want a puddle on the floor, they usually grudgingly allow the DC to use the loo. Although now they are older this doesn't happen as they have good bladder control.

We've just returned from France, where we had a bit of an amusing if revolting incident. We were in.a restaurant and DC needed the loo, I took them to the only loo (a unisex one with a large cubicle) there was a urinal in the corner, quite small, after DD ( aged five) did her wee, she tried to wash her hands in the urinal and thought that blue thing in it was soap. Urghhh, poor little thing was disgusted.

I agree with posters above that soap refills need to be done more regularly and contactless flushing and sensor taps are preferable. I'm a real stickler for handwashing and the kids are now very used to it. I asked the nurse when they had vaccinations to show them the best hand washing method which was a strike of genius as they now understand it's importance.

On the subject of public loos, I've been shocked at the state of many school loos and really noticed a difference in the levels of absenteeism when my DS attended a school with grubby loos. His second school had great loos, with reminders to wash your hands, and the option of that gel santiser too. At the first school he attended the water in them was too hot and the soap dispensers were usually empty, so most kids were skipping hand washing altogether. I spoke to the school and asked if teachers in nursery and reception could demonstrate good hand washing to the kids and explain why they need to keep school loos clean, but I think they thought I was a bit of a nutter as nothing was done.

[CommonFishDiseases]

I would definitely plan a coffee break when out and about with DC based on how nice the toilets are in a certain cafe, and go there. I wipe down the toilet seat before we use it and we all wash our hands on entering the house every time we return home.

[Gumbo]

Generally the public toilets in the UK are not too dreadful. I've just come back from France where the toilets in the service stations are notoriously grim...especially the men's. DS was unwell and had the runs so we had to stop at one of these. I sent DH in with him, and apparently apart from being truly disgusting there wasn't even a toilet seat! It made me suddenly very grateful for what we have at home...

[Visioncroquet]

I try to avoid them when I can, but with 3 kids that can be difficult! My eldest is autistic & the noise if the hand dryers is awful for her, especially in a really busy toilet.