Public Toilet Seat Germs

I read about a study this morning that actually echoes results I have heard before...toilet seats get a bad rap! Most germs do not live long outside of the body first of all. Second of all if the toilet seats aren't wet then there won't be much in the way of germs on them. Third of all, the most germs are found on countertops and sink faucets.

So let's see what we can do to help decrease our problems in public toilets.

1. I know there are people who simply do not use public bathrooms...wow! I am amazed. We live 30-45 minutes from town depending where we are, and then there are the road trips we take. I am not sure how they manage, but kudos to them!

2. I know there are ladies who out of fear of sitting on toilet seats, actually pee standing up over the toilet seat. Now I hate to point fingers, but when I walk into a stall and there is pee on the seat, there is pretty much only one way it could have gotten there! By some standing up lass! If everyone would just sit down, that would take care of the fluid that leaves behind the germs. And come on ladies...isn't sitting down much easier? If you do sit down, many restrooms have the paper seats, that gives you added protection as long as the seat isn't wet. But if the seat is wet, the germs seep through! So let's concentrate on doing what we can to keep the seat dry. And as long as you don't have open cuts on your body parts that sit on the toilet seat, there is no way for the germs to enter your body (unless you are sitting with your private parts on the toilet seat itself and I can't imagine why anyone would to that!

3. Where are most of those germs? Why in the places where we go to wash our hands. So there are ways to get around that. You can get out your paper towel, turn on the faucet, not touch the counter, wash your hands, dry your hands on the paper towel, then use that paper towel to turn off the water. And hope that the handle to the door is clear of germs (but then you have to ignore the fact that most people turn off the faucet with their hands or that a good 25 percent or more don't wash their hands. And then there is the fact that a lot of bathrooms don't provide paper towels anymore (which is a good thing as it saves trees and mess in the restroom). But instead they have the heat dryer that in some cases is strong enough to cause ripples in the skin as it dries your hands.

If you are lucky and go to a more 'modern' public restroom, they are putting in sensor water faucets...when your hands are near the water comes on and sensor dryers or paper towels. These are very handy! You don't have to touch anything and there is less waste because the water and dryer are only running when your hands are in front of them. However, these modern and probably initially more expensive restroom fixtures, are not as likely to be found...so what to do?

4. A solution. Get Purell. Purell is an alcohol based solution that kills 99.99% of the germs. Carry the bottle in your purse. Use the restroom (remember sitting down spreads less germs if everyone is a sweetie and doesn't pee on the seatie!). Then leave the restroom. Once outside the door and away from the germy surfaces of sinks and door handles, slap on some Purell. You have saved water, saved trees, saved electricity and saved yourself from germ contact! What could be better????

I know this solution requires some money out of your pocket. But who do you think is paying for the fancy bathroom fixtures, the wasted water, the wasted paper towels? So let's start a movement, friends! It all begins with one...