Rant or Rave about Public Washrooms

[Ciel]

These amenities are necessary on shopping excursions. However, not all of them are easy to use or have decent bathroom tissue in the dispensers or lighting.

But as we are across Canada, let's post our favourite public loos and why they are so. Rant on some loos that can use better bathroom tissue paper or just some time and money to suit everyone's needs.

I liked Koolaid's post about a favourite public washroom:
http://forum.smartcanucks.ca/5264018-post1120.html

I have not been to Yorkdale in 5 years but the washroom past the Bay and the market represents the standard in women's washrooms! Lighting, spacious stalls, wonderful glass sinks, seating...
Chime in if the mall put in better loos in the expansion or upgraded all loos.

I used to like the upstairs Mapleview Mall (Burlington, ON) washroom (nice wood panelling, sinks, paper towel dispenser) near Crabtree & Evelyn (pre-expansion) but the current incarnation, now off the new food court, screams stuck in gray concreteville and begs for some colour and soft furnishings. The sink countertops (some soft yellow and brown flecks) are OK but the soap dispensers can be a trial to get working.

Oakville Place has motion-sensor activated soap pumps. Nice touch when you are ready to wash hands and don't want to fumble with a clunky button or lever to get soap out.

[lghend]

Walmart has the WORST washrooms. It seems every time I go to use them, each and every stall has either a plugged toilet, a full unflushed toilet, dribbles or smears on the seat, no toilet paper and the doors don't lock. Sorry to be graphic but that's been my experience.

[Granger]

Once at WM had an emergency washroom trip. Went to the back one near baby items...had two items in cart and removed them prior to pushing my cart with then one year and baby in a bucket seat in it into the washroom. Stopped by an employee...carts aren't allowed in washrooms. I'll save you the full conversation, but I politely said it was an emergency and my cart did not have any items. I almost had to run him over to let me by, honestly I would not be using the washroom if I didn't have to and was not going leave my children who were safe and secure in the cart outside.

[saddlebag]

People are pigs when it comes to public washrooms.....after all others have to use them and then there's the poor that has to clean them.....makes you wonder what their bathroom at home must be like.....

[Midnightly]

my hubby used to clean bathrooms at a mall.. people are disgusting at the mall he used to clean he told me to never use the food court washrooms (they are the most often used and most often disgusting.. often people don't even realize there is another bathroom in the mall)

[Minou]

I understand that the men's washrooms are much worse than the women's... I can't believe some of the stories my husband tells me -- and he doesn't go to the mall/to restaurants very often.

[Midnightly]

I understand that the men's washrooms are much worse than the women's... I can't believe some of the stories my husband tells me -- and he doesn't go to the mall/to restaurants very often.

and i've heard from my hubby the other way around he would often say "women are disgusting" after cleaning the bathrooms

[lshortt]

Washrooms are made nasty by the people who use them. If you sprinkle when you tinkle be a sweetie and wipe the seatie.....the cleaners can clean the washroom and a minute later someone makes a mess. It is our own doing.

[Lynn49]

Aside from the general filth, I'm guessing it was a MAN who decided that women should PUSH the doors open to get in, but after washing our hands, we have to then touch a HANDLE to leave!!! Does THAT make any sense??!!

[brenran99]

The carts at WM, thats probably a fire regulation issue. If there is an emergency and more than 1 person brings their cart in the bathroom, there isn't enough room for emergency workers if the need arises or for people to safely evacuate if there is an emergency.

[vesper]

Yahoo!!

OK this advice is not always going to work, but most times it does.

I travel by car a lot in spring summer. When I know I need a bathroom break, I find the closest museum.

Museum bathrooms are always the cleanest.

[Shwa Girl]

Aside from the general filth, I'm guessing it was a MAN who decided that women should PUSH the doors open to get in, but after washing our hands, we have to then touch a HANDLE to leave!!! Does THAT make any sense??!!

When leaving, take some clean paper towel to open the door.
If no paper towel, use the inside lower portion of your coat as a door opener. Most people don't need to touch the inside lower portion of their coat daily.

[Lynn49]

When leaving, take some clean paper towel to open the door.
If no paper towel, use the inside lower portion of your coat as a door opener. Most people don't need to touch the inside lower portion of their coat daily.

Actually, I don't use those filthy taps/basins at all...I always carry my hand sanitizer with me. Not all washrooms have those automatic water valves or soap dispensers.
And yes, short of that I do use my coat/sweater or whatever to open the door.

[Granger]

The carts at WM, thats probably a fire regulation issue. If there is an emergency and more than 1 person brings their cart in the bathroom, there isn't enough room for emergency workers if the need arises or for people to safely evacuate if there is an emergency.

I understand why carts can't be brought in...makes total sense...they are huge, but so are the washrooms, ppl who can't allow an exception for situation that clearly calls for one drive me nuts, especially when no harm is being done.

I like the coat idea. I usually do paper towel or pull with the pinky of my non dominant hand.

[Lynn49]

Yahoo!!

OK this advice is not always going to work, but most times it does.

I travel by car a lot in spring summer. When I know I need a bathroom break, I find the closest museum.

Museum bathrooms are always the cleanest.

Honey, if I had to wait until I found a museum on the 400 or the 401 in Ontario I'd need to be
wearing a Depends!
But yes, good idea.........I find most McD washrooms not too horrible...