10 Etiquette Rules That Many of Us Forget When Going To the Bathroom
If you ask yourself: What are the rules of etiquette when using the the bathroom? Most people will probably reply: “The first rule is: don’t mention the bathroom. The second rule is to use the first rule.
That’s because it’s not socially acceptable to discuss such topics. But there are still rules for bathroom behavior.
Let us put aside embarrassing moments and find out which rules of etiquette should be followed in the bathroom.
1. Bathroom is not a reading room
Many of us like to relax in the bathroom with a little reading. However, etiquette experts do not recommend taking a book or newspaper into the bathroom with you if there is a chance that other people will see it later. It is disrespectful to them.
2. Correct way to hang toilet paper
No matter how much we debate about the correct way to place the toilet paper roll: facing the wall or facing outward, science has a correct answer to this question. Placing the paper in the second way, i.e. facing outwards, is the right way.
This is because the contact of the paper with the surface can lead to the introduction of unwanted bacteria. In addition, everyone who enters the bathroom will touch the wall inadvertently, leaving more bacteria on the wall that can later get on the toilet paper of the next person who enters the bathroom.
3. Flush the toilet with the lid closed
The latest rule of etiquette is to flush the toilet with the lid closed. If you do this with the lid open, the pressure of the water tank will spread small particles of excrement throughout the toilet. This can lead to the transmission of infectious diseases.
4. Who should lower the cup seat
The rule is simple: if you raise the toilet seat, you must lower it when you leave. The only exception is for men’s restrooms. Since men usually urinate standing up, there is no point in raising and lowering the toilet seat.
5. How to wash your hands when visiting
After using the bathroom, you must wash your hands. If you are a guest, you must ask the host for permission to use his or her toiletries. In return, according to the rules of etiquette, the host is obliged to offer the guest a fresh bar of soap.
If for some reason the host does not offer such items, it is a bad idea to take a bar of soap that has already been used by others. This would be unhygienic. It is also better to use liquid soap if you have a choice.
6. Place to look for a towel
After washing your hands, it is necessary to dry them. The question is what to do when we are not at home. Towels hanging in the bathroom are considered bath towels by default. However, it is not a good idea to take one of them because it is considered rude.
A hand towel can be hung next to the sink. In some cases, you can also find plush towel rolls. These are for guests. If you do not see one, it is not considered embarrassing to ask the host for a towel. After you use it, you can put it in the laundry basket, but it is best to ask the host what to do with it.
7. Cannot use a bathroom designated for the opposite sex
As a matter of etiquette, you should not use a public bathroom designated for the opposite sex, and there is no exception to this rule. When a woman enters a bathroom with the letter H, she draws extra attention to herself. And a man who enters the women’s restroom becomes the object of bad glances.
8. Which booth should be used
Good manners require that we cause as little discomfort as possible to those around us. When entering a public restroom, you should respect the personal space of the people there. Therefore, it is not worth going to a stall that is next to another stall that is occupied. It is better to choose one that is further away. The same goes for urinals.
It is not worth occupying a stall if you discover that the person who used it before forgot to flush the water. That restroom is considered out of service until the staff fixes the problem. There are times when the flush happens automatically, but the sensors stop working. In such cases, the stall door can be moved to allow someone else to flush. This should be done from behind the door sill.
9. What to do when you run out of toilet paper
According to the rules of etiquette, the person who has run out of toilet paper should put some more on. But what do we do when we are in someone else’s bathroom? The first thing to do is to look for a spare roll of toilet paper. If you can’t find one, tell the host if it’s a home bathroom, or the janitor if it’s a work bathroom.
If you’re using the last bit of toilet paper in a public restroom, it doesn’t hurt to tell the next person who’s about to enter the stall. And if you find yourself in a stall where you have run out of toilet paper, it is not considered embarrassing to ask those around you to share some with you.
10. How to behave if the drain is clogged
Bad news. If we clogged the drain in someone else’s sink or bathroom, that is now our problem. If you weren’t able to find a plunger or unclog the drain, you need to let the housekeeper or host know that you’ve caused an inconvenience.
If you’re embarrassed to admit what you did, it’s acceptable to say, “Someone clogged the toilet. But it’s not a good idea to leave the problem for the next person to use the bathroom.
