Public toilets can be a pain to pee in, but what’s the right way to use them?
For women, it is common trying to strike a balance between legs, feet, and thighs and hovering above the public toilet seat in such a way that you don’t touch the seat and yet land your pee exactly where it should. This is because you don’t want to touch the germs and bacteria floating on public toilet seats.
When you are not properly sitting and just hovering over the toilet seat and peeing, you are making your pelvic floor weak.
The pelvis has three organs inside it, the bladder where you store your pee, the uterus where your baby will live, and the poop bag or rectum.
Experts warn that the floor of the pelvis must stay strong, otherwise, these organs can fall out – a condition called pelvic organ prolapse. Hence, hovering over the toilet seat while peeing can be bad for the pelvic floor.
Some safety measures while using public toilets
Below are some things that you can do to ensure hygiene and safety while using public toilets:
- Do not touch the doorknob
It is a known fact that public toilets have many visitors on an everyday basis. The doorknob is touched by many hands coming from various places carrying germs. So, you may use a tissue to open the knob and close it when you are done.
- Keep your personal belongings safe
Once you are done using the toilet, you may clean your hands using a handwash to wipe off the germs but if you place your personal belongings on the basin or floor, they could catch germs easily and can stick around for a long time. That could be more infectious.
- Avoid using a hand-dryer
Refrain from using a hand dryer even when you feel tempted for a quick dry. The hot air from the blow dryer can spread germs present in the air. To avoid any infection after washing your hands, use a paper towel or napkin to dry out your hands.