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What are the Best Tips for Toilet Hygiene?
Good toilet hygiene reduces the risk of illness, infection and disease, and both adults and children should practice good hygiene when it comes to matters in the bathroom. Hand washing, wiping properly after both urination and bowel movements and keeping the toilet area clean are some of the best tips for good toilet hygiene.
Proper hand washing is one of the most important elements of good bathroom hygiene. To properly wash your hands put them under clean, running water, add soap and lather. Scrub both the front and back of your hands, between your fingers and under your nails for a minimum of 20 seconds. Rinse your hands with clean, running water to remove all of the soap. Use a clean towel to dry your hands or let them air dry if clean towel is not available.
Wiping properly and thoroughly after urination and bowel movements is also important for good toilet hygiene. Use a sufficient amount of toilet paper to get the area clean. Some people find disposable or flushable wipes to be an effective alternative to toilet paper. For women, it is extremely important to wipe from front to back to avoid spreading germs to your genital area, which can lead to infection. Hands should always be washed thoroughly after using the bathroom.
Children should be taught good toilet hygiene when they begin potty training. Teaching them to wash their hands thoroughly and wipe properly, once they are old enough to do so, should become part of their bathroom routine right from the start of potty training. Girls should be taught to wipe from front to back, and boys should be taught the importance of urinating in the toilet, rather than on the toilet or outside of the toilet.
When using a public restroom, touching the fixtures should be avoided to the extent possible. I available, a sanitary, disposable toilet seat should be used to cover the toilet seat. If one is not available, toilet paper can be used. Hands should be washed thoroughly and a paper towel used to turn the faucets on and off and to open the door when exiting the restroom.
Keeping home toilet areas clean is also an important factor in good toilet hygiene. A toilet cleaner and toilet scrub brush will clean the inside of the toilet and kill germs. Toilet brushes should be replaced as needed. Paper towels with a disinfecting bathroom cleaner or pre-made disposable wipes can be used to clean the toilet seat, under the seat, the rim and all outside areas of the toilet.
AS FEATURED ON:
AS FEATURED ON:
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![Always wash your hands after using the toilet.]()
By: Vladimir VoroninAlways wash your hands after using the toilet. -
![It is important to have a regular cleaning schedule for a toilet.]()
By: Africa StudioIt is important to have a regular cleaning schedule for a toilet. -
![Children should be taught to wash their hands thoroughly after using the toilet.]()
By: Andrey KuzminChildren should be taught to wash their hands thoroughly after using the toilet. -
![Keeping a sufficient amount of toilet paper on hand is important for toilet hygiene.]()
By: Ruggiero ScardignoKeeping a sufficient amount of toilet paper on hand is important for toilet hygiene. -
![Paper towels can be used to turn faucets on and off and to open doors when leaving the restroom to avoid spreading germs.]()
By: didecsPaper towels can be used to turn faucets on and off and to open doors when leaving the restroom to avoid spreading germs. -
![When using a public restroom, avoid touching the fixtures to the extent possible.]()
By: Henryk SaduraWhen using a public restroom, avoid touching the fixtures to the extent possible. -
![Using antibacterial wipes can help prevent the spread of germs.]()
By: Scott MillessUsing antibacterial wipes can help prevent the spread of germs. -
![Disinfecting cleaning products can be used on most bathroom surfaces.]()
By: diego cervoDisinfecting cleaning products can be used on most bathroom surfaces.
Discussion Comments
@feruze-- I absolutely agree with you but we can't control what other people do. So we have to do what's necessary for our own health.
I always carry antibacterial wipes with me no matter where I go. I use them to wipe toilet seats. For some reason, putting toilet paper on it doesn't seem like enough. I also wipe my hands after leaving the bathroom, even if I've washed my hands. As careful as I am, sometimes I touch the sink or the door and not notice it.
I used to do this even when I shared an apartment with two other girls in college. It was tiresome but I used to wipe the toilet and clean the bowl with bleach every couple of days. And I still got a urinary tract infection while living with them! Can you believe it?!
I am shocked about some of the improper ways grown up adults behave when it comes to using the toilet. And toilet seat hygiene is the most problematic.
Men seem to have a problem with aiming. I've seen this a couple of times in unisex bathrooms where someone has clearly aimed at the wrong places when urinating. It's horrible!
Women behave improperly in toilets too sometimes, especially when it comes to disposing pads and tampons. Bathrooms have special containers to dispose of these items but some people never use them.
I don't understand this at all. We need to leave a public restroom clean because that's how we would like to find it ourselves. And the least you could do is wipe the toilet after you're done and flush!
I was so young when my mom taught me proper toilet and personal hygiene. The first two things I learned was to wipe from front to back and also to never sit on a toilet outside my home without putting a paper seat or toilet paper. I must have avoided a lot of infections in my lifetime thanks to it.
The other things I pay attention to in public restrooms is that while I wash my hands, I pour soapy water on the faucets to clean them. Or, I pick up a paper towel and turn them off that way. I also avoid holding door knobs when exiting the bathroom. I hold it with a paper towel.
This might seem kind of extreme but it really isn't. You have no idea how many people leave the bathroom without washing their hands daily. And they all touch the bathroom's door to get out!
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