Public restrooms can be pretty gross. But it’s inevitable that you’ll have to use one from time to time—when you gotta go, you gotta go. In these instances, you might wonder how you can avoid the most germs and which bathroom stall is the cleanest.
Before we get to that, there is actually one upside to public bathrooms. It may come as a surprise, but public restrooms are generally cleaner than home bathrooms, explains Dr. Charles Gerba, Ph.D., a professor of microbiology and environmental sciences at the University of Arizona who studies how diseases are transmitted via the environment.
“The reason why is that it’s cleaned and disinfected every day, sometimes multiple times a day,” he says. “Most people only clean their home restroom once or twice a week.”
Another thing: people groom themselves in their home restrooms, so “the countertops are a lot germier,” Gerba adds.
Still, public bathrooms also contain plenty of germs. Knowing which stall to choose and a few other tips can help you minimize your contact with some of them, however.
Which Public Bathroom Stall Is the Cleanest?
The simple answer: the end stalls are likely the cleanest.
This conclusion originated from a 1995 study published in Psychological Science . In the study, researchers tracked how frequently toilet paper was changed in four stalls over a 10-week period. The results showed that most used toilet paper rolls, or 60%, came from middle stalls, while 40% came from end stalls.
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This research suggests that more people use the middle stalls. But exactly why people choose these spots isn’t fully clear. “People seem to prefer a middle stall for some reason,” Gerba says. “Maybe they're in too big a hurry and don't want to walk to the end one. Maybe they like company. Maybe they don’t want to be near the entrance.”
The end stalls still get used, though—and that means they still contain germs. But Gerba estimates that they could be about 50% cleaner.
Other Tips for Choosing the Cleanest Bathroom Stall
While the bathroom stalls on the ends could be the place to go, there are a few other things to look for to ensure you’re choosing the cleanest spot to do your business.
Check to see if the bathroom has a cleaning log posted, as some do, suggests Lisa Yakas, MS , a microbiologist and senior account manager of product certification at NSF, an independent organization that helps develop public health standards and provides testing, inspection, certification and other solutions across industries.
“By checking to see if there’s a log, you can have a greater assurance that the bathroom has been frequently and recently cleaned,” she explains.
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Scope out the scene as well. If the restroom smells bad, it may not be cleaned regularly, Gerba says. Also, pay attention to whether the floors seem sticky or dirty. If you notice that the toilet hasn’t been flushed, he says it could mean the flushing mechanism isn’t working. You could test it out or switch to a different stall.
How Worried Should You Be About Bathroom Germs?
Public restrooms can house a slew of pathogens, including shigella, E. coli, norovirus, staph, MRSA, HPV, herpes and more, research shows.
Norovirus is especially common, Gerba says. It can cause diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, stomach pain, headache, body aches and fever, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
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In many instances, high-touch surfaces, like door and faucet handles, harbor more germs than other surfaces, such as toilet seats, Yakas says.
“Being conscious of germs and the risk of contracting harmful bacteria and viruses can help you to stay healthy and safe,” she explains. “Bacteria and viruses can live on many surfaces for more than two days.”
The best way to protect yourself against these germs is to wash your hands properly, Yakas emphasizes. Thoroughly scrub your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds before rinsing and drying them with a clean towel. Or, use hand sanitizer if soap isn’t available.
Avoid eating, touching your face or grabbing your phone before washing your hands, she adds. Most people don’t wash their hands for long enough, and Gerba says people also don’t always use soap in public restrooms.
Even if you wash your hands well, it’s a good idea to also use hand sanitizer once you leave the restroom, he adds.
Next, read about how often you should wash your water bottles .
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