How to Pee on an Airplane Without Disgust
The holidays are approaching and many of us are about to fly for the first time in nearly two years. We could all brush up on tips and tricks related to air travel, such as when is the best time to go to the bathroom on an airplane or how to eat on an airplane without getting sick .
However, some fears about flying often go beyond reasonable: armrest failures . Mandate-defying masks . Our fellow citizens who think that cutting toenails on a crowded flight is okay. In the list of complaints related to air travel, the cleanliness of bathrooms on planes is very low.
As we explained in our guide to air travel for bacteriophobes before the pandemic, airplane toilets are not exactly safe havens of cleanliness; however, the fact is that they are normal in terms of the inevitable microbial contamination while traveling. Plus, it’s time to stop worrying and learn to love germs again .
Now that we have facts and rationality, let’s be real: public toilets are a little intimidating to our newly hermaphobic brains. If you’re like me and aren’t willing to weaken your germ defense, here’s how to avoid disgust when you pee on an airplane (hopefully a toilet).
Disinfect surfaces
Take along plenty of antibacterial wipes to help you calm down. Now, if you are going to sanitize bathroom surfaces, you can continue to sanitize every stop. Many other surfaces, such as a self check-in display or your tray table, will be rife with more germs than an airplane toilet. I am not talking about this to exacerbate hermaphobia, but as a reminder that the bathroom on an airplane will not be particularly contaminated with germs compared to the usual risks associated with air travel or public restrooms in general.
Wash your hands thoroughly
If we have learned anything from the pandemic, hopefully we have learned how important it is to wash our hands in order not to get sick. We looked at how to actually wash germs off our hands (remember when we all sang Happy Birthday a few times throughout the day?). There is no “trick” to wash your hands more effectively in an airplane toilet, so the best thing you can do is make sure you wash your hands in the first place.
Put on a mask
Face masks are a must-have travel accessory. As with proper handwashing and sanitizing wipes, you may be comforted by the fact that every precaution you take to protect yourself from COVID-19 will keep you safe in any old airplane toilet. Here’s how to choose the right mask so you won’t be turned away on your next flight.
Put on your shoes
At the risk of starting a cumbersome conversation in the comments, I’m not afraid to say this: I believe that you should not take off your shoes at all during the flight. So it hurts that I have to write this at all, but please do not take off your shoes when you go to the toilet on the plane. In addition to avoiding unpleasant liquids that may be on the bathroom floor, you will also observe basic rules of decency in relation to all other passengers.
Bring napkins instead of toilet paper
When talking about avoiding unpleasant liquids in public restrooms, consider carrying your own napkins rather than risking the potentially damp toilet paper available to you. Brenda Orelus , flight attendant and founder of Krew Konnect, told HuffPost about the hack:
My biggest trick in the bathroom on an airplane is using airplane tissues instead of toilet paper … Napkins are usually located at eye level on commercial airplanes, which greatly increases the likelihood that any liquid that gets on it is actually just water.
If anything, wearing tissues all the time will ensure you don’t end up stuck in the bathroom without toilet paper.
Do not wash off with your foot
Unfortunately, as we’ve explained , many of the popular germ-prevention “tricks” are a waste of time. Hovering over the toilet seat and trying to flush with your foot doesn’t really matter. The good news is that germs in the bathroom do not pose a major health hazard; Germs are everywhere in your life, and the past year of COVID safety should help you stay away from germs. There are many reasons to improve squats, but hovering over the toilet is not one of them. Instead, keep focusing on the basics of keeping germs away, like washing your hands and not touching your face.
Finally: keep calm
As you rise into the air physically, try to stay on the ground mentally. People are fearsome when it comes to airplane cleanliness, but there shouldn’t be more hermaphobia in these spacious cans we call bathrooms than at any other stage of air travel. Keep following all the basic pandemic safety tips you’ve followed for almost two years, and don’t worry.