The Ladies Room: The loud, smelly truth about women’s toilets
Here’s something light-hearted inspired by the many outings that come with the summer season… and by so many previous experiences visiting “rest rooms”. The time has come for us women to have our voices heard when it comes to what we need public toilets to include. No - having a toilet, sink and mirror is not enough. There are other layers (beyond toilet paper) that come into play. And to understand these layers, one has to understand ‘the mind of a woman’. I’m sharing some thoughts just for fun… and in the hope that someone high up in ladies-toilets-design reads this and spreads the word :)
Tinkle, tinkle… little sound
The most comfortable toilets are those that feel private - and this includes sound privacy. This especially applies to toilets in places where you probably know the person in the next cubicle - like in schools, offices etc. Sound insulation is important. I know many women who try to tinkle silently because they are embarrassed by ‘the sound of the stream’.
Tricks to muffle the sound include: filling the toilet bowl with toilet paper before peeing to absorb the sound, flushing the toilet while you pee to drown out the sound. Having closed cubicles, with partitions and doors that reach the ceilings and floors, makes a massive difference on the toilet-happiness scoreboard.
Something to reflect on… alone
Many public toilets have a large mirror near the sinks outside the toilet cubicles. While this is understandable as designers might not want people lingering in toilets for long once they do their business, there is something they also ought to know:
The shyer women amongst us would love to check out their outfit, twirl to see their back side, check their make-up, fix that smudged eyeliner or top up the lip gloss… but they don’t feel comfortable doing it with an audience even if this is other women. I’ve often done this with a compact mirror inside the toilet cubicle. Shhhh!
To hang a handbag
Please, please, please. Whoever designs toilets, please provide a place where to place or hang our bags. This avoids us having to put them on the toilet floor, or balance them above the flushing, window sill or toilet paper holder - with the risk of disaster.
I have heard horror stories of bags tipping over and stuff falling into the toilet bowl. While many toilets have some sort of hook behind the door, there are still some that still don’t. Some have the shadow of a hook that once was there.
Basics please
This is a no-brainer… but often missing. Ensuring there are the basics is key. I’m talking about toilet paper, paper towels, hand washing liquid, and a hand-drier that actually works.
I honestly believe that the main reason why women carry tissues in their bags is because of the assumption that the next public toilet won’t have toilet paper.
Beyond basics… please
I’m all for equality, but biology dictates that women and men are different when it comes to toilet needs. To start off with, women need to sit on a toilet. So providing sanitising spray or wipes in the toilet cubicles can make all the difference between sitting and hovering.
As we know, women also need to use the toilet for ‘the third reason’ (I’m referring to menstrual flows). Providing vending machines that sell tampons and sanitary towels is always a bonus for those of us with an irregular cycle… or those of us who forget what part of the cycle we’re at. Oh yes… and when it comes to places of work: adding dry cleaning spray - for the occasional spill-and-stain before an important presentation - can save the day.
Who smelt it…
Sometimes using the toilet at work to do ‘number two’ is unavoidable. Many of us would rather do this in the comfort of our own home, where we have access to showers and bidets.
But what we seldom talk about is that: one of the main reasons - apart from being able to clean yourself better at home - for loathing to use the toilet at work is: the smell. The not-so-pleasant scent you leave lingering behind for the person waiting outside. Many women care about the next person. And feel embarrassed to admit to having created a stench. Providing air fresheners addresses the embarrassment and makes things easier for the person to follow. It’s a win-win.
When ‘driers’ become ‘wetters’
I often find that the hand driers are placed (what feels like) miles away from the sink. This means that, after you wash your hands, you inevitably leave a trail of drops on the floor until you get to the drier.
People step on those drops and they quickly transform into a brown, wet, messy floor... a nightmare for anyone with small children.
Fact: babies become children
And speaking about children, when it comes to kids the assumption in the toilet-design-world seems to be that: ‘babies stay with mummies’. I say this because, in most cases, the nappy changer is in the ladies’ toilet. True, sometimes there are designated changing rooms. But, if there is no space: the lady gets the baby.
Then something changes. The next assumption is that these babies grow into adults, and skip childhood. I can’t count the times I tried to get into a cubicle with my daughter (not a baby) and could barely fit. I’d need to contort myself and my bag to squeeze myself between the door and the toilet, to be able to close the cubicle.
Also, while I have seen public toilets that have child-sized toilets, very often children do not reach the water tap. The result? More juggling for mummy who has to lift a child to wash his or her hands… while balancing bags. Urgh!
Share your views?
Do you have something to share on the subject? Is there a topic you feel passionate about and would like to talk about. If so you can comment below or send an email on hello@womanunclouded.com so we can discuss how to get your voice heard.