Toilets
 

Message: Hello, all. I'll be going to the States shortly, and wondered what the toilets are like. That is, do the facilities tend to be up to European standards? Are public restrooms generally available, or where might be the best places to find them (eg- restaurants, cafes, shops, etc.)? And how's the toilet paper? I've heard that in the States it's none to gentle to delicate body parts, and of course I'll bring a roll of my own to be safe. <BR>Thanks for your help, <BR>Amy <BR> <BR>

Yes, you can certainly expect third world conditions here in the U.S.A. Best come prepared.

This is a pasting of a question put on the europe board today, written by an American. I expected this answer to it. <BR>"Oh Brother" has responded with the answer it deserves. Unfortunately such patronising and ill informed and insulting questions appear on the Europe board. <BR>It was a mean test I admit but (for me at least) has proved a point. So please treat us with the respect you yourselves expect.

Amy's point is well taken. <BR> <BR>Moreover, also, too, and furthermore: there are toilets in the US that are much more disgusting than most in Europe, at least based on what I've seen in ladies' rooms across the country. It seems to me that American women are getting piggier and piggier -- esp. about peeing on the seat, to be blunt. Some of the most revolting places I've been to have been on the service areas on the highways up the East Coast. Unflushed toilets, paper all over the floor, dirty seats, scuzzy sinks with only cold water. It's time to clean up your act, ladies. If you "hover" because the seat might be dirty, consider that you yourself are making the problem worse, esp. if you leave things worse than when you arrived. <BR> <BR>If you found the same thing in Europe, you would have horrible things to say about the Europeans' idea of public hygiene.

I smell a troll in that paper roll! <BR>

Sounds surprising that we have running water in the states, but if you want to do more research... <BR> <BR>http://www.besttoilets.com/

To the top!

You are all responding with exactly the responds I hoped. (Thanks though to Charlotte who has understood the point I am trying to make).Please though look at the same "toilet" thread on the Europe board and you will see that my original posting is a pasting of this, though replacing "going to Italy" with "going to the States" and "up to US Standards" with "up to European standards". <BR>Unfortunately the same question on the Europe board did not appear to be a troll and was not treated as such. <BR>Please read it - in Europe we also have running water and sanitary conditions but sometimes you wouldn't believe this from some of the answers to this same question on the other board. <BR>This is the last comment I will make on the subject, I just ask you to read Europe "Toilets" and keep that in mind when responding to rude and patronising questions.

To be honest most toilets in the USA are just a hole in the cement floor where you squat. That's in the better establishments. The ones that aren't as nice have pigs down below that gobble up the crap and are known to sometimes bite your butt if you don't watch out!

Didn't know pigs could eat that much crap.

If you really are coming to USA and truly need to know about where to go -- stay away from gas stations! My (woman's) belief is the men who run gas stations and work with grease and grime all day long don't care about tp on the floor. <BR> <BR>Good bets for a clean seat: restaurants, though fast food places can be of questionable quality (should buy a drink or something from them after using the facilities), shopping malls, and highway rest stops. <BR> <BR>Most places in the USA do not have attendants to keep the bathroom spotless. <BR> <BR>You won't need to bring tp all the way from Europe, can buy a roll or purse pack here at Target stores (always a clean bathroom by the way)

How funny! I have friends who just came back from a 2 week tour of Europe. Their number ONE comment was to bring your own toilet paper from the states to Europe! The toilets they experienced there were not up to the same quality as here! I guess this is a very important subject where ever you go. <BR> <BR>I just got back from several days in NYC. One of the warnings I got was that unless you're a customer at a restaurant, etc. the restrooms are completely unavailable. I guess the quality level and availability would really depend on where the traveler is heading. <BR> <BR>I'd say, overall, the more public the toilet is, the lower quality to expect, both in terms of hygiene and toilet paper. If at a mall, I NEVER go to the mall bathrooms. Find a major department store and use their restrooms. Travelling the interstates? An official rest area will be typically cleaner than the gas station 20 miles up the road. Probably the best thing I ever got from my ex-husband was the advice that hotel lobby bathrooms are always cleaner than the public restrooms at the gas station next door. <BR> <BR>I've never been to Europe, but have heard of some public restrooms being holes in the floor. The specifics of the plumbing was not explained, but left to my imagination. Still haven't figured that out, tho. Here in the states, you'll find the standard toilet looks like a seat. I, personally, NEVER sit directly on a public toilet. If the paper seat covers are not available, I use toilet paper to cover the seat. If the toilet paper is rough, scrunch it up several times, then smooth it out. Your hotel paper should be better than what you'd find out. <BR> <BR>Good luck, and have fun Amy. Where are you planning to go? We hosted someone from England this summer. He was REALLY surprised at the distances across the states. Keep in mind that our typical state is about the size of a typical country in Europe.

I wanna get back to the tiny-tank flush vs. the turbo flush tank. Wipe your aperature with anything available is my advise.

You guys find some of the funniest stuff to talk about!!! <BR>Those wacky Europeans and their holes in the floor.

Europe is not one country! so toilet facilities cannot be fairly compared between US and Europe. All depends which European country you are in. Holes in the floor used to be found in France more commonly. British toilets are well kept and clean and of a high standard as are those of Germany and Scandanavia better than many in the US. Further south in Europe you go the lower the standard.

Ok this thread was started on 10/28, 14 answers so far.

Who is the Trollmaster starting off all these "Toilet" threads 'stools too big to flush, feces smearing the bowl' rectal rubbish ? Why not go to a kinky sex site & post there ?

WOO HOO IM BACK! YOU LIKE ME, YOU REALLY REALLY LIKE ME!

Hey! I"M NOT OFFENSIVE! Don't pull MY chain!