Flight attendant reveals 7 mistakes people make in plane toilets

Getting decent leg room and a seat in your preferred part of the cabin is a priority for most travellers.

But there’s one area that passengers should be giving more thought to and that’s the plane toilets.

Speaking to bathroom specialists, Sanctuary Bathrooms, a former flight attendant who spent years working for a major airline has revealed why this part of the plane is widely considered, within the airline industry, to be the dirtiest place on the aircraft.

They revealed how often the aeroplane bathrooms get cleaned, the worst time to use them during the flight and the all important do’s and don’ts for when it comes to getting some much-needed mid-flight relief.

A former flight attendant has lifted the lid on aeroplane bathrooms after working for a major airline for more than five years. They reveal how often the loos are cleaned and when is best to use them (stock image)

1. DO: Wear a mask in the loo

‘The aeroplane loo is essentially a cupboard, with no clean air. There is no window and the air ventilation is poor.

‘This means that every time you go to the loo, not only are you breathing in the air of many others who have “done their business” before you (especially if it’s a long-haul flight) but you could also be breathing in potential faeces particles, circulating the air after a toilet flush.’

2. DON’T: Clean your teeth

Do not clean your teeth in an aeroplane loo.

The former attendant explained: ‘The water on a plane all comes from the same water tank and it is not filtered.

‘If you really need to, used bottled water but my main piece of advice would be, do not take your toothbrush or wash bag anywhere near an aeroplane loo.’

3. DON’T: Touch any surfaces – including the loo seat

‘It sounds dramatic but I highly recommend you avoid direct contact with as many surfaces as possible, in the aeroplane loo cubicle.’

That starts from opening the door. Instead they advise using your foot or wearing plastic, disposable gloves to touch the handle.

In addition, most aeroplane loos have wipes next to the sink, which are there to be used.

HOW OFTEN ARE THE LOOS CLEANED?

The former cabin crew member explained: ‘An important part of the airline industry is turnover.

‘This sometimes means that a full, deep clean of the aeroplane loo isn’t always possible due to a lack of time and higher priorities.’

Usually the cubicles will receive a quick wipe down before a flight takes off and again during the flight they tend to be checked every half an hour.

Yet, they explained if more urgent things are going on this checking of the loos will fall down the priority list.

Delving further the former flight attendant explained that passengers may not be aware that the sewage tank is onboard the flight and that there can sometimes be several, depending on the size of the plane.

Looking back at last year, they said: ‘This tank is supposed to get emptied once the plane has landed but with 2022 being one of the busiest years for flights, it can often be a couple days before it gets fully emptied.

‘If the sewage tank was to overflow, there is a risk that pipes could burst and their contents could get into the aircraft, which has happened before.’

You should definitely wipe down every surface before you touch it, but if that’s not possible, take some sheets of loo roll and use them to avoid touching anything directly with your fingertips.

They said: ‘Worst case scenario, use your knuckles, rather than your fingers and hand sanitise straight after.’

Finally, try your best to hover over the loo seat and avoid actually sitting down and touching it. I

f you’re finding it hard to balance, there are usually handles that you can hold on to, but again, wipe them down first or cover them with loo roll – the same applies to the flush button

4. DO: Shower straight after your flight

‘Because of the poor air circulation on a plane (especially in the loos) as well as the number of surfaces that can harbour a lot of germs, you could leave your flight with dirty hands, hair and clothes.

‘As soon as you arrive at your destination, put your clothes in the wash and have a good scrub.

‘I always used to shower straight after work and sometimes the water would turn brown.’

5. DON’T: Take your shoes off – ever!

‘Sometimes people remove their shoes to walk around the plane but do not step sock-footed and even barefoot, into an aeroplane bathroom.

‘Due to the high chance of unbalance and people missing the toilet bowl, there could be urine on the floor.

‘Imagine if you carried this from your sock, into your shoe and back into your home – that would be incredibly unhygienic.’

6. DO: Carry hand sanitiser

Post-covid, regular handwashing is now a lot more frequent as is the use of hand sanitiser.

These personal hygiene practices should now be implemented when travelling, especially for moments like using the aeroplane loos.

The former cabin crew member explained: ‘Most flight attendants have always carried pocket-sized bottles of hand sanitiser around with them on flights, to use when necessary and I would encourage passengers to do the same.

‘Especially before and after visiting the loo (as well as washing your hands with soap).’

7. DON’T use the loos at the start or end of a flight

According to the former air steward: ‘The worst time to use the aeroplane loo is right before take-off and at the very end of a flight, especially if it’s long-haul.’

They explain that the on-flight bathrooms are equally bad after a bumpy spot of turbulence during which time the seat belt signs would have to be turned on.

As soon as the signs are turned off an influx people needing the loo, as well as though who feel they may be sick will rush to the bathroom.

The former flight attendant also described how you should try using the loo on flight before the food is served.

They said: ‘Plane food is not nutritious. It can be oily and high in salt and fat; things that don’t tend to be great for gut health or bowel movements.

‘If a meal isn’t sitting right with a passenger and they need to use the loo because of it, you don’t want to be in there straight after.’

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