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Stop Pre-Germing the Paper Towels

Germ Control in Public Spaces is what is left of a previous incarnation of this blog and it says in part:
Try to position trash cans where it doesn't actively spread germs. Ideally, NOT directly below the paper towel dispenser or immediately next to the sink. 
I've taken photos of the paper towel situation in three public bathrooms. 

Bathroom one is an older Women's bathroom with multiple stalls.



These photos were taken in the morning shortly after the establishment opened. Most likely, I was the first person to use the restroom in question on the day in question and the trash visible in one of the trash receptacles was likely there all night.

In this bathroom, the paper towels are typically visible like they are here and that means these paper towels were within inches of trash all night. I try to avoid this bathroom and if I must use it, I typically remove a paper towel and trash it, rewash my hands and then get a cleanish paper towel to dry with, though paper towels in this bathroom never really feel clean to me no matter what I do.

Bathroom two is a newer individual bathroom. It's unusually spacious and has extra handicapped amenities I've never seen before, including a diaper changing table for adults (not shown).


The trash can is not directly beneath the paper towel dispenser and the paper towels usually are not hanging down. You have to wave your hand in front to get one.

This is my favorite bathroom of the three and I use it more frequently than the other two. The paper towels are much cleaner and it works well for me for several other reasons.

I've written in various places that I believe we should make individual ungendered bathrooms the norm. 

Bathrooms on Formulary of Life.


The third bathroom is a newer Women's bathroom with multiple stalls. I use this second most.


The paper towels are convenient to the three sinks but not crowding them and there is plenty of space between it and the trash can which is on your way out, so there's nothing inconvenient about giving it more space.


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