Speaker 3
So we're going to start rapid firing a little because we have so many things to ask. Say we have luggage or a purse or something like that. Where are we putting that when we go into the public restroom? I never put anything on the floor because the floor freaks me out. So like hang it somewhere. Is that what we're supposed to be doing? I'm sure there's still stuff that gets on it.
Speaker 1
Yeah. So when you talk about the floor, the biggest issue with the floor happens to be the dust. And I mean, dust is going to be highly contaminated. However, it's usually contaminated with environmental microbes. So you can put your stuff onto the floor. You can also hang it up onto the stall. That's not a problem. But again, if you have a fairly large bag or something like that, that you're putting up on the stall, you're going to once again, be doing your Cirque de Toilet because you've got to figure out how you're going to grab that and get out of there while the toilet's flushing so you don't come into contact. So, you know, make sure that you have a plan of action before you sit down. I know this is going to sound really silly, but it's so true. It happens to me all the time because I carry a really big knapsack and I put that up there and I practice how I'm going to get out of the stall so that as soon as that toilet's flushed, I am out of there and I've got no worries at all.
Speaker 3
I'm going to start peeing with the door open.
Speaker 2
Completely, completely.
Speaker 1
Oh, yeah. It would make things just so much easier. But the other thing is that if you're talking about luggage, right, if it's going to end up being on the floor, then the only thing that I would recommend is that when you get to your destination, don't put it on the bed. Yeah. Oh, God. Yeah. That's
Speaker 2
smart. What about opening the door to the bathroom? Should we be using a paper towel or something? I always do now. I just when I dry my hands, I just use that same paper towel to open the door and throw it away on the way out.
Speaker 1
You know what? I think that's really become sort of the common sense now. A lot of people tend to do this. And when I've recommended this, usually people put up their hands and say, well, we already do this. So that's pretty cool. The door leading out of the bathroom is not that bad. Okay. It's the stalls that are really the problem. So you want to use the paper towel to get out of the stall with the, yeah. I don't do that. See, that's what I don't do.
Speaker 2
I don't use something to get out of, well, then I think I'm using, I'm going to go wash my hands though. And I do do a good job. Yeah, exactly. I love those doors now. Like they have them at Alamo theaters here where you can open it with your foot. There's like a little thing that you just sort of like pull it out with your foot. I love that. They have at the Whole Foods. That's so smart. Just make it easy. Those
Speaker 1
are always the best because then it's essentially a non-touch system. I mean, I've been sort of trying to promote non-touch for like 20 some odd years. And we now have non-touch sinks or taps, I should say, which is awesome because then you don't have to worry about the taps. You know, no-touch hand dryers if they happen to be there. No-touch paper towel dispensers. No touch doors. I mean, we're getting to a point where we can make sort of the only thing that you really are touching is yourself. Yeah. I don't mean that in a bad way either. Or a good way. When you're in the bathroom. Yeah, I know. I just, I'm like, oh, that's one of those moments where you're like, oops. But anyway, and in that sense, there's really a lack of any opportunity for microbes to be transferred between people, which is fantastic. But by the same respect, if you are going to be touching things, just make sure that you realize, you know, those sink taps, those hand dryer dispensers, the soap dispensers, and the doors leading in and out of the stalls, as well as, you know, the bathroom itself are the places that you should be really thinking about. I
Speaker 2
remember being really stoned a couple of years ago, and I had one of those stone thoughts and I put it on Twitter and I was like, why don't we have toilet flushers that are just pedals by the floor? Yeah. Kind of like a, like a gas pedal in a car. You need to Shark Tank that. You know, and all these people came back on Twitter and they're like, oh, they have them in other countries. Other countries have these foot pedals. And I was like, we need those here. That's so smart.
Speaker 3
We are not the leaders. I don't know who put this idea in our head, but no, it is not America. Especially when
Speaker 2
it comes to poo-related chains. Yeah, exactly. We're not doing it right. Japan has those toilets that like sing to you and wipe your butt for you. America's
Speaker 3
not doing toilets, right?
Speaker 2
I want to ask this one really quickly. Chris asked, how bad is it to bring your drink cup from the movie theater into the bathroom? What else are you supposed to do with it? It seems like a drink is covered, but I've seen people bring popcorn in.
Speaker 3
I mean, also here's the other thing just to add. Think you're at a club or a bar where you can't leave your alcoholic beverage outside. I have brought that in there. That is so gross. It
Speaker 2
seems gross. are your thoughts about food in the bathroom?
Speaker 1
Well, okay. So the drinks, not really a big issue because you either have a lid with a straw or you've essentially got a long neck, right? Where it gets a bit more troublesome is if you are bringing something in there where there is no lid, And this is more in bars and stuff like that because you get the drink, but you don't have the ability to have a lid over top of it. I would not put it near the sink because as much as we talk about poo plumes from the toilet, there are also going to be plumes coming from the sink itself from people using the water. Right. And then people doing the, I am a surgeon, let me wash, dry my hands by shaking them. Oh God. Yeah. That's the easiest way to contaminate a drink. So I would definitely not recommend putting it there. Now in some of the bars that I've been in, they have stall mantel pieces above the urinals. So you can put your beer or whatever there. I mean, that would be a fantastic option, whether it be in a stall or whether it be in front of the urinals. But the thing is, and I know it's going to sound gross, but logistically speaking, it's probably the best option. Putting it on the floor right in front of you is probably the best thing to do because it's going to be protected. Any plumes that are coming will come from outside onto the stalls. It's not going to go down onto the floor and then mysteriously come up underneath, right? Plumes don't work that way. So putting it right in front of you in the stall is probably the safest place for you to put it. And then you can sort of transfer it from there wherever you want. The really hard part is when you go to wash your hands afterwards, where are you going to put it? And again, what might be the best option is just putting it in between your feet so that there's no opportunity for any of the plumes or droplets to get into it.
Speaker 2
I'm having a cold sweat just thinking about this. I want to say this is my advice and I'm not a microbiologist like Jason. If there's any way for you not to bring it into the bathroom, get it, order it after you've gone. I don't know. Drink your drink. Finish
Speaker 3
it up. Yeah. No, I don't like that one. Oh
Speaker 1
yeah. And I mean, that obviously is the best option, but if someone says to me, Hey Jason, I've got a half full beer here. What am I going to do?
Speaker 1
chug it and hold or, you know, put it right in front of you.
Speaker 2
Jason, I always love having you on. I also always hate having you on because it's so gross. Thank you for being here. This has been, I guess, enlightening. No, we loved it.
Speaker 3
We love to hear it. We need the reminders. And this was so much fun, Jason. Oh
Speaker 1
my goodness. I have so much fun talking with you about this because where I come from, this is stuff that we wish people would understand all the time, but it's so dry and it's so boring most of the time and you make it so much fun and what I've learned is that people when they hear this they come to me and they're like yes and they have comments and they have questions and they have suggestions and it's so cool because we get the feedback and I want to thank all the listeners who are out there because this series is just so much fun for me to do but it's also so enriching and rewarding. So I'm really thankful. Oh,
Speaker 2
we're so thankful. Our pleasure. Until next time, take care and we'll talk to you very soon. Sounds
Speaker 1
perfect. Thank you so much.
Speaker 2
It's time for Betterer 5. These are your top five takeaways from this episode.
Speaker 3
Number one, restrooms are just spilling over with germs, but they're not usually the ones that make you sick. So don't be scared. Number
Speaker 2
two, toilet seats really aren't the enemy, but disinfectant wipes are your best friend. Yep.
Speaker 3
Number three, do not trust handles. Doors, dispensers, dryers, they are all actually germier than the toilet seat. Number
Speaker 2
four, to avoid the dreaded poo plume, flush and get out of there as quickly as possible. The
Speaker 3
infamous poo plume. And number five, do not half-ass your hand washing. Use soap and spend at least 20 seconds lathering up. Think a verse of Mariah Carey's Always Be My Baby. Okay, Noah. So have you been doing public
Speaker 2
restrooms wrong? See, I didn't think I had been. I was worried I'd been like overly cautious. But after hearing everything Jason said, I'm definitely not doing the patented Raj trademark flush and run. Like I flush and I'm still hanging out and then they're putting my jacket on or whatever. Do not loiter
Speaker 2
I need to stop. It's every time we do an episode like this and I hear about the poo plume again, I just think that is a terror. It's like poltergeist. You know what I mean? Like I don't want the poo plume in my life. Poltergeist. Yes. What about you? Have you been doing it wrong? Of course I've been doing it wrong.