Why do public toilet doors open inwards forcing you to touch the handle knowing the last person hadn't washed?

Answer 1

They open inwards so that you don't inadvertently knock someone out, as you might if the door opened outwards.
However, was reading in an article the other day that toilets, thanks to the Japanese influence, are heading towards an automated future. The new toilets, already available, are designed to sense the presence of your hand near the door handle, the flush etc, so that in theory you shouldn't have to touch them at all.
That will be fun during a power cut - hundreds of people cursing technology whilst stuck in the loo! Won't be so worried about germs then, will you?!!!

Answer 2

It's probably an architecture thing. If the restroom door opened outward, then a person from inside the restroom could accidentally whack a person passing in the hallway when opening the door. That wouldn't be good.

A good trick is to just save the paper towel after washing your hands and open the door with that paper towel, then throw it away on the way out of the bathroom. Many bathrooms have a garbage can near the door for that purpose.

Answer 3

Like other people said, it doesnt matter if you're about to wash your hands anyway, but also consider this: Bacteria cant grow on a hard, dry surface: thats (part of) the reason why toilet doors have metal handles. Bacteria need moisture, and the metal dries completely, killing all bacteria on it. You could probably lick a dry toilet door handle and not get sick (still, I wouldnt do it).

and I'll give you one more for free: your hands are the dirtiest part of your body, because they touch just about everything you go near, especially really filthy things like money. After a guy takes a whizz, he should really be washing his tackle. Social taboos tell us our genitals are dirty, but if you have a shower every day, they really arent. Our bodily systems are designed to deal with the impurities that pass through those regions. The toilet door is the least of your worries.

Answer 4

Do you mean the cubicle doorways? whether the cubicle door opens outwards, you nonetheless might desire to the touch it to unencumber it. in case you mean the main remarkable doorways to the lavatory, the reason being to minimise the quantity of doubtless foul smelling air from shifting into the foyer and out into the area exterior. commencing the door inwards pushes air into the lavatory as antagonistic to pulling air out. It' the same reason Victorians set up doorways into rooms to open into the room and the hinge on faraway from the corner of the room - to shrink draft. It additionally works greater desirable from a stream attitude. If the door is to open outwards, this supplies a ability probability because of the fact the area exterior of a public lavatory is mostly a stream area (ie: hall, hall, etc.). commencing the door outwards there might danger people passing by skill of having a bathroom door opened of their faces. there are techniques of overcoming this (by skill of having the door faraway from substantial stream factors, putting up bollards or different obstructions, etc.) however the least complicated is to have the door commencing inwards. in the top, each physique's meant to be civilised adequate to bathe their palms after going top?

Answer 5

public toilets constructed by the way it is and it depends on ; how constsructed or how you feel comfortable in opening it and not for the purpose of allowing you to handle or touch the handle knowing the last person hadnt washed. that is not the intention of the one who made the said toilet for you to use

Answer 6

You'd still have to operate the lock on the cubicle, whichever way the door opened.
Maybe they open inwards because they know the locks are usually bust! That way you can always wedge it closed with a bag or hold it shut with your hand as someone starts to open it!

Answer 7

i don't know why, maybe to avoid hitting passing people with the door as you come out?
but you haven't washed your hands either at that point have you?
Or if you have (if there's a sink in the toilet) then you could open the door with a piece of toilet paper in your hand!

Answer 8

And what makes you think that toilet doors opening outward have cleaner handles?

Answer 9

It's so that if you are taken ill/collapse whilst behind that locked door, it's easier to push it open than it is to pull it in an emergency.

Answer 10

Argghh!! I hate that too!! I think it becuase when you are bursting to go, you don't want to worry about complicated things like door handles, you just want to shoulder barge the door open and get your trousers down....hey sounds like my sex life!!