Why is it that for the vast majority of public toilets, the door opens inwards?

Question

Everywhere I have been in the world, the entry door to a public toilet facility opens inwards, which means when I am finished and I wash and dry my hands, I need to grab a handle to get out! I don't know how many people have used the facility and NOT cleaned their hands before exiting! So, now my hands are dirty again. Surely outward opening doors which I could push with my forearm or shoulder would be better?

Indeed, I am not referring to stalls, rather the complex. A recessed outwardly opening door is the best solution. I don't consider myself a germophobe, just hygene aware. I grew up on a farm where hand cleanliness is vital to avoid all sorts of diseases, but I think city folk don't realise how common gastric complaints are, and I am sure many of them are caused by public toilet door handles! I find it amazing that I cop criticism for posting such a topic on a "General Health" bulleting board! How much more general could it get? Few people have never used a public toilet in their lives.

Answer 1

AMEN! I agree with you 100%.
I don't know how many people I've seen rush into the restroom and rush out without even looking at the sink. They should at least have a trash can right next to the door. I usually use a paper towel and if I can't hit the can from the door, I drop the towel behind the door. Sometimes (when there are only electric hand driers) I pull the door open via the top or the closing mechanism. I figure nobody else would bother touching them so all they would be is a little dusty.

Answer 2

I agree with you, it would be so much more convenient to be able to push it open with a foot. Maybe people just build them that way out of habit.

I try to grab a tissue, paper towel or piece of toilet paper, to grab the door handle with & then find a place outside of the restroom to throw it away...or if there's a trash can near the door, I grab the handle with the paper, get the door open & hold it open w/ my foot while throwing the paper in the trash, then I don't have to touch the dirty handle.

(all those non-germophobes are probably rolling their eyes at us right now, lol.) :-)

Answer 3

Plumbing code:

"Since the stall is primarily intended for use by persons using canes, crutches and walkers, rather than wheelchairs, the length of the stall could be conventional. The door, however, must swing outward to ensure a usable space for people who use crutches or walkers."

Answer 4

You're referring to a door that opens into the lavatory, not to a stall door. It also opens into a hallway but if it swings into the hallway it can collide with someone walking by. Which is why it doesn't. You'll just have to wear gloves if it's that big a deal with you.

Answer 5

Inward opening takes less room because you can have a narrower aisle without blocking it. That means building can have more rentable space while still providing the required number of bathrooms in the building.

Answer 6

to stop you from hitting people with the door in a hurry that said people often go to the bathroom to wash their hands after doing something so how much difference does it make
is for example handling money more dirty than going to the bathroom and not washing your hands?

Answer 7

I think this is purely so you don't throw the door open and cause some kind of bathroom based domino effect.

No one wants to see that! (much less be apart of it)

Answer 8

When you got to pee badly, you want to be able to just push open the door and run.

Answer 9

because...i dont know...STOP HOUNDING ME!!!