Living in the residence halls can be a great experience, but the communal bathrooms…not so much. Here are ten tips to help you survive the dorm bathrooms as well as keep your health intact.
1. Flush the toilet. It’s very simple, but people sometimes still forget to flush the toilet. Even if you aren’t used to flushing the toilet at your house, I’m sure your hall mates would appreciate. It doesn’t take much effort.
2. Make it quick. Out of courtesy to others, try to get your business done in a quick manner. Keep in mind that you share the bathrooms and other people in your hall need to use them as well.
3. Clean the sink. Remember that you are sharing the bathroom with others, so out of respect make sure that you clean any toothpaste, food or hair out of the sink after using it.
4. Bring a robe. If you live in a co-ed hall it may be uncomfortable to walk around in nothing but a towel. Shower robes are perfect because they offer the absorbency of a towel, keep you covered and can be worn around the halls. You can find even them in multiple colors and patterns.
5. Be a lady(or a gentleman). Make sure to do your part by cleaning up after yourself after using the sink or shower stall. Just taking a few extra seconds to make sure you aren’t leaving any clumps of hair or toothpaste behind can make communal bathrooms a more pleasing experience.
6. Invest in shower shoes. Never venture into the restrooms with bare feet. It is especially important to wear flip-flops in the shower, to keep from developing any sort of fungi that thrive in moist environments such as the shower stalls. Plus, yo
u never know what you might find on the floor so make sure you keep skin contact minimal.
7. Wash your hands. Always remember to wash your hands with soap or use hand sanitizer after using the restrooms to prevent the spread of illness. With so many people using the dorm bathrooms, you really don’t want to go around touching things without washing your hands first. Especially after touching the bathroom stall doors.
8. Use a toiletry tote. Toiletry totes are a great and easy way to carry your bathroom necessities from your dorm to the bathroom without having to carry awkwardly carry everything by hand.
9. Use toilet seat covers. Just like any other public restroom, you have no idea what germs and bacteria you might encounter on the toilet seat. If you don’t have toilet seat covers then layer the toilet seat with extra toilet paper.
10. Hand towels. In the interest of the environment, many universities have opted to remove paper towels from the restrooms, so invest in a hand towel just in case. They also come in handy when opening the bathroom door to reduce the spread of germs.