Ask a Manager is collectively losing their shit over how people flush toilets

[conuly]

With or without feet.

There's a few people in that thread adamantly going up and down asserting that, duh, how could the rest of us be so dumb as to not know that certain types of toilets are specifically designed to be flushed with the foot. None of them have provided any sort of evidence for this claim, which makes me think that their evidence boils down to "Mommy told me when I was a kid" or "Well, I flush with a foot so I just sort of assumed", and - man, I hate when people do that. Fucking back up your claims, or at least qualify them. "I was told by my preschool teacher, but I've never verified it" would be a lot more honest and less annoying.

Anyway, I have emailed the manufacturer most often mentioned in the comments to ask for their opinion. Mostly because that is how things ought to be done, but also because if these flushers are designed to be flushed with the foot, great, but if not then we have to ask if the other contingent, which is equally vociferously asserting that foot flushing increases wear and tear on the mechanism and causes breakdowns, needs to be taken seriously. Because what's really not okay is breaking the toilet for everybody who comes after you - and sure, you'll say that you are not the sole person responsible for breaking the toilet that much faster, but c'mon, everybody says that.

So let's see what we see, and in the meantime, let's also all wash our hands. With soap and water, thanks.

Comments

[ethelmay]

When I touch a public surface differently than a private one, I try to do so with something less gross than a shoe might be. I use knuckles or elbows for walk-light buttons, for instance, and a knuckle on the touch screen at the public library or an elevator button. I'll press a door lever with an arm, maybe, hold it open by leaning on it, that kind of thing. The knuckle thing is because a knuckle is less germy than a fingertip (especially if I wash hands before leaving home), so I am spreading fewer of my germs, and I am also less likely to put my knuckle in my mouth or eye, so whatever germs I pick up are less likely to get anywhere dangerous. And I don't think anyone is more grossed out by knuckles/elbows than fingertips, while I'm very aware that lots of people find shoes more inherently disgusting than I do.

Toilet handles/buttons and restroom door handles I don't worry about as much, as I'm just about to wash my hands again anyway. I do sometimes press a toilet handle with my knee, I think. I don't recall ever getting noticeably sprayed.

Since Covid started, I have tried to keep the habit of washing hands just before I go out and just after I get back, as well as at the obvious times like using the restroom. I also carry my own soap most of the time, because I used to avoid public restroom soap as it nearly always smelled horrible.

[conuly]

Also, presumably you're less likely to use too much force when using a knuckle or even an elbow than when, as so colorfully put by supporters, "kicking" the button or lever.

[lilysea]

I've been known to

a) flush toilets and
b) push crosswalk buttons and
c) push elevator/lift buttons and
d) push the door open buttons on trains
with the tip of my golf umbrella.

Not only because of germs, it's also often more ergonomic if you have hand/wrist pain that makes it hard to generate enough force to push a tiny button with fingertip alone.

[magid]

Do you use the umbrella as a substitute walking stick at times? If so, then whatever would be on the soles of your shoes would also be on the tip of the umbrella.

[lilysea]

No, I use the umbrella when I am out in my power wheelchair,

and I am either holding it above my head to keep the sun off/prevent people from walking into me because they're not looking where they are going

or rolling it up and pressing buttons with it

or rolling it up and having it sit in my large handbag hanging off my wheelchair (neither the tip of the umbrella nor the handle of the umbrella touching the ground)

It also gives me more reach, which is important - I would not be able to press the lift door open button and get into the lift before the lift door closes without that extra reach

or press the train door open button and get into the train before the train door closes without that extra reach

[magid]

The only reason I thought of it was b/c my mom has a tendency to push elevator buttons with the ground-end of her walking sticks, and I told her how unsanitary I found it. (I tend to use my knuckles, to avoid touching the buttons with my fingertips.)

[rebeccmeister]

I am just here to chime in that I now love your umbrella. Yay!

[sovay]

with the tip of my golf umbrella.

That is incredibly handy and dexterous of you.

[lilysea]

The golf umbrella tightly rolled up / tightly furled at the time

It means I can exert a lot more force with my arms instead of my fingers

a lot of toilet buttons and elevator/lift buttons require a fair bit of force to work - more than I can safely generate with my fingers alone

(I could generate that much force with my fingers alone in a true emergency like "press this button to open the emergency exit door", but I'd be in pain for days afterwards)

[sovay]

The golf umbrella tightly rolled up / tightly furled at the time

I didn't figure it was open! I would find it difficult to manipulate a button with an umbrella no matter what and appreciate that it works for you.

[ethelmay]

I was most flabbergasted by the people who said they were taught the habit in preschool. The idea of telling a class of four-year-olds to please kick the toilet handle...

[cimorene]

That sounds like it could be an episode of a cartoon actually.

[sovay]

I use knuckles or elbows for walk-light buttons, for instance, and a knuckle on the touch screen at the public library or an elevator button. I'll press a door lever with an arm, maybe, hold it open by leaning on it, that kind of thing.

Same, and for much the same reasons.