As you exit, protect yourself
Once again, I've used my camera-phone to take a picture in the bathroom,
a practice Marnie finds to be "creepy."
a practice Marnie finds to be "creepy."
Next to the bathroom door at the Newseum is a special paper towel dispenser designed to provide a germ-free exit.
The sign reads: "As you exit, protect yourself. Use a tissue to open the door."
Now, I'm one of the people they had in mind when they installed this thing. After all, I have long thought that the hand-washing process in public bathrooms is problematic.
Still, this contraption would be unnecessary if people washed their hands before leaving the bathroom. In acknowledging that some people don't wash their hands, this towel dispenser is providing cover for those people.
Comments
Better yet, don't touch the door handle with your hands at all. Try using your teeth.
Eric: I don't recall wishing for someone to invent this. That is, my public concern about the inherent bathroom hand-washing problems never focused on the exit door.
Typically I will handle the inward opening men's room door one of three ways:
1. for a multi person bathroom that's busy, just wait for someone else to enter.
2. use a paper towel to open the door and either make the basketball shot to the trashcan or drop it on the floor as my message to put a trash can near the door.
3. for emergencies or bathrooms with no towels, use the "pinkie pull" which just makes me feel safer.