# Are urinals harder to flush or something? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 14, 2011, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-urinals-harder-to-flush-or-something/567569 "2011-01-14T04:35:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-urinals-harder-to-flush-or-something/567569/61 "2011-01-17T23:04:52Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Now I’m wondering how flushless urinals work, and what keeps them from smelling all uriney, and how one “properly maintains” them. There is a layer of oil that sits on top of the urine, there by blocking the smell from emanating from the urinal. When you pee it drops underneath the oil. I’m guessing that proper maintenance of these involves sending some amount of water down the drain to sweep the piss out of the gooseneck. I’ve heard that if they aren’t perfectly maintained though urea crystals can block the drain pipe after time. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-urinals-harder-to-flush-or-something/567569/62 "2011-01-18T02:28:21Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > I laughed till I peed myself. Did you remember to flush your chair? ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-urinals-harder-to-flush-or-something/567569/63 "2011-01-18T07:29:20Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > When I’m in my own home, or hotel room or whatever, I can use my best judgement regarding whether or not to “let it mellow.” > > In a public restroom, though, everything should get flushed. Don’t leave your waste behind for someone else to deal with. Ick. I agree on toilets, urinals, not so much. In fact, the emerging thing in urinals is either no flush or alternatively auto-flush. ---
**Author:** ![Paranoid\_Randroid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paranoid_randroid/32/18_2.png) [@Paranoid\_Randroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paranoid_Randroid)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-urinals-harder-to-flush-or-something/567569/64 "2011-01-18T13:32:02Z")
> [@cerberus](#): > > In fact, the emerging thing in urinals is either no flush or alternatively auto-flush. These days it seems rarer for me to find a public urinal that _doesn’t_ automatically flush. The best is when the toilet automatically flushes, the soap automatically dispenses, the faucet automatically runs water, and a paper towel is automatically provided. I hope to be alive for the Public Restroom of the Future, which I suspect will automatically dispense a fleet of sanitary nanobots to evaporate one’s waste product without even requiring the removal of clothing. The ceremony of the post-voiding handwash will exist only as a story that our grandchildren find terribly bizarre. Thank you, nanobots, there is nothing you cannot do. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-urinals-harder-to-flush-or-something/567569/65 "2011-01-18T17:37:56Z")
> [@yabob](#): > > Many guys seem to have an overwhelming urge to aim at a specific target, and the drain or the urinal mint is the obvious choice. The behavior can actually be changed by painting something like a fly on the urinal surface. The videogame company Sega has come up with a new way for Japanese standees to amuse themselves at the urinal and work on their aim: [The Toirettsu](http://kotaku.com/5713693/sega-is-making-a-game-you-can- **** -on) ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-urinals-harder-to-flush-or-something/567569/66 "2011-01-18T18:12:02Z")
> [@Uzi](#): > > #2 is why people do #3. What I’ll pit is the idiot building management who doesn’t put the trash bin next to the door, or requiring the door to pulled open rather than pushed. I’ll see your gripe, and raise you. Any architect/builder who designs/builds new restrooms without labyrinth/doorless entryways needs to be strung up and shot. Touching a public restroom door handle is one of the singularly most disgusting things I ever contemplate doing. ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-urinals-harder-to-flush-or-something/567569/67 "2011-01-18T18:13:29Z")
> [@Paranoid\_Randroid](#): > > The best is when the toilet automatically flushes, the soap automatically dispenses, the faucet automatically runs water, and a paper towel is automatically provided I was with you until the automatic paper towel dispenser. Those things fucking suck. Seriously, I shouldn’t have to sit there and wave my hands 4 times over the course of 30 seconds to get a usable amount of paper towelage. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-urinals-harder-to-flush-or-something/567569/68 "2011-01-18T19:13:11Z")
> [@yabob](#): > > Many guys seem to have an overwhelming urge to aim at a specific target, and the drain or the urinal mint is the obvious choice. mmmm…urinal mint… ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-urinals-harder-to-flush-or-something/567569/69 "2011-01-18T19:19:13Z")
Pertinent Cecil column: [Why are men supposed to wash their hands after urination? Plus: urine therapy! - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1043/why-are-men-supposed-to-wash-their-hands-after-urination) ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-urinals-harder-to-flush-or-something/567569/70 "2011-01-19T20:02:22Z")
> [@Casey1505](#): > > “Who…does…number…two…work…for?” Huh. Sounds like pretty much everybody but _you._ ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-urinals-harder-to-flush-or-something/567569/71 "2011-01-19T20:19:37Z")
1. You don’t wash your hands because you might have gotten some poo or pee on there. No, really, that is not the reason (although not washing after #2 is a bit skeevy). No, you wash your hands with soap and hot water because you should wash your hands several times a day and you’re in there anyway. Cecil did an article on this and it really made sense to me. 2. I know the rule “If it’s yellow let it mellow, if it’s brown flush it down”. Sure. I even follow it - AT HOME. At work it’s just oogy to have to see some stranger’s waste products sitting there. And we don’t live in Nevada here, so there is no excuse. 3. I hate people who take their cellphones in there, too, or try to talk to me when I am in the stall. Please! Let me be! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-urinals-harder-to-flush-or-something/567569.md?page=3)