# bathroom floors **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 13, 2006, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-floors/348219 "2006-03-13T20:05:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gillispi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/eb8c5e/32.png) [@gillispi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gillispi)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-floors/348219/1 "2006-03-13T20:05:53Z")
Hey fellow males (and females who use the Men’s bathroom), I have a strange question that most pertains to other guys out there that has been bothering me for some time. Does anybody notice how the bathroom floor always seems to be wet around the toilet or urinal in heavily used public bathrooms? I have my speculations, but don’t want to cloud anybody else’s innate judgment. What do you guys think? Thanks, Kellen ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-floors/348219/2 "2006-03-13T20:24:01Z")
> [@gillispi](#): > > . . .always Well, not _always_, but I have noticed this often. I have decided there are four possibilities: 1. Condensation on the plumbing fixtures drips down. 2. Leaks in the plumbing drips down. 3. Toilet/urinal overflows. 4. Guys piss on the floor. That last one could include misaimed streams, splatters, and post-piss drip. Not really a factual Q/A, but OK. ---
**Author:** ![dhunter1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f14d63/32.png) [@dhunter1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dhunter1)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-floors/348219/3 "2006-03-13T20:30:36Z")
I also have noticed this. I think some of it is from people flushing the urinals, and a light mist coming up from when it splashs in the bottom. The mist would collect and gather at the bottom, making a puddle. I also think its from the people who have no respect or regard of others who either use or clean the bathrooms. Bottom of the barrel in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![xbuckeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9e8a1a/32.png) [@xbuckeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xbuckeye)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-floors/348219/4 "2006-03-13T22:09:12Z")
Where I work, and most of the ones I see, it is toilet ejaculate. The high-force, low flow flushers spew water everywhere. I always have pants on and door unlatched so I can flush and run before the toilet shower. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-floors/348219/5 "2006-03-14T01:51:54Z")
There’s more “splash” around a toilet than you might think both from flushing and standing males doing their business. It’s not always visible. Have you ever noticed in public restrooms with particians made of painted steel that the particians are oftentimes rusting out? Maybe you have a painted steel baseboard in your bathroom at home and have noticed that the area near the toilet is corroding. In your case of a heavily used public bathroom there could be a number of explanations. In any event, a lot more is splashing out of the recepticle than you might think. This is especially true of a urinal with a flushometer that is not adjusted properly and is forcefully sending water into the bowl. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-floors/348219/6 "2006-03-14T02:39:45Z")
> [@xbuckeye](#): > > Where I work, and most of the ones I see, it is toilet ejaculate. The high-force, low flow flushers spew water everywhere. I always have pants on and door unlatched so I can flush and run before the toilet shower. Some reason, this phrasing perturbs me. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-floors/348219/7 "2006-03-14T03:07:10Z")
> [@gillispi](#): > > Hey fellow males (and females who use the Men’s bathroom), I have my speculations, but don’t want to cloud anybody else’s innate judgment. What do you guys think? We aim to please. You aim too. Please! ---
**Author:** ![xbuckeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9e8a1a/32.png) [@xbuckeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xbuckeye)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-floors/348219/8 "2006-03-14T04:00:43Z")
> [@ouryL](#): > > Some reason, this phrasing perturbs me. :dubious: Well, It seemed like an accurate description of the event. You can come over and watch the toilet squirt if you want. You’ll wanna wear something waterproof. I’ve had a really bad weekend of bad bathrooms at a convention, perhaps I am not in the proper mood to discuss filthy public bathrooms. ---
**Author:** ![gillispi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/eb8c5e/32.png) [@gillispi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gillispi)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-floors/348219/9 "2006-03-14T04:58:49Z")
I agree with spartydog. I would only add that I think there is a significant amount of pee reflecting off the toilet/urinal to the floor. This effect isn’t noticeable until many people are using the bathroom and evaporation loses the battle to accumulation. I started thinking about this issue when I was peeing late one afternoon when the sun was low in the sky and I could see recoiling pee from my toilet. Small droplets were going off in every direction, and then it hit me (not just my reflecting pee) that this explains why public bathrooms have such wet floors. Obviously, some of the effect must be from drunken asses that can’t aim; but, honestly guys, when I am drunk I still hit the toilet every time. Is this just me? Additionally, the reliability of the wet floor makes me skeptical of the bad aim theory. Contrary to most females, I just don’t believe there are that many guys pissing on the floor. What do you think? ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-floors/348219/10 "2006-03-14T05:59:24Z")
> [@gillispi](#): > > I agree with spartydog. I would only add that I think there is a significant amount of pee reflecting off the toilet/urinal to the floor. This effect isn’t noticeable until many people are using the bathroom and evaporation loses the battle to accumulation. I started thinking about this issue when I was peeing late one afternoon when the sun was low in the sky and I could see recoiling pee from my toilet. Small droplets were going off in every direction, and then it hit me (not just my reflecting pee) that this explains why public bathrooms have such wet floors. Obviously, some of the effect must be from drunken asses that can’t aim; but, honestly guys, when I am drunk I still hit the toilet every time. Is this just me? Additionally, the reliability of the wet floor makes me skeptical of the bad aim theory. Contrary to most females, I just don’t believe there are that many guys pissing on the floor. What do you think? It also explains some of the pervasive restroom odor. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-floors/348219/11 "2006-03-14T14:52:46Z")
Try using a urinal while wearing shorts, and you’ll see (feel!) just how much splashback there really is… :eek: ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-floors/348219/12 "2006-03-14T16:42:29Z")
Yeah I think it’s pee on the floor. Try standing up and peeing in a bathroom that has sun shining in the window. LOTS of little droplets splashing out of the toilet. That’s why I pee sitting down in my own bathroom, I’m the one that’s gotta clean it and I don’t like washing up piss. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-floors/348219/13 "2006-03-14T20:25:20Z")
> [@Dragon Drop](#): > > I’ve noticed that floors never seem to have steep enough drain-off slants, nor drains on the back wall, where they would be most useful. Instead there’s a useless amount of slant and the drain is in the main aisle, so the unsuspecting are always steffing in runoff. I always thought public bathrooms should be designed so the _whole room_ can be flushed with soap/disinfectant and water. That way we wouldn’t need people to clean the bathroom. When I worked my low-wage high school and college jobs, I always waited for them to ask me to clean the bathrooms, but nobody ever did. Good thing too, I would have quit first! Funny thing is, at one toy store the manager (a maybe 25-35yo guy) cleaned the restrooms, I guess because he knew none of us teenagers would. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-floors/348219/14 "2006-03-14T20:30:07Z")
What’s cool is to make the bathroom as dark as possible and shine a fluorescent Black Light. You’d be amazed how many sprinklets end up around a _standard_ Porcelain Splashfactory. ---
**Author:** ![dhunter1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f14d63/32.png) [@dhunter1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dhunter1)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-floors/348219/15 "2006-03-14T21:39:35Z")
The TV show Mythbusters did an experiment on how much crap comes out of the toilet when you flush it. Very enlightening. ---
**Author:** ![sunacres](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@sunacres](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunacres)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-floors/348219/16 "2006-03-14T21:41:42Z")
Not just piss. Whenever you flush, even a standard home toilet fixture, there is a spectacular eruption of tiny water droplets and whatever fine particles of, er, debris may be contained therein. Closing the lid helps, but there’s a huge marketing opportunity for someone who wants to take an x-ray movie of a toilet being flushed, lid down, after someone empties their barium enema. Consumer panic will ensue and another round of anti-bacterial soaps will fly off the shelves. Or, just try not to think about it. ---
**Author:** ![Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runs_With_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathroom-floors/348219/17 "2006-03-15T03:03:08Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > Try using a urinal while wearing shorts, and you’ll see (feel!) just how much splashback there really is… :eek: And wear sandals, too. Ugh…Every summer I think about what I do with my shoes and pants in the winter after using public restrooms…