# Ewwww factor **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 28, 2003, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ewwww-factor/198257 "2003-08-28T19:50:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DaddyTimesTwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@DaddyTimesTwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaddyTimesTwo)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ewwww-factor/198257/1 "2003-08-28T19:50:44Z")
Anyone else go “Ewwww” when you use a public toilet, sit down and the seat’s warm? I’m not sure if it’s worse when the previous occupant (perhaps) is still washing his hands or if the room is empty. In short, ewwwwwww. ---
**Author:** ![Silly\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d26b3c/32.png) [@Silly\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silly_Dog)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ewwww-factor/198257/2 "2003-08-28T19:52:15Z")
Warm is not so bad. It’s when the seat’s wet that I go “Ewwww.” ---
**Author:** ![DaddyTimesTwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@DaddyTimesTwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaddyTimesTwo)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ewwww-factor/198257/3 "2003-08-28T20:04:08Z")
**Silly Dog** , that is certainly higher on the “Ewww List” for me too. I almost always check it out visually before I sit down to prevent such a thing. ---
**Author:** ![Isabelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5a626/32.png) [@Isabelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isabelle)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ewwww-factor/198257/4 "2003-08-28T20:13:26Z")
NEVER sit on the toilet. You will get cooties. I taught my boys that if they had to sit to line the toilet seat with toilet paper. I wonder if they still do that? Hmmmm I wonder if that is wierd that a mom should ask her teenage children that question. ---
**Author:** ![DaddyTimesTwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@DaddyTimesTwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaddyTimesTwo)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ewwww-factor/198257/5 "2003-08-28T20:22:24Z")
I’m gonna go ahead and guess, **Isabelle** , that not sitting is a female thing. My wife has mentioned that if the ladies room is too grody, she won’t sit, she’ll just hover. I’ll take a look, clean off what I have too, and then lay down some paper if need be. Because of some, shall we say, “bowel discomfort”, I have learned to not be too choosy. ---
**Author:** ![thatDDperson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de0a6/32.png) [@thatDDperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thatDDperson)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ewwww-factor/198257/6 "2003-08-29T06:35:33Z")
Clorox Clean-Up wipes. But first, the Lysol spray. A habit aquired with colitis, held over for the carcinoid problem. Whadda ya expect from a person who carries a complete bathroom cleaning kit in her car at all times? ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ewwww-factor/198257/7 "2003-08-29T06:52:59Z")
See, I’m convinced that this is a disconnect between the sexes based on one pressing and typically undiscussed factor: Women rarely defecate in a public restroom, therefore we are capable of doing anything we need to do while engaging in the “icky toilet hover manuever.” (Not to be attempted by the aged, infirm, heavily pregnant, very plus-sized or very small children.) On the rare occasions when we need to do more, the employment of toilet paper, seat covers and the “do it fast, damn fast, hurry, faster” method is called for. This is just my perspective, based upon my experience and anecdotal evidence. Women who would like to contradict me can feel free to do so, I openly admit that I may well be completely wrong. ---
**Author:** ![DaddyTimesTwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@DaddyTimesTwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaddyTimesTwo)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ewwww-factor/198257/8 "2003-08-29T16:52:08Z")
What do you mean, “women defecate”? Well, that’s just gross. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ewwww-factor/198257/9 "2003-08-29T21:08:08Z")
1. Line the seat with toilet paper unless you have to ter it off square by square as I have seen in some places. 2. Squat if you can. 3. Go to the woods, lots of leaves, beware of poison ivy, etc. 4. Hold it till you’re constipated and take a laxative at home. ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ewwww-factor/198257/10 "2003-08-29T21:10:31Z")
1. Line the seat with toilet paper unless you have to tear it off square by square as I have seen in some places. 2. Squat if you can. 3. Go to the woods, lots of leaves, beware of poison ivy, etc. 4. Hold it till you’re constipated and take a laxative at home. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ewwww-factor/198257/11 "2003-08-29T21:29:13Z")
If the toilet seat seems really warm, you may want to check that the stall is in fact unoccupied… ---
**Author:** ![Single\_Serving\_Friend](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5fc32e/32.png) [@Single\_Serving\_Friend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Single_Serving_Friend)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2003, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ewwww-factor/198257/12 "2003-08-30T01:23:18Z")
I just delude myself into thinking it’s a very fancy place with seat heaters. : shudder: ---
**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2003, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ewwww-factor/198257/13 "2003-08-30T01:32:18Z")
**Single Serving Friend** … oh I get it. That’s very clever. How’s that working out for you? FTR I use **Isabelle** ’s method.