Ah, but all those dirty hands touching the spray application fixture would merely spread the germs.

in a public restroom, it is best to have a garabage can next to the door.... that way after you wash and dry your hands, you grab an extra paper towel and use it to open the door. then simply toss it into the garabage as you are leaving, and your hands stay germ free.

Evidently the general feeling that some users are unclean in the use of public toilet facilities requires more than merely sanitizing the exit door. Every surface available to a user carries the potential for spreading germs. Perhaps flooding the area with ultra-violet light may be helpful but this carries dangers for damage to eyes. As much as possible, control knobs and levers should be replaced by devices operated by interrupted light beams and location sensitive devices which might be expensive but nevertheless seem to be coming into use in some quarters.

I like that we are all concerned about germs (re: my comment about Bathroom doors opening outwards.) After washing my hands, I, too, use the paper towel to open the door. I always find it amusing when I see paper on the floor behind the door: it means there are crazies like me who exitted and threw the paper on the floor.

Perhaps we are all missing the point. Perhaps the great innovation we need is to educate the public at large about the importance of washing their hands!

I find it offensive that people feel that running a bit of water - 3 seconds - without soap is enough of an effort to wash the urine and fecal matter from their hands. Nice.

I didnt always use the paper towel for the door; sometimes I would just used a finger on my left hand that was not likely to touch my face. But, following the SARS outbreak in Toronto last year, when it became apparent that those germs could live on metal objects for hours, I initiated my never-touch-anything-policy. If I touched something (or someone), I'd have to wash my hands before ever touching my face. Nuts.

Door opening directions, anti-bacterial spray, UV and paper towels are all excellent solutions. But the real problem is that there are too many dirty people who dont know how to wash their hands.

If you do use anti-bacterial sprays then the last thing you touch is anti-germ so that you wouldn't have to worry about germs getting on the hands. Furthermore, you don't have to worry about littering (which means that no one would have to worry about picking up something full of germs).

The only problem is that more than likely such a process would create some nasty germ which would not be killed by the antimicorbial solution. A friend did a study years ago by taking samples off the door handles... It was really scary stuff. By the same token, it also shows the human body is incredibly resistant to such organisms.

A better solution is auto opening doors.

Most public facilities do not have doors, but have the opening (often two) where you walk in and around a visual barrier. These are typically larger restrooms but could be somewhat made in smaller ones. Just offset the restroom entrance down a short hall with no doors. Also most facilities have electric eye flushers and paper seat protectors and this should be mandatory in public restrooms. Of course you still need to wash your hands too, not to mention it helps keep you from getting cold and flu germs.

Alcohol disinfectants kill ALL bacterial; it's only antibacterial soap that doesn't kill some bacteria. I therefore suggest that alcohol be used to sanitize bathroom doors.

alcohol solution? ... something like scotch or burbon?

I am not sure if this is a good palce to mention this But I have a new device which allows the restroom door handle to be ignored completely in most washrooms the world over. It called a Wakmah and mor info can be found at www.wakmah.co.ukRgds Mike

It sounds like part of the 'unclean - unclean' image is that public facilites are not adequately cleaned. Do we have this mentality using a friend's bathroom? Or the accomodations at a posh establishment?And what do you guys do when there are only air-blow driers and no paper towels?

The idea of the entry/exit door opening out is the only logical solution and is in keeping with codes for doors opening along the path of exit in case of an emergency. The airport maze entry is space consuming and can only be reduced to the space it takes for a wheelchair to navigate the turns - still a wide path and turning circle,

The health profession is an advocate for cleansing creams or other juices for hand cleaning. (You'll be seeing less and less of sinks in exam rooms and more topical cleansing applications in the future.) The added feature to this is the water conservation.

I think hygene education starts at home since the whole issue precludes school age - but while I seem to be more tolerant than some -I bet you all just hate those ubitiquous signs reminding employees to wash their hands!!

Perhaps what is needed is a germ detector similar to an airport metal detector. Then, if your hands are dirty as you pass thru it on you way out -the door won't open.

The use of the "Footpull.com" is VERY important these days because of these realistic facts about handwashing. Being able to leave the restroom by utilizing your foot instead of grabbing the "contaminated" door handle is a great relief. I've never had to go back to my table to finish eating with my feet. However, my hands are very important when eating, and they need to remain sanitized.