The question of which bathroom stall is the cleanest is a surprisingly common one, particularly during peak travel times like holidays. While intuition might suggest avoiding the most central stalls, a closer look at usage patterns and hygiene considerations reveals a more nuanced picture. The idea that the first stall is somehow less contaminated has gained traction, but is it truly a reliable strategy?
The notion that the first stall might be relatively less used stems from observations about human behavior. According to Professor Philip Tierno, PhD, a clinical professor in the department of pathology at NYU Langone Health, people tend to bypass the stall closest to the entrance, preferring those further inside the restroom. People tend to avoid the compartment in front of the entrance and head to the compartment in the back area,
he explains. This preference for less psychologically exposed spaces appears to translate into actual usage patterns.
However, this preference doesn’t automatically equate to cleanliness. A 1995 study by psychologist Nicholas Christenfeld investigated this very question. Christenfeld tracked toilet paper depletion rates in four stalls over a 10-week period. The results were somewhat counterintuitive: 60% of used toilet paper rolls were found in the middle stalls, while only 40% were found in the end stalls. This suggests that, contrary to the belief that people avoid them, the middle stalls are actually the most frequently used.
Further research supports the idea that the middle stalls see the most traffic. A 2015 survey from New York Magazine found that a majority of both men and women prefer to use the middle stalls when available. When the middle stall is occupied, men tend to choose a stall closest to the door, while women gravitate towards those furthest away. This reinforces the idea of a centrality preference
– a tendency to select the middle option when presented with a choice.
It’s important to note that lower usage doesn’t necessarily guarantee a more sanitary stall. As Professor Tierno points out, Choosing the front row does not guarantee hygiene. The problem is not as simple as it seems.
A stall used less frequently might also be cleaned less often, potentially negating any benefit from reduced traffic. Viruses, like norovirus, can be infectious even in extremely small amounts – a single cell can be enough to cause illness.
The focus, should shift from stall selection to personal hygiene practices. Regardless of which stall you choose, thorough handwashing is paramount. Hands can become contaminated by touching door handles, locks, and other surfaces, whether or not the toilet has been flushed. This is particularly crucial in high-traffic areas like rest stops and public restrooms.
In spaces with many users, such as restrooms at rest areas, how you wash your hands and manage what you touch is more important than which stall you choose. The research finding that the middle column is used more is only a reference indicator. There is a possibility that the first column was used less, but We see not an absolute standard.
During periods of frequent travel, encountering public restrooms is unavoidable. Rather than relying solely on compartment selection, a realistic approach to hygiene involves adhering to basic rules like handwashing and minimizing contact with surfaces. While the idea of a consistently cleaner first stall is appealing, it’s a simplification of a complex issue.
the cleanest stall is the one you leave cleaner than you found it – through conscientious hand hygiene and awareness of your surroundings. Prioritizing these practices offers a far more reliable defense against the spread of germs than any stall selection strategy.
