During long, several-hour flights, many passengers are forced to go to the toilet on the plane. Despite the fact that you should wash your hands after using the toilet, according to experts, it is not a good idea to use the sink on board. , it turns out that this procedure is actually completely unsanitary.
- Toilets are cleaned regularly, but handles and locks often remain contaminated.
- Hands get dirty immediately after washing when touching the toilet handle.
- It is safer to use wet wipes followed by a disinfectant.
Each of us knows that washing hands after using the toilet is the basis of hygiene. In the air, however, these normal rules don’t seem to apply. Expert and travel blogger Josephine Remo explained that the reason is simple. “This is because even though the toilets themselves are cleaned, other parts such as locks or handles are not disinfected in this way“, she stated.
The problem is that even if you wash your hands, you immediately re-contaminate them because you have to grab the handle to get out. So how can you ensure that your hands don’t get dirty again after using the toilet?
You should rather avoid using the sink on the plane. (illustrative photo)
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Shanina Knighton, a researcher at Case Western Reserve University in the US, has some recommendations that can save you a lot of trouble. “If possible, I try to avoid the toilet, but sometimes it’s not possible. Watch out for latches on toilet doors, because those are the ones that catch even those who haven’t washed their hands. “Use wet wipes instead of the sink and apply disinfectant to your hands after sitting down,” she concluded.
In addition, Knighton noted that there are a number of studies that show airplane tap water can carry dangerous bacteria. The reason for this is that on-board water tanks are not cleaned as often as you might think. “These contaminants can ruin your vacation before you even reach your destination“, she concluded.
