Nowadays, air travel has become more common than ever. On each flight, passengers are often reminded by flight attendants about safety regulations as well as instructions on how to use the equipment in the passenger cabin. However, few pay attention to the fact that the habit of going barefoot in airplane restrooms poses significant health risks to oneself and those around them.
Recently, many flight attendants have expressed their frustration about this issue on the Reddit forum. Elizabeth Regan, a flight attendant for a commercial airline, shared with HuffPost that: “Passengers frequently use the restroom on airplanes with bare feet or just wearing socks.” This makes flight attendants “shudder” because they are well aware of what might exist on the restroom floor.
Hilary Clark, director of in-flight services at Planet 9, a private jet company based in California and a former commercial flight attendant, stated that it is “quite concerning” for people to use the restroom barefoot. She noted: “During our training, we were taught that the liquids on the restroom floor are often not just water.”
Going barefoot in the restroom is unhygienic. (Illustration: Internet).
Not to mention that going barefoot in the restroom is unsanitary and disrespectful to fellow passengers. Flight attendant Regan added: “That is completely unhygienic.”
According to a 2015 study by TravelMath, the flush handle in airplane restrooms has 265 colony-forming units (CFU) per square inch (about 6.45 cm²), compared to 172 CFU on a household toilet. While most of these germs do not pose a major threat to a healthy adult, it is best to minimize your exposure to them.
Dr. Dahlia Philips, an infectious disease specialist and medical director at MetroPlus Health, stated: “Airplane restrooms are used by many passengers, leading to frequently touched surfaces such as door handles, flush buttons, faucets, and toilets being contaminated with various pathogens. Going barefoot will expose your feet to bacteria, viruses, and fungi that can enter through open wounds.”
Dr. Gonzalo Bearman, head of the Infectious Diseases Department at VCU Health, noted that while airplane restrooms “generally do not pose a significant threat”, there are certain precautions you can take to reduce your risk of infection.
He told HuffPost: “The best way to maintain hygiene is to wash your hands properly after using the restroom on the airplane. Additionally, you should close the toilet lid when flushing. This minimizes the risk of aerosolizing tiny particles from the flush.” These tiny particles can cause infections like norovirus, so it’s best to avoid them if possible.
Wash your hands properly after using the restroom on the airplane. (Illustration: Internet).
Dr. Philips also suggested avoiding touching your face after using the restroom, using hand sanitizer, and refraining from drinking or rinsing your mouth with water from the restroom. She added: “Finally, to avoid infections, consider using paper towels to turn off the faucet and open the door.
You should also practice basic etiquette on flights by always cleaning up after using the restroom (and ensuring the toilet is flushed).
Flight attendant Regan also advised that you should use the restroom at the airport before boarding the plane. She believes that going barefoot in the restroom is “unsanitary.” She recommends everyone bring a pair of slippers or use disposable slippers instead of going barefoot. You can also wear shoes into the restroom.
