Public Washroom Ettiquette (Very graphic)

Letta

My new job involves cleaning public washrooms in a major department store and I have to say that I am appalled, APPALLED, at the abhorrent behavior of women in public washrooms.
I realize I am generalizing here and if that's offensive to you, I invite you to do my job for one hour and see if you don't generalize too.
I foolishly started my first night shift with the women's public washroom. How dirty could women be in public? I've been in enough bathrooms to think women are a very clean bathroom going species. WRONG. Now I understand women are usually the ones who take little Johnny in to the bathroom to pee because Dad isn't usually shopping too, so I expected SOME of what I saw. However...
Women do not usually toss a shitty diaper into a garbage can at home without first wrapping it so tightly around itself it becomes a small Fort Knox, and should any of Juniors junk fall out they run with Haz-Mat suits to clean the spot immediately. Not in this bathroom. Just toss it in the can, someone else has to clean it now, and not just off the lid of the can, caked down the outside, along the inside, stuck to the top of the bag. And by the time the store has closed and I start my work, it's sat there drying for hours.
Women do not usually toss a used feminine hygiene item open into a garbage can. It is wrapped in a wad of toilet paper or it's own little plastic baggie, or at the very least, wrapped tightly around itself. No one wants anyone else to know they may be on their period so they hide those little things well. At home. In public it becomes something to show off to the world, if it gets into the garbage can it's stuck to the side or hanging out over the edge for the whole world to see. Usually it's on the floor though because once it comes away from the area in question it needs to be gotten rid of at the earliest possible time and dropped on the floor of a public washroom is A-OK apparently, after all, she doesn't have to clean that room!
Well let me tell you, someone has to clean that room and in the case of my job, I have to clean 11 of those filthy stalls where numerous women have done the exact same thing. I'm not trying to accuse any one person and I know generalizing is a bad thing but oh my god I'm disgusted to no end over this whole thing.
And don't even get me started on the change table in there. I know I certainly wouldn't change my child on that thing after some mother decided to wipe little Johnny's ass on the table instead of with toilet paper.
So here is the reason for this rant in the first place. The next time you go in to a public washroom, just take a moment to check your stall after you've finished and remember that there is someone just like me out there who has to clean up after you. Would you want to clean up any of that mess after yourself? Just don't do it.
Pass this message on to your friends and family. Janitors are PEOPLE, we're not robots who mindlessly clean your crap, we're people and we sure as hell don't get paid enough to clean the messes some people leave us.
Thank you.
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ResidentInsomniac · Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 11:08 pm Post subject:

Letta, I understand your disgust regarding the public washrooms. It really makes one to stop and wonder how some individuals can behave this way.

What I don't understand is that there is suppose to be a day staff person checking and cleaning the restrooms as well. There is always the paper in the plastic envelope on the back of the washroom door that is suppose to be checked off hourly for cleaning.

I would definitely bring this to your supervisor's attention or leave a note for the day manager.

Years ago when I lost my business, to keep food on the table, I cleaned motel rooms on the motel strip in Scarborough - just outside of Toronto. I ran up against the same type of things that you have.

Unfortunately, some people just do not think and cleaning up other people's messes is what we are getting paid for - disgusting as it may be.

I strongly urge you to try to stick it out for a bit, but if it starts to really stress you out, find another job. Some jobs just aren't worth having.
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Letta · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 12:52 am Post subject:

Oh I have brought it to the attention of the floor supervisor, assistant manager, and the store manager. They all say the same thing, "Well the paper is checked off." Well sure, I can go in there at anytime of the day and check it all off without even looking, which is what the day employees do.
I'll stick it out, I'm stubborn like that after all.
My only wish is that the women who are leaving the filth get it back tenfold and the employees who are supposed to check throughout the day and aren't, one day have to clean what I clean but they get to do it without pay.
Karma don't fail me now!
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ResidentInsomniac · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 12:30 pm Post subject:

Well, Letta, here is another thought for you. Maybe it is the staff who are helping to make the mess. Honestly, I would hate to see their homes. Like my Mum always said, just like her Mum said, "You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear." Problem is: Sows are clean animals. These women who are behaving in this deplorable manner should go and spend a day with a sow - they just might learn something.
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mrsmuffin · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 10:03 pm Post subject:

think Lynne said everything i thought of to say. hugs to you Letta
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char59 · Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 3:28 am Post subject:

Letta, I for one, thank you for doing your job. I don't think I could do it. It is just horrible the way some women leave messes. Yes, I would love to see their homes--bet it doesn't look like the messes some of them leave. ((((HUGS)))) to you. Keep up the good work.
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In God We Trust

donna1984 · Shy Member Joined: 01 Jul 2008 Posts: 2 Karma: +4

i can't believe how disgusiting some people can be, all it takes is a couple seconds to leave your cubicle nice and tidy or just how you would expect to find it in the first place.
i really feel for you having to put up with that kind of behaviour as there is just no need for it.

georgiagirl1947 · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 4:25 pm Post subject:

I for one do agree with you.I have been in ladies rooms that are so filthy and dirty it turns my stomach.I don't believe any one could call themselves Ladies and do these disgusting things.I hope your job gets better,hun.Hugs and please know I do clean my messes.
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Linda

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Letta · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 1:39 pm Post subject:

You know I think you're right about the staff.
I noticed since I started there just a week ago the bathrooms have been staying clean. They all know me, I've been a regular customer and member of the family of a few employees (most of Mike's family works there) for going on 20 years. The first couple days while trying to get things into working order again I would get very sheepish looks as they would pass me. Now they all say good morning and I've seen quite a few of them double checking as they leave the stall.
The store manager told me today that for the first time in the last few years she's been there she actually saw one employee, who's been known to never pick up after herself, actually clean the counter in the lunch room.
Mike says he thinks his mother said something to a couple of the other employees about how I like to keep things neat and tidy at home and hope I can get work to be the same way. Personally I think it's just nice to work in a clean environment. I know if I go to someone's house, like one of my sisters, and the house is a mess, I get depressed just looking at it then get very sleepy and want to leave. If I have to go to work and feel the same way, not a whole lot of work is going to be done.
Now if I could just paint a bulls eye on the urinal walls so the guys have something to aim for....
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