Questions tagged [hygiene]
Questions relating to cleanliness and prevention of diseases and infections while travelling.
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OK we're all adults here, so really, how on earth should I use a squat toilet?
OK so for anyone that's travelled beyond North America and Western Europe you know what I'm talking about.
Left: Romania, last year. Right: Turkey, last night.
They start popping up in the Balkans ...
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Are the hoses in toilets in Asia something I should know about?
I have noticed random bits of hose without proper fittings before I think for example in India and just assumed they are for use by the cleaners or for filling the water jug in squat toilets.
But Now ...
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Where can I take a shower at Dubai Airport?
I've got two transfers between long-haul flights coming up at DXB, and I'd like to freshen up with a shower. Information on the net is outdated and contradictory, and the official site is remarkably ...
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OK we're all nerds here, so really, how on earth should I use a Japanese toilet?
OK so for anyone who's traveled to Japan you know what I'm talking about.
They're devices that are a textbook example of excessive featuritis.
But I want to use something other than the flush knob ...
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How to use toilet paper
If someone who has never used toilet paper ever travels to countries where only toilet paper is used - how could one learn to use toilet paper?
One of my (Asian) colleagues who is more of a friend ...
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OK we are all adults here, so really, how on earth should I live without bidet?
This is the part four in the interesting series: "OK we are all X here, so really". You can find the past episodes here:
OK we're all adults here, so really, how on earth should I use a squat toilet?
...
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How to vomit during a flight?
Last time I travelled I wasn't feeling quite well just before boarding the plane. I either had eaten something wrong or a flu just appeared. The thought of having to vomit during the flight made me ...
user141
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How should I wash clothes in Japan?
I'm going backpacking for a month in Japan and I plan to pack lightly. So I have couple of questions about how I can wash my clothes in Japan.
I expect laundromats to be quite common in big cities ...
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How to hide your bodily odors after a long flight?
Of course I could fly first class on an airline that provide on-board showers. Since I lack the funds, that is not an option for me.
The scenario is as follows:
Your plane leaves in the evening. ...
user141
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Restroom facilities near Saint Chad's Well (Sacred Spring in England)
A visitor to the UK wants to visit the sacred spring associated with Saint Chad (Chadwell Heath -- Not the other ones in Mercia and Lichfield and Staffordshire) for its reputed healing and spiritual ...
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Can I stay in the airplane toilet during landing?
For safety purposes all airlines make you go back to your seat when you are in the toilet just before landing.
But, what if you really had to go and don't come out even after persistent knocking. ...
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We're all adults here - how to use a squat toilet if you have trouble squatting?
So, we have a great question and answer on how to use a squat toilet. However, the answers there basically assume you're healthy and able to use one as per the instructions.
A group of us are going ...
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What do you do when you're on-the-road and you cannot shower?
Let's say you're backpacking and you're staying at a super-cheap hostel. Either because you have a lot planned for the day or you're catching long distance bus / train, you've to get up really early ...
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How do you use a traditional hot-air hand dryer so your hands are actually dry afterwards? [closed]
In many locations around the world, you can see dryers like this1:
These dryers are being phased out in favor of air-jet dryers that involve inserting your hand in an opening. However, many locations ...
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What is the proper etiquette at Japanese onsen?
Japan is a volcanically active country which means it has a plethora of onsen (hot springs) all around the country. Visiting these onsen is supposed to be a popular vacation destination for the work-...
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Shower at Heathrow during layover in Terminal 5
Reading the other questions here, I am not too hopeful, but this is the perfect site to find the answer if it does exist:
Facts:
I arrive at T5 (British Airways) at 08:30, depart at 11:40 from T5 (...
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OK, we are all adults here, so what is a bidet for and how do I use it?
Confession time: I am from one of these barbaric countries where the use of the bidet is not widespread. So I have no idea...
Question 1: What is the bidet good for?
Question 2: How do I use it?
...
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How to use sinks with separate hot/cold taps?
I just traveled to Ireland. I was amazed to find that water sinks (at home, restaurants and public) have separate taps for hot and cold water.
If you use only the cold water, your hands freeze. If ...
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Why do public toilets in the US have large gaps (no privacy)?
Most public toilets in the US are very low in privacy, the bottom gap in the door is so big (around 15-20% of the door), the side gaps are too big as well. This will make the toilet experience so ...
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Is it safe to drink the water from the fountains found all over the older parts of Rome?
When I visited Rome and walked around the older sections, I saw many different types of fountains that were constantly running with water. Some went into the ground, some collected in basins, etc.
Is ...
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Taming the nightmare of public toilets in the UK
Public toilets in the UK are established and maintained by the local authorities, most commonly local councils. This is great for people that advocate local autonomy, but a hellish nightmare for ...
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How to adapt to Western Toilets from Indian-style toilets?
I am an Indian and have been using Indian style toilets for all my life, Now that I have a knee injury, I am forced to go to Western Style toilets. I find it really hard to empty my bowels in western ...
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So what can I do to avoid being "that" passenger with bad hygiene?
What can I do if I'm seated next to a person with bad hygiene on an airplane?
I've been that passenger several times, typically on connecting flights after a transoceanic leg. I really try hard ...
user4188
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What can I do if I'm seated next to a person with bad hygiene on an airplane?
Slightly related: What can you do about being forced to sit next to a very large passenger?
I think the title says it all. I have, what you could call, a sensitive nose. I absolutely despise people ...
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Stuck without toilet paper while travelling - what is the best approach?
Well, this has happened to everyone at some point - you find out there is no toilet paper just after you need it the most. Usually it's not a big deal, even in public toilet room you can wait until ...
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Is there any reason not to do laundry with bar soap?
When traveling light, is there any reason not to use standard hotel-issue bar soap to wash clothes in a hotel sink? Carrying powder laundry detergent (or worse, liquid!) seems like a big hassle if ...
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What makes the tap water on board airplanes unsafe to drink?
Every single airplane toilet I've ever been to had the following (or similar) sign:
Why is drinking the tap water prohibited? And if drinking the water is prohibited, why is it acceptable to brush ...
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Long road trips in Iceland - where to relieve ourselves?
We are planning for a road trip in Iceland. The trip consists of Golden Circle in a day, and another day to Jokulsarlon from Reykjavik and a third day of returning from Jokulsarlon.
I understand ...
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Dealing with the 'unclean hand' when travelling (if you're left-handed)
"Among Muslims, the left hand is reserved for bodily hygiene and
considered unclean. Thus, the right hand should be used for eating.
Shaking hands or handing over an item with one's left hand is
...
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How can I wash myself Indian-style (using water not toilet paper) in Western toilets?
As an Indian I have grown up in Delhi using water to wash after using the toilet instead of toilet paper. In Indian culture this is considered a cleaner practice because of the use of water in order ...
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Why do some hotels etc and other accommodation have rules against washing clothes in your room or in the sink?
In some hotels and other kinds of accommodation including hostels and I believe even campgrounds there is a rule against hand washing your laundry in the sink or handbasin, or in your room. I'm sure I'...
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What is a 'sparrow bath' and how do you do it in airport bathroom?
I read in How to hide your bodily odors after a long flight? that you can take a 'sparrow bath' to freshen in an airport bathroom when traveling.
How do you take the sparrow bath?
How do you ...
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Which toilets in the Philippines are more likely to have seats? And why are toilet seats often missing there?
How can I have better luck finding a toilet that actually has a seat? (Or an accommodation where the toilets will likely have seats?)
Is it by original design that they were simply omitted? Or do ...
user8803
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In Asian restaurants and airlines is it correct etiquette to use the hot towel on my face?
In many Asian restaurants both inside and outside Asia, and also on some Asian airlines such as Korean and JAL if I recall correctly, hot cloth towels are given out to all passengers before each meal.
...
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Where to find public water taps in the Netherlands?
We are wandering around the Netherlands (on foot, hitchhiking, and by bicycle). We aren't sleeping in campsites, but just putting our tent anywhere "in the bush". We are used to travelling this way in ...
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Do microfibre towels dry quicker and absorb more water?
I am going to be doing a tour of Europe, visiting like 20 countries in 49 days and staying in hostels and cheap hotels. Given all this travelling, I think it is possible that my towel may not always ...
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How on earth can I use a Canadian toilet without splashing myself?
The last few days I had to use Canadian toilets. Now I'm from Europe and I'm used to Central European toilets:
As you can see, the water is really far down the toilet and if "things" fall in there, ...
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Where can "public showers" be found in Taiwan?
I've been travelling on foot and by hitchhiking and sleeping in a tent in many countries and now I'm doing so in Taiwan.
But in some countries it's really easy to keep fresh.
In Turkey I was often ...
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Shower rooms at Incheon airport
I will be in transit at the Incheon airport for a couple hours and wanted to make use of their 'shower rooms'. Has anybody used them? Can you take your luggage in the shower room?
The airport's ...
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Dealing with smelly travel daypacks?
This came from an idea I saw on another website's thread that wasn't getting much love. When travelling, especially in hot, humid regions, you tend to sweat - especially in the back area where your ...
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Flying into London, overnight train to Edinburgh that evening, where to stow bags/shower?
Looking for advice for how to manage things during a one-day "layover" between a flight (from the US) and the overnight train from London to Edinburgh.
I'm heading to Scotland for a wedding in the ...
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Public shower options in Munich?
Now that I've made sure that sleeping in a parked car is legal in Munich, I need to find a place to shower during our stay.
Is it possible to take a shower somewhere in Munich for less than 10EUR? ...
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Using squat toilets with arthritic knees
Referring to this question got me thinking (and laughing). I've used squat toilets a few times when traveling (and younger), although I try to avoid them.
I grew up in the US using "normal" western ...
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Using restroom on airplane while fasten seatbelt light is on?
This question about Why do flight attendants continue to stand, when the seatbelt set is on? over on aviation.stackexchange.com made me wonder what a passenger is supposed to do when they urgently ...
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Where to shower for free in Singapore airport?
I have a similar question to this Shower rooms at Incheon airport
My buddy has an 8 hour layover in Singapore. Is there any place where one could shower for free at Changi (Singapore) airport?
The ...
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How to use Turkish toilet tap?
I was in Turkey a while ago, and encountered sit toilets with taps (edit: taps controlling a nozzle a wee way below a normal western sit-toilet rim, making a little fountain from the back to the front ...
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Are there trains without WC in the Netherlands?
I have read some news that in the Netherlands there are no WCs in some short-distance trains because it would be too expensive.
Is it true that there are urinal bags in these trains? How can I check, ...
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Do airlines reuse in-flight blankets?
Question:
Is there any evidence that any of the world's largest airlines1 (e.g. American Airlines, Delta, United) reuse the blankets that are often handed out on international flights, with or without ...
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Is it a good idea to use liquid soap to wash dishes when travelling?
So we arrived to an apartment we rented and noticed the dishes didn't seem very clean. Since we were told previously no toiletries would be provided, we brought some with us, but we had no dishwashing ...
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Countries with hi-tech toilets
While in Japan I was amazed by the hi-tech toilets I saw everywhere (even in rural areas) and I even felt a bit inferior because Italians' toilet don't offer anywhere near such a range of personal ...
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