‘Cuz it’s just gross! (Really: there is no way that you can manage the below items and not get your grubby feces-encrusted germs on them)
- Open beer bottle that you are currently drinking
- Pet turtle
- Coffee/Tea
- Sandwich (any kind)
- Slice of pizza
- Cell phone (when using it while you pee and wipe)
- iPod (same as above)
- Play-doh
- Children’s toys
- stress ball
- Chiuahua/Toy Dog
- ice cream cone
- lollipop
- library book
Feel free to comment and add to this list if I missed anything. God Speed!
Below is the Miss Manners article that inspired this post:

This seems to be a recurring problem (see below)
And another concerned citizen writes in…
Dear Abby: I work in a large department store attached to a shopping mall. Because many of the stores have no rest rooms, customers come into our store to use the facilities. I’m happy they do because it gives us more business. However, I’m confused by some of the patrons.
I think it shows good manners to end a cell phone call when visiting a rest room. While I was in there today, a woman entered the stall next to me and continued talking on her phone the entire time she was in there!
It’s disgusting, but it happens all the time. I’m uncomfortable using the rest room while someone is on the phone, and I’d be very offended if I was on the other end of the line.
What’s proper etiquette regarding cell phones in public rest rooms? Is there anything I could say to someone who does this? — Trying to Do My Business
Dear Trying: Your complaint is one I’m hearing increasingly often. For your safety, I do not advise correcting the manners of a stranger.
While common sense and consideration for others (including the person on the other end of the line as well as the occupant of the next stall) would dictate conversation be put on hold while on the toilet, nothing you or I can do will prevent this invasion of personal privacy — short of bringing a loud whoopee cushion with you during breaks and squeezing it in self-defense.
P.S. If you think we have it bad in the ladies’ room, I have also heard about men talking on their cell phones while standing at the urinals. Heaven help us.