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Comment by spike021 | Hacker News Reader

And then touch the knob to open the door... the same knob half the other lavatory users touched with completely unwashed hands.

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You should push the knob with a paper towel instead. I do this at all small public restrooms.

Good job the Brits are asleep as they’d be cracking up at these comments.

Or, rather than trying to keep your hands sterile which is a futile exercise, doing what the military teaches - keep your hands away from your face (eyes, nose, mouth) and don't scratch your skin.

The reason you care about germs on your hands is because they make you sick when you stick them in your body orifaces. Otherwise, those germs don't matter.

Wash hands before meals otherwise.

> Wash hands before meals otherwise.

considering the topic is about airlines and flights, you would presumably be eating a meal after this and not be able to easily wash your hands again.

That makes sense, but the idea of no touching things after becomes an impossible process considering fecal coliform contamination is everywhere.

Related rant: The widespread stupidity around bathroom doors calls the intelligence of humans into (even more) question.

Airplane-bathroom doors open out because they must. But the number of public-bathroom doors that inexplicably open INWARD is mind-boggling. Instead of simply having doors open outward, millions of bathrooms create mountains of paper waste by having them open inward and encouraging users to waste a paper towel to grab its handle.

Galling stupidity: https://www.instagram.com/p/BlO_-jmg4o7/

> Airplane-bathroom doors open out

It's a mix. There's a number of split doors designs that break in half and fold inwards.

More places are adopting bi-directional doors and foot handles now.

The reason that interior doors in general open inwards is fire safety. Doors that only open outwards can be obstructed from the outside, preventing evacuation.

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