The Daily O’Collegian

You’d probably rather risk a bladder infection than sit on that toilet. We know, we feel the same. Chevy Carter offers some hygienically sound advice on where to go when you have to, you know, go.

It’s 2 p.m. on a Saturday.

You’ve been shopping since nine and have just downed three McAlister’s teas—you really have to go.

However, public bathrooms are dangerous territories.

From germ-covered counters to toilet paperless stalls, it isn’t always pretty.

The O’Colly cares about both your bladder and personal hygiene, so we’ve compiled a guide to the good and not-so-good public bathrooms of Stillwater.

Location is the first thing to consider when attempting the use of a public bathroom.

Nature often calls during and in between classes so the Student Union is an excellent choice—you just have to know where to go.

Avoid the first floor bathrooms near the escalators.

They are high-traffic areas and can’t be kept in pristine condition.

They also stink on a regular basis.

The first floor bathroom near Financial Aid is much better.

Both the men’s and women’s rooms are larger and cleaner.

The men’s doesn’t have self-flushing urinals—germophobes beware.

Otherwise, this is your best bet after grabbing a bite in the food court.

The second floor rest rooms near Undergraduate Admissions are also just as nice.

Now, restaurants.

A heavy stream of customers and presence of food makes this location hit-or-miss.

Fast food restaurants are a no-go: just hold it.

McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King, etc.—all less than satisfactory.

What do you expect when grease and ketchup are the main ingredients of a dish?

Marble Slab’s bathrooms aren’t bad, you just have to go down a creepy hallway reminiscent of “The Shining” to get to them.

Sit-down restaurants are a little safer.

Not only are Texas Roadhouse’s bathrooms clean, they make you want to grab a burro and get along to the Lone Star State.

Not all are as perfect, though.

Eskimo Joe’s bathrooms aren’t terrible, they just aren’t great.

After a few drinks and a plate of cheese fries you probably won’t care anyway.

Plus they have great hand driers.

Small, hole-in-the wall restaurants like Hunan’s and El Tapatio should be avoided.

Their food may be great, but that’s clearly where they focus their attention.

The best place to use the bathroom is retail/clothing stores.

Without the presence of food and a slower stream of business, their rest rooms tend to be the cleanest.

Both Belk and Goody’s bathrooms are the top choices in this category.

Linens ‘n Things misses the mark, though.

(There are always a couple of exceptions).

Don’t risk a bladder infection while out and about.

There are nice public bathrooms out there.

You just have to know where to look.

Try to wait until you get to a business that’s not in the food industry and look at how clean the place is outside of its bathrooms.

This can be a good indicator of what’s to come.

Don’t forget to wash your hands, either.