
Which Is The Cleanest Stall Utah?
Ever wondered which bathroom stall is the cleanest?
We were on a road trip within Utah. I walked into a restroom to see a line of stalls, all of them were available, so which one should I choose? I was not in a hurry, so I took some time to consider each offering.
Visual
This is the first line of defense, take a visual inspection if you have the luxury to do so. Obvious signs will indicate cleanliness.
Statistics
In my case the stalls seemed to be in good shape which didn't lessen the options, so which one is preferable? Spoiler alert: It's the end stalls. Yes, those lonely, often-overlooked corners of the restroom may be your best bet for a germ-free experience.
The Source
This intriguing nugget comes from a 1995 study published in Psychological Science. Researchers, with a lot of time on their hands and a weird fascination with toilet paper, tracked how often the important papers were changed in four stalls over ten weeks. Their findings? A whopping 60% of the action happened in the middle stalls, leaving the end stalls with just 40%.
Why
Why do people flock to the middle stalls? According to germ expert Gerba, it’s a mystery. Maybe folks are too rushed to walk a few extra steps. Maybe they crave the comfort of company. Or perhaps they just don’t want to be near the door. I believe Desmond Morris had a theory on the herd nature of our personalities that could also offer insight. He showed how often our behavior can be predicted by the number of options and position of others.
Read More: It’s Time to Work From Home in Utah
But hey, next time nature calls, consider heading to the end. Your immune system might thank you.
Did This Kalamazoo Woman Find A Meteorite, Space Poop, or What?
Gallery Credit: Elizabeth Neeley