Pooping in public restrooms can be an uncomfortable experience for many people. The fear of being noticed or heard while doing your business can cause anxiety. However, there are steps you can take to be as discreet as possible when you need to poop in a public restroom. With some preparation and strategies, you can get through it without drawing attention to yourself.
Why Do People Feel Uncomfortable Pooping in Public?
There are several reasons why pooping in public makes people feel self-conscious:
- Fear of being heard – Public restroom stalls often have big gaps, allowing sounds to carry. The plop noises and smells associated with pooping can be embarrassing if others are around.
- Lack of privacy – Stalls lack complete privacy. People may see your feet under the stall door or even make eye contact through cracks. This exposure can make pooping feel vulnerable.
- Cleanliness concerns – Public restrooms tend to be dirtier. People worry about germs and lack of cleanliness when having to sit on a public toilet.
- Rush factor – The comings and goings of strangers can make you feel rushed. People may not want to take their time pooping.
- Fear of judgment – Worries that others will judge you for pooping or think negatively of you for it. It’s a natural bodily function but still taboo.
These factors combined can make pooping in public a very uncomfortable experience for most people. But there are ways to handle it discreetly.
How to Prepare Before You Go
Proper preparation can help make pooping in public restrooms go more smoothly:
Choose Loose, Comfortable Clothing
Wearing tight or restrictive clothing can make it more difficult and uncomfortable to poop. Choose loose fitting pants and underwear to allow for easy removal. You want clothing that requires minimal maneuvering.
Time It Strategically
Pay attention to when you tend to need to poop based on your diet and schedule. Time your public outings around after you’ve gone at home to avoid needing to go. Or go before you leave the house.
Bring Supplies
Carry tissues or wipes and hand sanitizer in your bag or pocket. Public restrooms may lack these supplies. Tissues can provide extra privacy and sanitizer will allow you to clean up afterward.
Scope Out Restrooms First
If possible, scope out your options for clean, private restrooms in a public place ahead of time. Make note of the least busy and most tucked away restrooms. Plan to use those if needed.
Use the Restroom When You Arrive
Take the opportunity to use the restroom as soon as you arrive at a public place before it gets busier. You’re less likely to run into others there. Get it over with when traffic is light.
Strategies for Pooping Discreetly
Once you’re in a public restroom ready to poop, use these strategies:
Choose the Stall Wisely
If there are multiple stalls, choose the one on the end for the most privacy. Or pick the one least visible from the restroom entrance or sink area.
Line the Seat
Lining the seat with toilet paper or a seat cover can make sitting more comfortable and sanitary. It also absorbs sound and splatter.
Sit Quietly
Sit still to avoid making unnecessary noises. If you feel gas or poop coming, try to let it out gently instead of forcing. And avoid grunting or vocal noises.
Use a Courtesy Flush
Flushing halfway through can help minimize odor and sound. Just flush additional times as needed.
Cover the Sounds
If someone else in the restroom is making noise like hand drying or flushing, use that opportunity to let out what you need to discreetly. Time it so they mask your sounds.
Dispose of Waste Properly
Make sure all used toilet paper and waste makes it into the toilet. Double flush if needed to prevent clogs. You want to leave no evidence behind.
Use a Noise App
Run a white noise, fan, or music app on your phone to add background noise within the stall and cover any embarrassing sounds.
Mask Smells
Carry a small air freshener or spray perfume before exiting the stall to help conceal lingering odors for the next person.
Exit Discreetly
Open the stall door slowly and check if the coast is clear before exiting. Move quickly to the sink to wash hands and then leave the restroom.
Tips for Public Restrooms
Keep these public restroom tips in mind:
Act Natural
Try not to look anxious or uncomfortable when entering or exiting. The more you act like everything is normal, the less likely people will suspect anything.
Limit Phone Use
Avoid prolonged phone use in the stall, like texting or scrolling social media. It can signal you’re occupying the stall for an extended time.
Rinse the Toilet
As a courtesy to the next person, use the stall’s toilet brush or your tissue to give the bowl a quick rinse if needed before you leave.
Check Yourself
Give yourself a quick check in the mirror on the way out. Make sure you don’t have any evidence on you like toilet paper stuck to a shoe.
Throw Away the Evidence
Dispose of any wipes, tissue, wrappers, or other items in the provided restroom trash bin, not the toilet.
What to Do If Someone Walks in
It can be mortifying if someone enters the restroom while you’re mid-poop. Here’s how to handle it:
Stop and Wait
If you hear the door open, stop what you’re doing until you hear them enter and occupy a stall. Hopefully they do their business quickly.
Cough or Clear Your Throat
Let out a cough or throat clear if needed to cover any noises as you continue going once the coast is clear again.
Don’t Rush
Try not to hurry or make sudden loud noises. Take your time finishing smoothly and quietly.
Use the Sink Strategically
If you finish before them, avoid the sink until they leave. Or use the sink briefly before returning to stall to flush and exit after they go.
Say Excuse Me
Offer a quick “excuse me” as you exit the stall if the timing means you cross paths. Keep moving and don’t make eye contact.
What to Do If There’s a Line
Few situations are worse than waiting in line while you desperately have to poop. Here are some tips if you end up in that scenario:
Hold It
Do everything you can to hold it until there is a free stall. Use breathing exercises and mind over matter. Think about non-poop things.
Ask Nicely
You can politely say “excuse me, emergency!” if you truly can’t hold it any longer and need to move ahead in line. Most people will show empathy and let you go first.
Use a Different Restroom
Scope out if there are other accessible restrooms nearby with potentially shorter lines that you can slip away to instead.
Go Outside
In an absolute emergency, going outside behind a dumpster or in an alley may be an option. Just watch for people and attempt to find privacy.
Let it Go
As a last resort, you may have no choice but to let it go in your pants while waiting. Have clean clothes, bags, and freshening wipes ready in this worst case scenario.
What to Do If It Won’t Flush
A clogged toilet can quickly go from bad to worse if you handle it incorrectly:
Remain Calm
Try not to panic and draw attention. Assess the situation quietly. See if you can unclog it yourself first before asking for help.
Plunge It
Use the stall’s plunger if available. Submerge it fully then plunge vigorously but carefully to loosen the blockage without splashing.
Use Toilet Paper
Wad up toilet paper and attempt to absorb excess water in the bowl if overflowing. Soak up what you can before it leaks out.
Cover It
If the bowl contents are visible, strategically drape toilet paper over the problem area to conceal it in case you need assistance.
Get Help
Notify the establishment discretely if you can’t fix it yourself. Say “urgent plumbing issue in women’s restroom” or “need assistance with toilet, please” to alert staff.
Use a Different Toilet
You may opt to just move on to another stall and let staff deal with the clogged one later if it’s beyond help. Do what you must to not draw more attention.
How to Recover Afterward
Some final tips for recovering gracefully after pooping in public:
Sanitize Hands
Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water. Use a sanitizing wipe or gel as an extra precaution against germs.
Check Clothes
Inspect your clothing in the mirror on the way out to make sure there are no issues that need addressing.
Refresh Breath
Use a breath mint or spray to freshen your breath. This can help you feel cleansed after the stall.
Change if Needed
If there was an accident, change into clean underwear or pants from your car, bag or a store’s restroom. Toss soiled clothing discretely.
Reward Yourself
Congratulate yourself for making it through that experience. Treat yourself to something nice afterward as a reward.
Laugh It Off
Try to have a sense of humor. Pooping mishaps happen to everyone. The more you can laugh about it, the less embarrassing it will seem.
Conclusion
Pooping confidently in public restrooms takes practice. With preparation and the right strategies, you can learn to do your business discreetly without fear. Pay attention to timing, privacy, sounds, smells and cleanliness. And try to relax – it’s a basic bodily function after all. Stay positive and don’t let it ruin your day out. With some finesse, no one will ever have to know what’s going on while you’re in that stall.