Flight attendant warns you should never brush your teeth in the airplane bathroom

A flight attendant has shared some grim insider knowledge about the state of airplane toilets, and has warned air passengers against brushing their teeth in the sink

A former flight attendant has opened up about the realities of on-flight toilets and has urged passengers against using the loos after turbulence or mealtimes. The flight attendant, who has chosen to remain anonymous, has more than five years’ worth of experience working for a major airline and claims the bathroom is the dirtiest place aboard an airplane

Drawing from their years of experience, the travel professional has shared some little-known insider information, including how often the loos get cleaned and why you should never ever brush your teeth in the sink. Speaking with bathroom specialists, Sanctuary Bathrooms, they also imparted some very useful words of wisdom about the best time to use the loos during a flight, and how to make sure you use them in the most hygienic way you possibly can.

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How often the toilets are actually cleaned

In a reveal which may well horrify a number of germaphobes, the former cabin crew member said: “An important part of the airline industry is turnover. This sometimes means that a full, deep clean of the airplane loo isn’t always possible due to lack of time and higher priorities.

“Generally, the cubicles get a quick wipe down straight before a flight. Then during the flight, they tend to be checked every half an hour or so but again, if there are more urgent things going on, checking on the cleanliness of the loos can fall down the priority list.”

In this same vein, she went on to add that the sewage tank – of which there can be several, depending on the plane size – should ideally get emptied once the plane has landed. However, with 2022 being a particularly busy year for travel, a couple of days may well go by before it gets properly emptied.

She continued: “If the sewage tank was to overflow, there is a risk that pipes could burst and their contents could get into the aircraft – which has happened before!”

The worst times to use the loo during your flight

The former flight attendant has also advised the “worst time” to use the loo would be right before take-off, as well as at the end of a flight, adding this is particularly true when it comes to long-haul flights.

She continued: “It can be equally bad after a bumpy spot of turbulence during which time the seat belt signs would have been turned on. As soon as they are turned off, you’ll get an influx of people needing the loo, as well as people who potentially feel the need to be sick.”

Passengers are also urged to try and go before food is served, with the candid airline professional admitting such dinners “don’t tend to be great for gut health or bowel movements.”

With this in mind, she cautioned: “If a meal isn’t sitting right with one passenger and they need to use the loo because of it, you don’t want to be in there straight after.”

Don’t clean your teeth in the sink

The flight attendant warned: “Do not clean your teeth in an airplane loo. The water on a plane all comes from the same water tank and it is not filtered. If you really need to, used bottled water but my main piece of advice would be, do not take your toothbrush or wash bag anywhere near an airplane loo.”

Similarly, she’s also advised to wear a mask during a trip to the loo, with the poor air ventilation meaning the bathroom is “essentially a cupboard, with no clean air.”

She added: “This means that every time you go to the loo, not only are you breathing in the air of many others who have ‘done their business’ before you (especially if it’s a long-haul flight) but you could also be breathing in potential faeces particles, circulating the air after a toilet flush.”

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