Archive · 4 Oct 2026
Experts Share Six Simple Train Washroom Hygiene Tips
Train washrooms are used by many people, so it helps to take a few simple precautions.
Wash your hands with soap and water for about 20 seconds.
If there is no soap or water, hand sanitiser with at least 60 per cent alcohol can help when your hands are not visibly dirty.
Try not to touch your face after handling taps or door latches.
Keep your shoes on and your phone and food off washroom surfaces.
Carry tissues, wipes and a small bag for waste.
If you have a period, bring enough supplies and wash your hands before and after changing them.
Put used pads in a bin, not down the toilet.
Wash hands with soap and running water for about 20 seconds, especially before eating.
Carry essentials such as hand sanitiser, tissues, wipes, soap and a bag for waste.
Limit unnecessary contact with shared surfaces, and avoid touching your face afterward.
Keep footwear on, avoid placing belongings on washroom surfaces and close the toilet lid before flushing when possible.
For periods, bring enough menstrual products, change them as recommended and wrap used disposable products before putting them in a bin.
- Who
- Train passengers, including menstruating travellers; the advice is attributed to physician Dr Aarti Ullal and obstetrician-gynaecologist Dr Pavana H N.
- What
- The article shares six practical tips for maintaining washroom hygiene while travelling by train.
- When
- During train journeys.
- Where
- Train washrooms and passenger seating areas.
- Why
- To reduce the chance of transferring germs from shared surfaces to the face or food and to make washroom use more comfortable.
- Handwashing duration
- About 20 seconds with soap and running water.
- Hand sanitiser
- Use an alcohol-based sanitiser containing at least 60 per cent alcohol when hands are not visibly dirty and soap and water are unavailable.
- Suggested supplies
- Sanitiser, soap or soap strips, tissues or toilet paper, wipes and a disposable bag for waste.
- Shared surfaces
- Avoid unnecessary contact, do not touch your face afterward, and keep belongings and food off washroom surfaces.
- Footwear
- Keep footwear on in the washroom.
- Menstrual products
- Pads should ideally be changed every 4–6 hours, or sooner if soaked; tampons and menstrual cups should follow their recommended schedule.
- Disposal
- Wrap used disposable menstrual products and put them in a bin; do not flush sanitary pads.