Whew--it feels good to know I'm not the only one who dreads having to use public facilities in many cases. I'm not phobic, just not enamored with the experience. I've really enjoyed reading this thread, believe it or not, and I deal with the inevitability of the public restroom in a similar manner to many of you.

My means of coping is a mental map or list of the best, cleanest bathrooms, at least those that appear that way on a regular basis. At one job, the women's room by a particular office in the complex was inexplicably disgusting--I avoided that one like the plague unless things had reached emergency proportions. Conversely, at school, the best bathroom of all was tucked away on the first floor, in the back of the building, near the classrooms used by the smallest academic department. They were wonderfully private too--so little traffic. On a larger scale, in whatever city I live at any given time, I know where the decent public restrooms are as well. Museums are always a good bet, and many have bathrooms in the lobby before you reach the point where you have to pay or offer a donation.

I am an inveterate hoverer too--think of it as a mini workout. I go nowhere without my hand sanitizer either!

Thank you for this thread. I hope the many tips and experiences offered by everyone here are useful to you, FullMetal Shorty, and help make your life easier.