I don’t know about you, but I am very particular about where I take my calls of nature, especially ones that require a little bit more effort.
No matter how urgent I might be, and regardless of how badly nature wants me to answer, I always make sure to go down the row of toilet stalls to check them one by one before making a commitment.
I would walk through the restroom, pop open toilet stall doors and go through my mental checklist.
Over the years, I’ve become quite methodical with this, but more on this later.
When a space is undesirable, I would usually offer an audible rejection to express my distaste at the sight before me.
“Why can’t they have wiped the seat dry if they missed the mark?” I questioned, doubting the kindness of the unknown user who came before me.
If you’re looking for an example of the tragedy of the commons, look no further than a filthy public toilet stall.
Besides cleanliness, comfort is just as important.
I don’t know about you, but when I’m pushing hard with passion and energy, I’d prefer to be left unbothered and have some personal space.
I would also prefer for my toilet throne to feel reliable and solid, so my business can come to pass without hiccups (like, for example, getting wet during a splash down).
Sounds weird to take the comfort and cleanliness of toilets so seriously?
Well, I’m not the only one.
The common gripe
“The toilet seat must be dry,” Audrey, 22, told me when I asked about her public washroom preferences.
To be fair, she said that if it was just a few drops, she would just give it a wipe.
However, if the entire seat was wet or if there were obvious bodily fluids present, she would give the washroom a pass.
The floor should also be preferably dry, especially if the outfit of the day involves long pants.
Her preferred place to conduct her business? Home. However, she recommended Funan Mall or Jewel Changi.
Similarly, Min, who is in his late thirties, said that he found the toilets at Funan Mall to be “generally good when I’ve been".
For Min, a wet floor is ok but everything must be in working condition.
“Like the seat can't be broken or the hinges can't be rusted,” he elaborated.
Comfort brings ease
At the top of Nat’s, 26, list for must-haves in public toilets is a seated toilet bowl.
Second are toilet bowls which are clear of junk from other people’s trunks.
Last, but most importantly, is available toilet paper.
Nothing fancy about Nat’s list of priorities when using a public toilet.
His favourite place to excuse himself? The toilets at Jewel Changi, which he calls “the best”.
Like a spa. Image via Rigel.
Beyond just cleanliness, the toilets there possess an immaculate ambiance, Nat tells me.
It’s not just because of the soft lighting or the mirrors which are perfect for selfies.
The stalls themselves present a pleasant experience.
“There’s something about the toilet seats,” Nat commented.
The contours of the seats offer an inexplicable level of comfort that is unlike any other, apparently.
Putting everything together, the toilets at Jewel conjure a sense of relaxation which, in turn, facilitates ease of movement of a particular kind.
The stall at Jewel Changi: looks simple, but really life-changing. Image via Rigel.
A toilet so comfortable it becomes a sanctuary
On the other hand, Anna (not her real name), 25, gave a more thorough list of must-haves:
“Best things for a seamless toilet experience: clean, smells nice, no waste residue, nice lighting, well-ventilated, hanger to hang bags, easy to use sanitary bin and toilet paper that is easily fed out,” she told me.
Similarly, her list of public toilet red flags was just as comprehensive.
“No-nos: poop or pee all around, difficult to walk around because of the waste, overflowing sanitary bin, smelly or unflushed toilet and not enough cubicles,” she added.
If you experience unexpectedly aggressive bowel movements, Anna recommends heading to public toilets at a five-star hotel because they are usually “really nice”.
“The seats contours to your butt,” Anna shares candidly.
Sometimes, if the toilet bowls are sparkling clean and up to par, she leans back and the toilet bowl instantly becomes like a nice chair.
They are so comfortable, in fact, that Anna admitted she once spent 30 minutes sitting on the bowl in the stall to wait for a friend instead of simply gallivanting about at the mall.
“When the toilet becomes your sanctuary of comfort, you know it’s got everything right,” Anna proclaimed.
5 star toilet? Why not 6?
As for me, when I push open the swinging stall door, the first thing I look out for are the floor conditions, especially in the area around where my feet will be.
If it is damp, it means there’s a chance my pants will get wet if I accidentally let it touch the ground.
A wet patch in that area? Thank you, next.
If the floor conditions are satisfactory, I shift my gaze to the seat and check its state.
A few drops of transparent liquid? I grit my teeth, grab a few sheets of toilet paper and I wipe them off.
Non-transparent liquid on the seat? Gag, cuss and pass.
Ideally, the unknown compatriot who used the stall before me would have flushed his bodily excretions away into oblivion.
However, if for some reason he did not, I will do him a favour by flushing it for him and proceed with my business.
Unless, of course, the person before had a really bad time.
Then, as usual, gag, cuss and then a hard pass.
The best public toilets, however, are the ones that make you feel like you’re at an island resort.
It will have nice warm lighting, one of those automatic air-purifiers that go ‘psst’ every once in a while and be clean and dry.
Toilet paper should also be stocked and ready to roll (thank you, Mr. or Mrs. Janitor).
The toilet seats will feel sky-high like you’re in first class.
So far, we’ve had votes for Funan Mall and Jewel Changi. My vote goes to a different location.
Instead, I will recommend the public toilets at Marina Bay Sands.
The toilets there are sufficiently clean, well-lit, and smell decently good.
The marble wall panels also make me feel like an exalted guest at a high-brow establishment.
In the stalls, the toilet bowls are something else.
Once you make yourself comfortable on one of them, the cooling touch of the ceramic makes you feel refreshed, especially in this tropical climate.
The angles and contours on the posh toilet bowls strike the perfect balance between providing you with the support you need, whilst giving you space to do you.
Equipped with seats like that, I often feel I can stay in there for hours, scrolling away on my phone and taking as long as I need to clear any backlog.
It’s an experience unlike any other, I must say.
It’s also quite nice to wrap up your business and then take a leisurely stroll around Marina Bay.
If five stars isn’t enough for you, you will be pleased to know that the toilets at MBS are rated six stars by the Restroom Association of Singapore.
Get a 5-star, regal toilet at home with Rigel
Want the toilet in your new BTO to be as regal as the ones in MBS, Funan Mall, Jewel Changi or a five-star hotel?
Well, that doesn’t have to be just a pipe dream.
You see, the six-starred toilets at MBS and the popular ones at Jewel Changi are equipped with toilet bowls from Rigel, which can be conveniently purchased off Lazada.
So many five-star toilet bowls for you to choose from.
Besides having a bathroom throne similar to the ones at premier establishments like MBS, Rigel toilet bowls are also able to handle all kinds of challenges you unleash at it, no matter the size or scale.
Using its WhirlWash technology, water flows to all surfaces within the bowl.
Together with its PureGlaze Stain Resistant Ceramic, Rigel toilet bowls are designed to ensure that no unsightly stains are left behind, no matter how bad a day you’re going through.
It also promises to conserve water at the same time, using only four litres for a full flush. Win-win.
What's more, the Easy to Wash rim design, known as the ZeroRim, eliminates any nooks which becomes a haven for dirt to accumulate.
Shy about toilet routine?
Rigel toilet bowls come equipped with soft-closing seats and covers, allowing them to operate silently.
If you’re at a loss about which toilet bowl to pick for your home, you can consider this one which caught my eye.
Image via Rigel/Lazada.
It comes with an option to upgrade to either a manual or electronic bidet, if you fancy.
Image via Rigel/Lazada.
If you’re still spoilt for choice and can’t decide, head down to Rigel’s showroom at Changi Business Park and try them for yourself.
Already made up your mind? Good news for you. Getting rid of your tummy ache does not mean your wallet needs to hurt.
Currently, there's a special promotion exclusively for Mothership readers: Enjoy a 5 per cent discount on purchases over S$500.
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This sponsored article made the writer recall all the bad surprises he has had at public toilets.
Top image via CapitaLand, Canva, Rigel