Keeping everyone safe at 30,000 feet is a big part of what cabin crews do, from enforcing rules to preventing injuries in tight aisles. But flight attendants say there is one everyday habit that quietly turns a routine trip into a hygiene nightmare. It happens when passengers kick off their shoes to get comfortable, then wander straight into the airplane restroom barefoot or in socks. The crew’s message is simple, keep your feet covered when you go to the lavatory.
Elizabeth Regan, a flight attendant at a commercial airline, told HuffPost, “Passengers use the bathrooms all the time on the airplane with either bare feet or with only socks on.” The problem is not just how it looks, but what you are stepping into. Restroom floors on planes are exposed to constant traffic, turbulence, spills, and whatever drips from bags or clothing. Even if you do not see a mess, flight crews say you cannot assume the floor is clean.
Hilary Clark, inflight services director for the California based private jet company Planet 9 and a former commercial flight attendant, said seeing people go in barefoot is “quite concerning.” She explained why in blunt terms, “During our training, we learned that the liquid on the lavatory floor is often more than just water.” Regan summed it up even more directly, saying, “It is completely unsanitary.” For crew members who have to check these restrooms repeatedly during a flight, that barefoot stroll is not just gross, it is a health risk that spreads beyond one person.
Part of the concern is how many surfaces in a plane bathroom get touched over and over. A 2015 TravelMath study found the flush button carried 265 colony forming units per square inch, compared with 172 on a home toilet seat. That does not mean you will automatically get sick, but it shows how quickly germs can build up in a small space that hundreds of hands may contact in a day. Door handles, faucet controls, sink areas, and latches are all frequent touch points. When you bring bare skin into that environment, you reduce the barrier between you and whatever is lingering there.
Dr. Dahlia Philips, an infectious disease physician and medical director for MetroPlusHealth’s Partnership in Care Special Needs Plan, warned that the risk goes beyond simple discomfort. “Airplane lavatories are used frequently by many passengers during flights, leading to high touch surfaces such as door handles, flush buttons, sink faucets, and toilet seats becoming contaminated with various pathogens,” she said. She added, “Walking barefoot exposes your feet to bacteria, viruses and fungi that can enter through cuts or abrasions on your feet.” If you have even a tiny crack in your heel or a nick from trimming nails, you have given microbes an easy entry point.
The fixes flight attendants suggest are not complicated, and they are kinder to the people around you. Clark’s rule of thumb was clear, “unhygienic and should always be avoided.” She recommended bringing slippers or disposable slide on shoes for the cabin, or simply keeping your regular shoes on for restroom trips. Philips also urged a minimum level of protection, saying you should wear socks “to minimize direct contact with the floor.” Socks are not a perfect shield, but they beat direct skin contact, especially if you change them later.
There are also steps you can take to reduce what you pick up with your hands while using the lavatory. Dr. Gonzalo Bearman, chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at VCU Health, emphasized basics that people skip when they are rushing back to their seat. “The best approach to cleanliness is proper handwashing and hand hygiene after the use of the airplane bathroom,” he told HuffPost. He also advised a small habit that can make a difference when you flush, “Also, when flushing the toilet, it is best to close the toilet lid prior to flushing the toilet.” Closing the lid helps limit a toilet plume, which is the spread of microscopic particles that can drift onto nearby surfaces.
Philips recommended a few other precautions that fit easily into a travel routine. Use a seat cover if one is available, or line the seat with paper if you can do it safely. Avoid touching your face right after using the restroom, and use hand sanitizer after you wash if you want an extra layer. If you can, use paper towels to turn off the faucet and open the door, and Philips said, “Lastly, to avoid recontamination, consider using paper towels to turn off the faucet and open the door.” These are small moves that help you leave germs where they belong, instead of carrying them back to your tray table.
Flight attendants also wish more travelers would plan ahead so the restroom is not a last minute sprint. Regan pointed out a pattern crews see constantly, “The strangest thing I noticed, and is a pet peeve among fellow flight attendants, is that people wait until they get onto the plane to use the restroom.” She added, “It’s mind boggling that you wouldn’t use the restroom while you’re in the terminal.” Airport restrooms are roomier, easier to wash up in, and far less awkward during boarding chaos, so using them first can mean fewer visits in the air.
It also helps to understand why airplane lavatories can feel like they get messy so fast. Most commercial aircraft use vacuum toilet systems that move waste into sealed holding tanks, which is why flushing comes with that loud whoosh. Tight space, limited water, and constant vibration make it harder to keep every surface spotless between cleanings, even when crews do their best. On top of that, cabin air is typically a mix of fresh outside air and filtered recirculated air, and many planes use HEPA filtration in the recirculated stream. Filtration helps with airborne particles, but it does not clean a wet floor or disinfect the door latch you just grabbed.
If you want to be a better seatmate and protect yourself at the same time, treat the airplane restroom like any other heavily used public bathroom, and keep your shoes on for the trip there and back. The cabin is shared space, and the choices one traveler makes can affect the comfort of an entire row. A pair of lightweight slippers in your personal item, steady handwashing, and a little awareness go a long way. Share your best in flight hygiene tips and pet peeves in the comments.
