Talk:Washroom

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Architecture Portal
This article covers subjects of relevance to Architecture. To participate, visit the WikiProject Architecture for more information. The current monthly improvement drive is Johannes Itten.
??? This article has not yet received a rating on the assessment scale.
??? This article has not yet received an importance rating on the assessment scale.

A washroom is a room containing more than just a toilet.

It may contain toilets, sinks, urinals, and hand dryers, etc., and it seems like it could be a good superset of just "toilet".

I'd welcome your comments, thoughts, ideas, etc.. Glogger 04:35, 9 Oct 2004 (UTC)

Nonetheless, we have an article on toilet that refers to rooms containing all those things. Observe that restroom redirects there. (Or at least, it did, before you turned it into a double redirect -- which does not work, by the way). - RedWordSmith 21:09, 9 Oct 2004 (UTC)

Sorry about the double redirect. My mistake.

In the long run, I think it would be good to make an entry for "Toilet", an entry for "Urinal" (there is already one), and for "Shower" (there is already one), each talking about the specific fixtures, and then move content that talks about the overall environment into the superset "Washroom". That's what I also did with "Changeroom", e.g. I created an entry for the superset, and then specific cases (like "Fitting room") could be linked in from that.

I don't think "Toilet" should be an article about urinals, hand dryers, sinks, and showers as well. But I do think there is room for an overarching "umbrella" article that covers all of these, and I think that could be "Washroom" or maybe "Washroom architecture" (to keep it focused on the broad contextual concepts like space management, design, traffic flow optimization, etc.). Glogger 04:22, 10 Oct 2004 (UTC)

The thing is washroom/restroom/bathroom are predominantly American usage. The rest of the world are quite happy to call it a toilet. Mintguy (T) 09:15, 12 Oct 2004 (UTC)

Whatever it is called it is important to clearly differentiate between a toilet "device" or toilet "fixture" and the room containing the toilet, the toilet "room". Appending the suffix "room" to whatever generic name is chosen should be sufficient.

Contents

[edit] Washroom architecture

I originally created a Wikipedia entry for "Washroom".

I apologize for not making the distinction from "Toilet" clear in my writing (my entry for "Washroom" was deleted and replaced with a Redirect to "Toilet", presumaby because I wasn't clear in my distinction).

I've created the entry "Washroom architecture" and re-written it to reflect the need for a Wikipedia entry that deals with the design of public washroom spaces, and not just flush toilets.

The "Toilet" entry deals primarily with residential tank type toilets, and although it covers also some other kinds of toilets, it does not address the general topic of commercial washroom space design and facility design, such as traffic throughput, labyrinth entrances, and the like.

Hopefully this new article will be of use to others.

If anyone would like to delete this article, please put it on VfD rather than just deleting it, because that way we can get a peer review on whether it's really redundant or badly written. Glogger 23:45, 9 Oct 2004 (UTC)

[edit] Restroom

I note that restroom redirects here. Just thought I'd mention that here in the UK, a restroom can sometimes mean what it says - for example, the school nurse's room at my high school (with a bed, but not a toilet) was called the "restroom", and this usage is not particularly rare. I'd do something about the redirect if I had a good idea of what that might be! Loganberry | Talk 12:16, 6 Jun 2005 (UTC)
Where does the term "restoom" come from ?'

Wow, that's odd. In the western portion of the United States, a "restroom" is used for a public room with a toilet and sink. A few restrooms have showers, but those are rare. Restroom in the United States would never connote a public room with a bed; that would be a lounge or bedroom.
Does anyone know exactly where "washroom" is in use as the dominant term? On the West Coast, "restroom" is the dominant term," and from what I've seen of Europe (5 visits so far, to the UK, France, Switzerland, and Italy), "WC" or "toilet" (or a local translation) seems to be the dominant terms there. It would be nice to know so that the article introduction can correctly denote which dialects of English are using what. --Coolcaesar 11:11, 15 August 2005 (UTC)
In most of the US, the dominant term is "restroom". In Commonwealth [?] English, the dominant term is "washroom", including Canada, which is odd because Canadian vocabulary usually coincides to American English much closer than to British English. (However, the orthography of Canadian English is mostly British.) I've also heard "washroom" used in the American South. For what it's worth I think altering the redirect wouldn't be prudent since about 300 million people call it a restroom, even though in the UK it can "sometimes" mean, in "not particularly rare" usage, something else entirely. If the usage is common enough and not merely an obsolete regionalism, you could put a note at the top: "Restroom redirects here. Restroom can also mean a nurse's office in my high school."  :)
Washroom is not the dominant term in British English. The normal term would simply be 'public toilet', 'toilets', or 'WC'. I can't think of anyone who'd say washroom or restroom, and I don't think I've ever seen it on signs either. BovineBeast
Don't worry, here comes the lexicographer/linguist/pain in the neck. Based on my corpus international data, I can conclude that washroom absolutely is NOT a Briticism, any! It's most definitely an Americanism that appears to have been imported to some extent by Britons and Australians, especially in commercial or formal usage. The word was coined in the U.S. in the early 19th century and fell somewhat out of everyday use in the last 30/40 years in the U.S., but remained the preferred term in Canada. JackLumber 12:13, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Captions are too long

And unfortunantely, they're very interesting. ;-) I'm going to try to cut them down a little bit. Ambush Commander 02:41, Jun 19, 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Requested Move

It was suggested that this article should be renamed Washroom. The vote is shown below:

Copied from WP:RM Dragons flight 00:24, August 26, 2005 (UTC)

Someone moved it a long time ago but the title "washroom" would make much more sense. Andrew pmk 17:57, 21 August 2005 (UTC)

As an American, I would rather prefer a move of this article to "restroom," the American term. Washroom sounds so British! --Coolcaesar 01:34, 26 August 2005 (UTC)
Well, per my note above, "Washroom" is used in the US South, although much Southern diction is quite British in flavor. (Flavour?) "I do declare!" Beetter "washroom" than "washroom architecture", that's for certain. Though I, too, would prefer "restroom", although the rabble-rousing British, Australian, etc. speaking masses would doubtless have other ideas about that. But hey I'm just an anonymous user, my opinion doesn't matter.

This article has been renamed after the result of a move request. violet/riga (t) 10:06, 1 September 2005 (UTC)

The Southern States don't use the word washroom because it's British. They use it because it's *American*. See my above post. And Coolcaesar, I'm really surprised! Why does "washroom" sound British to you? My California Lawyer, you shall go to the washroom, wash your clothes and bathe in water and be unclean until evening. JackLumber 12:18, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

I just ran some Google searches to find out what is the majority usage. The Northern, Midwest, Western and Northwest states all use "restroom." There's even an American Restroom Association! It's only the South that uses "washroom"---it's also the South that has weird food like "grits." --Coolcaesar 18:14, 28 April 2006 (UTC)
Got a couple quotations by a Californian. "He danced him over the ironing tables, the stove, and the mangles, and out into the wash-room and over the wringer and washer." "Bill's job was in the wash-room." (Jack London). Not exactly yesterday. The OED has a quotation from the U.S. dating back to the 1970's (Chicago, if I recall correctly---I don't have it at hand right now), and the last one is, duh, from Canada. But remember---the British couldn't have coined "washroom," that would have been "washing room" :-) JackLumber 20:50, 28 April 2006 (UTC) As a linguist, I love the South, their accent, and their contributions to the language. (Although "washroom" comes probably from New England; but I don't like grits, especially for breakfast.)

[edit] "Backworld" ?

Exactly what in the bloody hell does this term mean? There is no Wikipedia entry, nothing to be found in Webster's, at dictionary.com and not even at urbandictionary.com. If it's a neologism, someone please give some reference material for it. In the meantime, I'm removing it, as I feel it has negative connotations and thus is not NPOV. --dfg 19:47, 17 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] "Someone erroneously thinks that washroom is not an Americanism"

I've lived in America all my life and have never once heard nor used the term "washroom". The word we use is "restroom". Washroom is used in Canada, not the US. So stop calling "washroom" an Americanism.

The word we use? We who? The English lexicon comprises several hundreds of thousands of words, and many thousands (like washroom, or restroom in that sense, for that matter) are Americanisms. So why don't you try to boost your vocabulary skills and, while you're at it, get some information on the culture and heritage of our Nation? Shame on you. If there's something I can't stand, it's nescience. That's all there is. --JackLumber 20:23, 29 April 2006 (UTC)


Sure restroom, the "institutional" term, is much more common than washroom, but the two words can happily coexist. If you like the Internet, well, the Internet has a slew of examples in this respect. JackLumber 22:20, 29 April 2006 (UTC) Read, learn, little rugrat. It's called culture.
Sometimes, in my area (Michigan), whenever someone refers to the washroom, they're usually referring to the laundry room, not the bathroom or restroom. This usage seems to be more common. How common is this usage in other areas? --141.213.178.11 04:30, 12 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] "Washroom" used instead of "Laundry Room"

I live in Gulf Coastal Mississippi, and I've only heard the word "washroom" used when referring to a laundry room. I really think this usage should be added to the article... --Celtic Jobber 05:37, 15 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Courtesy Services in Public Restrooms

Sometimes there are people in restrooms, usually men's washrooms, and particularly at places like fancy restaurants, country clubs and gentlemen's clubs where there are people who dispense the soap for you, give you a towel, offer mints and cigarettes, and usually seek tips for their services. They also maintain order and cleanliness.

Should there be mention of these people. I'm not entirely familiar with the subject and I'm not sure if this should be made a separate article (like the Toilet grannys) or not. However, I think it is worth mentioning. Comments? 131.156.238.75 00:33, 17 November 2006 (UTC)

This varies from country to country. In some countries, like Italy, it is customary for practically every large public restroom to have an attendant on duty at all times, and it is traditional to tip the attendant. In others, like the United States, restroom attendants are found only at very, very upscale establishments (the kind frequented by fabulously wealthy celebrities and socialites), which is why most public restrooms are in such decrepit shape in the U.S. I certainly agree the subject is worth mentioning, but it needs to be explained in a way that is in compliance with both the worldwide view guideline and the Verifiability and No Original Research policies! --Coolcaesar 06:55, 17 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] cottaging

why no mention of it in this article? is this an example of self-censorship, as i always thought wikipedia was uncensored? cottaging in public toilets is surely significant and commonplace enough to be worthy of mention 212.159.101.129 13:23, 4 April 2007 (UTC)

Please read Wikipedia official policies, such as Wikipedia:What Wikipedia is not, which states that Wikipedia is NOT a soapbox or an indiscriminate collection of random information! --Coolcaesar 17:38, 4 April 2007 (UTC)


[edit] World record for the biggest public washroom?

I heard that there was an official world record for the largest public washroom in China. Should we put that in? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 68.144.186.32 (talk) 22:02:39, August 19, 2007 (UTC)

If it's adequately referenced, I can't see a reason for not doing so. --Taraborn (talk) 11:50, 24 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Lighting

I have no idea whether this is common in other countries, but in larger Norwegian cities, pubs with restrooms that are easily accessible from the street commonly install blue or purplish light in them, ostensibly because the light makes it harder to locate a vein, making the restroom less attractive to heroin addicts. I've been told by unreliable sources that it has absolutely no effect. Besides, considering Norwegian drinking habits, most patrons would be too wasted to notice or care about a passed-out junkie... DES (talk) 12:26, 5 February 2008 (UTC)

Toilet has a photo. --Error (talk) 23:55, 17 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Secondary use

Something should be said about its secondary uses. For example, as a men-only area, they were the only places to buy fireworks in some society I forgot. Men's restrooms were frequented by gays looking for sex, before the gay liberation. In some discos and night clubs, restrooms, as a somehow private area are used for drug trade and consumption or impromptu sex. --Error (talk) 23:55, 17 February 2008 (UTC)