Planes don't have a sparkling reputation when it comes to hygiene, and it turns out there are all sorts of areas passengers ought to avoid for a pleasant trip.
For instance, falling asleep against the window is said to be a big no-no, since it's likely several heads and grubby fingers have rested there before you. But it is impossible to avoid some germ hotspots - like the toilet - when you're travelling on a long flight.
Thankfully, a former flight attendant has shared when it is best to make your toilet trips if possible, plus when you'll want to avoid the loos, and the reasoning makes a lot of sense.
Chatting to bathroom specialists, Sanctuary Bathrooms, a former flight attendant who previously worked for a major airline, said: "The worst time to use the aeroplane loo is right before take-off and at the very end of a flight, especially if it's long-haul."
As you can work out, it is during these times the bog will see the most use and so is most likely to get dirty.
For the same reason, the bathroom can quickly turn unpleasant after a bout of turbulence, when passengers are required to remain in their seats. As soon as the light changes on the seatbelt sign, you can expect a rush to the loos. Hopefully, nobody is feeling sick, but even without this factor, there's bound to be an influx.
Instead, it could be worth trying to use the loo before the food is served. The former cabin crew member explained: "Plane food is not nutritious. It can be oily and high in salt and fat; things that don't tend to be great for gut health or bowel movements.
'If a meal isn't sitting right with a passenger and they need to use the loo because of it, you don't want to be in there straight after."
To make matters worse, the toilet might not be as clean as you would hope.
"An important part of the airline industry is turnover," said the expert. "This sometimes means that a full, deep clean of the aeroplane loo isn't always possible due to a lack of time and higher priorities."
But it is not all bad news, as the pro also shared a tip passengers can benefit from no matter the time they need to use the loo. The former attendant suggests packing a face mask.
"The aeroplane loo is essentially a cupboard, with no clean air. There is no window and the air ventilation is poor," they said.
"This means that every time you go to the loo, not only are you breathing in the air of many others who have 'done their business' before you (especially if it’s a long-haul flight) but you could also be breathing in potential faeces particles, circulating the air after a toilet flush."
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