Public Hygiene Lets Us Stay Human

03/24/2026

Public restroom design doesn’t have to be an afterthought.

With thoughtful design, they can be welcoming, beautiful spaces that people actually want to use. From lighting and layout to durability and accessibility, good design makes a real difference.

This article shares some great ideas on what goes into a well-designed restroom:
https://www.thebathoutlet.com/designing-stunning-public-restroom/article/190

These tips are especially helpful for all you business owners out there with restrooms open to the public. Even a small investment in making your restroom more hospitable can benefit your bottom line.

What do you think makes a public restroom well-designed? We'd love to hear your ideas and opinions in the comments 👇

If you have a large business or run any other type of building that needs a public restroom, you might be more concerned with the business end than the design. The overall design of your public restroom should be important to you as well, because based on your type of business, people may take the l...

02/11/2026

We are back! The keys to this account were mislaid, but not lost forever. We're glad to be here.

PHLUSH believes that everyone has the right to safe, clean, dignified toilets. We connect and support people who want to make that right a reality, with organizing tools, tech info, and experience. We believe that sanitation justice makes people, communities, and the planet stronger, healthier, and happier.

We’ll share updates, education resources, and practical innovations in our three interwoven objectives:
o Public restroom access
o Disaster sanitation
o Ecosanitation

Help spread the word: Everyone deserves access to a toilet, anytime, everywhere. Make it happen.

02/02/2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVvCypmqf3o

👉 Learn more: https://P*eOnAPlant.comAt halftime of the Big Game, over 120 million people will take a moment to “relieve” themselves. This year, we’re aski...

07/07/2025

Urban public health and walkability: advocating
for more inclusive toilets"" by Genevieve Mancuso of PHLUSH and Annika Lundkvist of Pedestrian Spaces appears in the current issue of Cities and Health. Congrats to the researchers for this comprehensive look at the role of public toilets in the health of city-dwellers. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/23748834.2025.2509714

07/07/2025

IAPMO Advances Development of 2027 WE•Stand During Technical Committee Meetings. During the June 19-20 meetings the WE•Stand Technical Committee acted on 119 public proposals.

During the June 19-20 meetings the WE•Stand Technical Committee acted on 119 public proposals.

03/28/2025

PHLUSH is excited to announce a new partnership with The Bathroom Company, creators of The Bathroom App—a restroom-finding tool that prioritizes accuracy, reliability, and community-driven data. Unlike other restroom apps, The Bathroom App relies on real people to scout locations and take photos, ensuring better quality data. So far, the app is available in San Francisco and New York City, and now we’re helping to bring it to Portland, OR!

To make this happen, we’re organizing a volunteer scavenger hunt throughout April to map public restrooms across the city. We're looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help us get Portland on the map—whether by joining us or contributing on your own time!

Here are the Zoom details: "Scavenger Hunt #1"
April 1st, 6 PM PST / 9 PM EST
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81314445687?pwd=5FriRemkrDWU4A2fawNDUWanuonKmN.1
🆔 Meeting ID: 813 1444 5687 | 🔑 Passcode: 841748

03/19/2025

The latest blog post written by Dr. Kory Russel explains an exhibit at the Venetian Palace. "The exhibit highlighted the interconnectedness of human and non-human life within sanitation systems, focusing on the environmental and social impacts of various waste management approaches."

Designing for a Shared Reality: What is a Multispecies Approach to Sanitation? By: Kory Russel   At a Venetian Palace overlooking the grand canal, an unexpected exhibit highlighted a universal truth—every living being, from emperors to insects, must excrete waste. This display, “Designing for t...