Really need to go?

                                  

 
In Paris they have the sanisettes. These are public toilets, which you can use for free! It might come in handy when you are walking somewhere and your apartment in Paris isn’t nearby!

Because a Frenchmen called Philippe Dorcourt, never seemed to be able to find a sanisette when he really really had to go, he wrote the Paris Pause Pipi-Guide. It’s an e-book with 36 pages full of maps of the all of the arrondissements, which indicate where to find them. You can order it on his website for EUR 2.80.

What are they? These sanisettes? You might wonder. When I tell people about these sanisettes, they immediately think of the seatless toilets with a hole in the ground. Well if you where thinking this while reading the text above, you’re wrong. They are highly sophisticated booths, you can find all across Paris and they have there own cleaning ritual. Ok then now the ‘how’ part. How does it work?

How to use a sanisette in 4 steps:

1. Look whether it isn’t occupied. If it’s vacant it will be indicated by a green light on the door of the sanisette. Then press the button to open the door. Usually you can use the sanisettes for free, but when you aren’t in the city center you might have to pay 20 eurocents. The door will close automatically, as it has a sensor that notices you in the booth.

2. Do your business, you don’t have to flush, the sanisette will do that for you.

3. Now washing your hands. If it works, you’ll have to put you hands in the washing basin beneath the mirror. It will poor water and soap over your hands. Don’t be scared because a few seconds later it will blow-dry your hand. 

4. When you are ready to leave, open the door. A few moments after, the door will shut and the sanisette will prepare itself for the next visitor.