Flying might get you to paradise, but the airplane bathroom? It’s a germ trap in disguise—and the tap water is part of the problem.
Experts are raising alarms about the cleanliness of U.S. airplane tap water, especially in lavatories. While you may instinctively want to wash your hands after using the restroom (and you should), doing so with onboard water might actually expose you to more bacteria than it removes.
In one eye-opening study published in Annals of Microbiology, researchers analyzed ice made from airplane water and found over 50 strains of bacteria, some linked to serious infections. The aircraft’s water tanks aren’t cleaned as often as you’d think, and contamination can happen easily and often. That same water is used for tea, coffee, and yes, bathroom sinks.
Dr. Shanina Knighton, a nurse-scientist at Case Western Reserve, warns that the real danger lies in the false sense of cleanliness. “I wouldn’t want to start my vacation with a stomach bug because of unsafe water exposure,” she says.
Add to that the fact that bathroom locks, door handles, and faucet knobs are rarely disinfected between flights, and it’s easy to see why so many flight attendants and health experts now carry their own wipes and sanitizer instead.
So what’s the better move? Sanitize after touching anything in the bathroom, skip the sink water, and wait to properly wash your hands once you land. Think of it as flying smart, not scared.
Stay safe: Don’t drink the tap water. Don’t trust the sink. Pack wipes, stay sharp, and arrive healthy because nothing ruins a trip faster than a bug you picked up in the bathroom at 30,000 feet.
