When nature calls, the humble porta potty is a lifesaver. However, they’re not exactly forgiving if you accidentally drop something inside. Porta potties work well with human waste and biodegradable tissue, but little else. Anything non-biodegradable can clog the system or require costly manual removal. This disrupts normal operations and could lead to additional cleaning surcharges from your service provider.
Worse still, retrieving anything that falls in is severely unpleasant and potentially dangerous. Do you want to avoid this headache? Let’s look at some specific things you should never drop in a porta potty.
Phones
One of the most common mishaps is dropping your smartphone. Phones are always in peril when we use them in cramped portable restrooms. Whether you’re responding to an urgent email or texting a friend, a butterfingers moment can lead to your phone plummeting into the tank. The water and muck might permanently destroy your device.
Wallets and Personal IDs
Dropping a wallet containing cash, cards, and IDs can make your day a logistical nightmare. More often than not, a fallen wallet in a porta potty is unrecoverable, and you’ll lose everything you had inside.
Keys and Key Fobs
Keys and porta potties do not mix. Keys are small and can easily fall out of your pocket when sitting down or adjusting your clothes. Losing your keys in a porta potty can be especially frustrating because it’ll be difficult to leave without them. You may have to spend money on a taxi or wait until a friend can pick you up.
Kids’ Toys
If you’re bringing kids to an event, keep an extra close eye on their belongings. Kids love to take their favorite toys everywhere, and a porta potty is no exception. Encourage kids to leave toys with a trusted adult while using the facilities. The little ones may not like it, but they’d be even more upset if they permanently lost their toys.
Jewelry
Any small jewelry item can easily slip off your hands or body. The risk is even higher if your hands are damp from being outdoors at a hot, sunny event. Losing jewelry is especially unfortunate because it often holds sentimental or monetary value that you can’t replace.
Food and Drinks
You might be surprised how often visitors accidentally drop snacks, cups, or even half-eaten meals into porta potties. This is unhygienic and increases the likelihood of odors and bacteria spreading.
Cigarette Butts or Lighters
Smokers should take special care near porta potties. Dropping cigarette butts or lighters inside the unit could be hazardous. Chemicals in portable toilets can react with heat, potentially causing dangerous situations. Additionally, cigarette butts are not biodegradable and can clog systems.
Personal Hygiene Products
Items like sanitary pads, tampons, and diaper wipes are things you should never drop in a porta potty. These products do not break down organically and can jam pumping equipment, leading to increased maintenance issues.
What To Do if You Drop Something in a Porta Potty
If you or one of your attendees drops something in a porta potty, you need to handle the situation calmly and efficiently to minimize disruption. Here’s what you can do.
Stay Calm and Assess the Situation
The first thing you should do is stay calm. Dropping something in a porta potty is frustrating, but keeping the situation in perspective is essential. If an attendee loses an item, ask what they dropped was and if it’s important or valuable, such as a phone or wedding ring. There may still be a chance of retrieving it.
Evaluate the Item’s Value
Decide whether the item is worth retrieving. A wedding ring deserves further action, while a less valuable item like a silly trinket or toy requires no additional attention.
Avoid Direct Retrieval
Trying to recover the item yourself is tempting, but this can lead to contamination or personal injury. Don’t let attendees grab items from the porta potty, either.
Contact the Rental Company
If the lost item is valuable, your next step should be to contact the porta-potty rental company immediately. Technicians can sometimes retrieve dropped items without compromising the sanitation or integrity of the unit.
Offer Reassurance
If the attendee is stressed, assure them you’re doing everything possible to recover their item. Offering a bit of empathy can go a long way in making them feel more at ease, even if the item is ultimately gone for good.
Take Preventative Measures Moving Forward
After the incident, if you’re the event host, take a moment to remind all attendees or workers about the importance of keeping personal items secure when using the porta potty. You might want to consider placing signage near the units with simple reminders or, if possible, offer small waterproof pouches or bags for people to use.
Best Practices for Porta Potty Use
To help everyone have a positive experience, follow these tips when using portable restrooms:
- Empty your hands before entering. Avoid carrying unnecessary items like food, drinks, or electronics inside the restroom.
- Use pockets or bags for storage. Secure personal belongings in zipped pockets or secure bags so they won’t fall out.
- Look before you flush. If you drop something small like keys or jewelry, checking before flushing makes retrieval more possible.
- Pay attention to waste disposal signs. Follow instructions about what can and cannot go into the tank to keep everything running smoothly.
These simple steps will go a long way in ensuring you and others enjoy a hassle-free porta-potty experience.
Trust in the Best for Your Next Porta-Potty Rental
If you’re operating an event or construction site requiring porta potties, ensure you work with the best in the business. At Floods Royal Flush, we prioritize quality, sanitation, and professionalism. We’ve got you covered when you need a porta-potty rental in Chicago.
Contact us for a quote and ensure your event stays clean, safe, and stress-free. Your guests deserve only the best, and so do you! Deliver a seamless experience with Floods Royal Flush, Chicagoland’s trusted porta-potty rental service.
