Remember to Flush

And Wash Your Hands

By Mitchell Slepian

Auto-flush toilets came out in the mid-80s. They became common in many restrooms in the 1990s. Here we are in 2026. Are they everywhere? No. 

Before these types of toilets became available in entertainment, offices, restaurants, and sports venues, you had to flush. The flush toilet was invented in 1596 by Sir John Harrington, godson of Queen Elizabeth I. In camp during the 80s, we had latrines. Some were two-seater pit latrines, while others were five-seater tip pan latrines. A pit latrine was cleaned out using a pipe that sucks waste into a tanker. A tip pan latrine is cleaned when the pan tips, and the waste product is directed into a pit.

These days, many people are so used to automatic flush toilets that they take care of their business and walk away. Behold, not every toilet is an automatic flush. Certainly not in city venues, such as Central and Union Square Parks, the Staten Island Ferry, and its terminals. Many religious organizations haven’t upgraded. Nothing is more disgusting than when you walk into a train station’s bathroom and see the toilet overloaded with waste products. People are getting so used to auto flush that they forget to flush. Sadly, many forget to wash their hands after using the bathroom. In most cases, the sinks have automatic faucets. and soap dispensers. This helps with cleanliness, as you don’t have to touch the faucets. 

At times, the automatic faucets, flushing mechanisms, and soap dispensers fail to work. You might have trouble getting soap and water. But usually, you can find a flush button on the toilet. You can always carry Purell packets. So, let’s keep things clean: flush and wash your hands.