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Allen Stern
 

Gotta Go? These Three Bathroom Finders Can Help

Sometimes you need to find a public restroom while out and about. In some cities, it's easy to find a bathroom, while in others -- including New York City -- it's pretty difficult. Here are three tools that can help you when you're in need.

Sometimes you need to find a public restroom while out and about. In some cities, it's easy to find a bathroom, while in others -- including New York City -- it's pretty difficult. Here are three tools that can help you when you're in need.Mizpee Mizpee has been since 2007 and provides toilet and restroom links around the U.S. and the world. The search is very basic and provides a text-based results list which you can click off to view a map. If you find a public restroom you can add it to their database. Mizpee also offers local deals in a variety of cities. Mizpee is also accessible via a mobile device and search results can be sent via sms to a mobile.

Diaroogle Diaroogle offers a "quality" public restroom search engine. They provide editorial reviews of each toilet in the system. Toilets are also rated for privacy, cleanliness and accessibility. Diaroogle also offers toilet photos where possible. Diaroogle is currently available in New York City, London and San Francisco. There's also an iPhone application available for download so you can find a public restroom near where you are currently located.


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SitorSquat SitorSquat is the newest of the public restroom directories and is similar to Diaroogle. SitorSquat offers a Facebook application, news feeds for toilets and a MySpace application. There's a variety of mobile functionality for the iPhone and Blackberry and I assume it works on Windows Mobile as well. What I like is that they provide inside-location directions to the toilet - this helps you remain covert as many places in NYC won't allow you to just use the facilities. There are toilet ratings which are either "sit" meaning clean or "squat" meaning not clean. There are toilet descriptions, reviews and photos as well. The data is editable so that users can keep the locations current. I like the hours listings on the map so you don't rush over to a toilet only to find the location is closed. SitorSquat also offers a favorites list so you can save your favorite toilets to your mobile for each access.

Everyone has been in a situation where they need a clean bathroom quickly. I've found that my toughest time finding a public toilet is when I am in a new city. As the three services above grow their city and listings, there will eventually be no reason to be stuck trying to find a clean bathroom no matter where you are. Now if they can just make sure there's paper on the roll!


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