To be blunt, I think you are being ridiculous. Letting someone in your home use the facilities seems like the least you can offer a person in your home, guest or worker alike.

I guess that's a good point and if you don't mind them marching in with their dirty shoes and having to clean the bathroom afterwards.

and i can tell there are many who feel like you, weissta, when i see the warmth in the eyes of workmen in my home when i offer them a pitcher of water and tell them without their having to ask where the first floor powder room is.

I believe most companies discourage their employees from using client's bathrooms. I understand your reluctance, but providing facilities is the polite thing to do.

If they first show up and ask to use the bathroom that is unprofessional. If they are working on you home and after time then that is fine Either way, let them use the bathroom. Now if it is #2 that is a different.........

I believe #2 was involved!

Wow, I can't imaging denying a worker the use of my bathroom. And how would that conversation go?
M'am can I use the bathroom?
Well, I would prefer you didn't.
Umm, ok, well, any idea where I could go?
There's a gas station down the street.
Ok, be back later........

If someone is doing work in my house, and I'm busy in another part of the house, I'll show them where the bathroom is in case they need it, and offer a bottle of water perhaps if it's going to be an hour or so. That is how I was raised to welcome someone into my home. Especially someone doing work for me, even though I'm paying them. I'd look at it this way, he asked you first. It shouldn't be a big deal. You don't know his situation. Maybe it's easier for him to ask the homeowners to use their facilities than trying to find a public bathroom somewhere on his route. I don't know. Now, next door to us there is a new house being built, and I once saw our mail carrier stop his postal vehicle. He got out, and used the port a potty. I guess, if the postal carrier came to my door, and asked to use my bathroom....that might be kind of weird.

Wessista what would you have the worker do? What alternative did he have?How long a drive is it to a public restroom? And how dirty are his shoes really? I feel somewhat weird about having strangers in my home too, and the workers are human beings and deserve some consideration.

I hope next time you are out someone tells you to hold it until you get home I have never heard of such nonsense when you gotta go you gotta go. I do think you can ask them to remove their shoes.

I know exactly how you feel. Fortunately, I haven't been asked for this favor in the past 30 years. That last time, though, made an impression that will unfortunately stay with me forever. Geez, when they don't even flush.... Some people are just pigs, and I would prefer not to have to guess which ones are or aren't.

And what if an invited guest has to use the bathroom for the dreaded #2, or is nauseous and sick? Sometimes things like this just can't be helped. I'm sure worker or guest alike, they are probably just as embarrassed as you. Sometimes this is just the price we pay for being human, and acknowledging the humanity of others. Take a deep breath (or hold your breath) and let it go. :-)

weissta, do you clean the bathroom after every person that uses it? Why would a worker be any different?

This whole conversation is reminding me of the book/movie "The Help", when some white families didn't want their black maids using the facilities in the house. Since when is it OK to dehumanize anyone by not allowing them a basic thing like access to a bathroom while in your home? Sorry, I am a lot more disgusted by that behavior than the idea of someone using a bathroom for its intended use.

When we had our house remodeled, we specifically stated that we didn't want the contractor to rent a porto-potty. We have bathrooms and renting one is 1) a waste of money and 2) inhospitable.

Where else is he supposed to go?

There was a Marketplace episode (Canadian consumer advocacy t.v. show) a few years ago that used hidden cameras to catch plumbers overcharging for unwarranted work, etc.

What the cameras did catch was totally unexpected -- one of the men peeing into a coffee cup that was in the sink, dumping it down the drain, rinsing then putting the cup back.

I think I'd much rather they use the bathroom :)

We had just finished remodeling our powder room when the exterminator's helper asked to use it. Later, when I went in there was a scratch on my new quartz counter top (probably from his tool belt) and there were drip marks down the walls from his use of the toilet brush. I guess he thought he was being helpful by cleaning up his "residue." We had to repaint that area and live with the scratched counter. By the way, the "boss" lives around the corner so I think he should have asked to use his restroom.

Gerry, that is clearly unfortunate, but not particular to a workman's use of it, just particular to someone being inconsiderate. A guest in your home could easily have done the same, maybe not a tool belt but maybe a buckle on a purse or a watch taken off while washing hands causing a scratch, a well-intentioned guest trying (but failing miserably) to clean up a mess he is embarrassed about, etc. I think the take-away is that of course anyone using a restroom (in someone's home, or a public restroom or in the workplace) should be considerate and clean and tidy, but the fact that some aren't is no excuse for denying use to everyone.

If someone is in your home, basic hospitality rules apply. It doesn't matter if you're paying them to be there or not.

Of course, basic guest rules apply as well. At least if a contractor is a poor guest, you can complain to his company or give him a bad review. You can't do that with Great Aunt Marge.

Regarding shoe covers: if the workman doesn't have them and it's appropriate for them to wear them, hand him a couple plastic grocery bags and elastics.

Years ago, I worked as a "road warrior" in sales, meaning I spent 6-8 hours of my day driving from client to client, appointment to appointment. Since they were businesses I called on, I could use their restrooms most often. If I were on the road an hour or two between appointments, I might have to stop to use a restroom in a fast food restaurant. I always dreaded that, not knowing what kind of cleanliness or lack thereof I would be faced with.

Yet, as an individual I don't care to have any workers in my home if it can be avoided, so I see both sides of this very well. I guess offer the courtesy you want offered to you.

However, if someone damaged something in my home, I would address it and ask for repairs or compensation.

On bigger jobs like additions, or large remodeling projects most people will say "please use this bathroom" most of the time its the powder room, they will remove all their personal items except air fresher, bowl cleaner,toilet paper and hand soap.

Some people will request and pay extra to rent a Porta-John if the job will last a week/month.

On the general note 95% of the time when doing any exterior work or any work in general, Homeowners will say from the get go that if you need to use a bathroom of if you like water (in the summer time) just ring the bell.

This is all kind of gross. I get it, sh*t happens, but hopefully a repairman could use a public john before arriving at a job. #2 is grosser, but #1 without proper aim can be an issure too. I don't like cleaning up the overspray of my family and friends, much less that of a perfect stranger. Why can't they sit down?

Weissta I don't think you are being ridiculous. But I am assuming you live in a city big enough to have available public restrooms here and there. And any workman who has to rely on the kindness of strangers to keep himself hydrated in this day and age should probably stay home. Not that I don't offer, but good grief some of you are being way too dramatic in your shaming of weissta.

I once had a secretary, blonde bombshell type, and a copier salesman (it was the 80's) came into the office and asked to use the lavatory. My secretary answered " we don't have one of those"..... I know Susanne this was sexist on my part,,,sorry....