Here’s what you need to know about using the bathroom as South Florida beaches reopen

If you haven’t been to a beach or a park in months, your ability to, er, hold it till you get home probably needs some work and you’re not going to have a choice — you’ll have to hit a public restroom, especially now that beaches are reopening on Monday in Miami-Dade County.

Whether you just need some sunshine or are a certified beach bum, hydrating under the hot sun means you’ll probably be making multiple trips to the nearest public restroom.

Luckily, regardless of which bathroom you use, there are a few things within your control. For example, use toilet paper to cover the toilet handle and flush, rather than using your bare hand. You can also use toilet seat covers to create a barrier between you and who-knows-what on the toilet seat.

And as always, wash your hands. A lot.

If you’re planning a visit to a recently reopened park in Miami-Dade or Broward County, or perhaps you’re packing your swimsuit for a day at the beach, here’s what you need to know when you really have to go.

Miami-Dade County

Miami-Dade County reopened its parks and recreational facilities on April 29 and will reopen its beaches on June 1. While you may be gearing up for a fun day of sunbathing, cycling or strolling — all activities that must be enjoyed in groups of 10 or less — nature will, inevitably, call. Here’s what you need to know.

▪ All restrooms, except those dedicated to shelter rentals, are open.

▪ The coronavirus doesn’t stop at the bathroom door, which means social distancing will be enforced even within restrooms, according to the county. Park and beach goers not within the same family unit must maintain six feet of social distance inside bathrooms, and “access to restrooms will be limited based on this requirement.”

▪ Guests must keep on their facial covering of choice while in restrooms. Despite the heat you may experience while enjoying a day out at your local park or beach, the bathroom was never the place to get fresh air.

▪ But if you’re worried you won’t be able to breathe, cross ventilation will be maximized at beach restrooms, meaning doors and windows will be kept open when possible, according to the county’s “new normal” guidelines.

▪ Restrooms will be cleaned every two to three hours, in keeping with CDC guidelines. If you see a cleaning crew enter the restroom right as you’re planning to go, you might want to find a different one, as cleaning takes about 20 minutes, depending on the size of the restroom.

▪ Attendants will be posted outside all open restrooms.

▪ If you forget any of these rules, restrooms will have signage to remind you of them and of the importance of hygiene when using and exiting the restroom.

Broward County

Broward County reopened its parks, golf courses and other recreational facilities on April 28 and its beaches have been open since Tuesday. If you’re visiting a Broward park, here’s what you need to know about its restroom facilities.

▪ Restrooms are open at all regional parks but in limited numbers. For example, Dan West, Broward’s park director, said if a park usually has six or seven restrooms, around two will be open to the public. So if you’re traveling with a frequent flyer, make sure to scout open restrooms in advance.

▪ Restrooms are cleaned every two to three hours at a minimum.

▪ Depending on the size of the restroom, only one to two people at a time will be allowed in to ensure social distancing. That might sound daunting, but West said usage of the park system is down, so you probably won’t have to hold it for too long.

▪ Family members in groups of 10 or less can use the restroom at the same time. But if you find yourself in the restroom with someone you’re not related to, remember to keep your mask on and above the nose.

▪ If you don’t memorize these park restroom rules, don’t worry. West said most parks have employees at the gates handing out fliers with guidelines and other information pertinent to enjoying a day at the park in the midst of a global pandemic.

When Broward County reopened its beaches with several restrictions, including requiring beach goers to stay active and prohibiting sitting or sunbathing, it allowed cities to write their own rules if they felt more stringent requirements were necessary. Consequently, rules aren’t necessarily consistent across the county.

How you use the bathroom at your beach getaway will largely depend on the municipality. For example, all nine restrooms at Hollywood Beach are open and cleaned frequently. Joann Hussey, communications manager for the city of Hollywood, said in an email that restrooms are cleaned in the morning, between 11 a.m. and noon, every hour in the afternoon, and then one last time at closing around 9 p.m. The only restroom where this may differ is the one on Johnson Street, which is maintained by the staff at Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort.

As in Broward’s public parks, masks must be worn inside restrooms when six-foot social distancing is not possible, except between family members. Hussey said only one person should enter a restroom at a time, but unlike at the parks, there are no attendants outside the restroom.

If a long day of jogging on the sand makes you want to grab a bite to eat, know that Broward County requires restrooms in restaurants be cleaned “no less frequently than hourly,” according to one of the county’s emergency orders on coronavirus.