Being a travel advisor, I have laid my eyes upon restrooms in airports in all states. My least favorite ones are usually located directly adjacent to high-traffic gates or food courts, and they can be used constantly and usually lack any regular maintenance. As an illustration, at LAX the washrooms at the main food area at Terminal 4 are often busy and dirty. Conversely, I can never suggest using the washrooms at the less busy terminals or lounges, they are clean and not hectic at all. The bathrooms at the Hamad International Airport of Doha and the Munich Airport are, in my opinion, some of the most trustworthy ones: quiet, clean, and very well maintained.
The worst restrooms are often situated near the main gates and those closest to the security checkpoints, as they tend to receive the highest volume of foot traffic, which leads to longer lines and less frequent cleaning. As a frequent flyer, I often look for restrooms tucked away in quieter terminals or near the baggage claim. But the best-maintained restrooms are usually found in airport lounges, where access is controlled, and cleanliness is a standard. In case you do not have access to a lounge, look for restrooms close to the international gates, as they tend to be cleaner due to strict regulations for international travelers.
As someone obsessed with cleanliness, I absolutely steer clear of bathrooms near food courts - they're usually overwhelmed and rarely get the thorough cleaning they need during peak hours. I've discovered that the bathrooms near international terminals are typically the cleanest and best maintained, probably because they're cleaned more frequently for arriving international flights.
Frequent flyers, particularly those that work for airlines, what's the worst bathroom to go to in an airport? I'd say the "worst" airport bathroom is one that costs you time and convenience, especially in high-traffic areas like near security checkpoints or crowded gates. Time is money, and delays in these areas can lead to missed flights or added stress, which might indirectly impact productivity or travel expenses. Opt for less busy restrooms in lounges or quieter terminals to save time and maintain efficiency. Which one do you avoid when traveling, and in turn, which one do you find to be the most reliable? I choose to use restrooms located away from security checkpoints and gates because these areas tend to be crowded and less sanitary due to their high traffic volume. The most dependable restrooms for me are those located in airline lounges and less crowded terminals. The restrooms in these locations provide better cleanliness and more complete amenities and a more pleasant experience which helps reduce travel stress.
I can't remember the worst bathroom because most of them are. But I remember the unique bathroom I've been in ORD Chicago Airport, their toilet seat cover rotates and provides fresh clean plastic cover. Might not so hygenic though so it might be one of the worst bathroom too. https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2013/01/hygienic-toilet-seats-at-ohare-airport-maybe-not-so-hygienic https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2013/01/29/170570621/those-hygienic-toilet-seats-at-ohare-may-not-be-so-clean