House rules

Australia is an outdoor country. People only go indoors to use the toilet. And that's only a recent development.
Not all of the male species have heard of that rule, either, Rufus

given the choice men will use the downstairs loo
True, although here there is no choice as we have no "upstairs anything"! and in any case, Who hands out the choices?
As Barry Humphries once said: "Australia is an outdoor country. People only go indoors to use the toilet. And that's only a recent development.
Here's the expurgated version of what I tried yesterday; it shouldn't upset your delicate ears!

Oh, dear, what can the matter be?
Seven old ladies were locked in the lavatory;
They were there from Monday 'til Saturday,
And nobody knew they were there.
The first old lady was Elizabeth Porter;
She was the deacon of Dorchester's daughter.
She went to relieve a slight pressure of water,
And nobody knew she was there.
The second old lady was Abigail Splatter;
She went there 'cause something was definitely the matter,
But when she got there, it was only her bladder,
And nobody knew she was there.
The third old lady was Amelia Garpickle;
Her urge was sincere, her reaction was fickle.
She hurdled the door; she'd forgotten her nickel,
And nobody knew she was there.
The fourth old maiden was Hildegard Foyle;
She hadn't been living according to Hoyle,
Was relieved when the swelling was only a boil,
And nobody knew she was there.
The fifth old lady was Emily Clancy;
She went there 'cause something tickled her fancy,
But when she got there it was ants in her pantsy,
And nobody knew she was there.
The sixth old lady was extremely fertile.
Her name was O'Connor, the boys called her Myrtle.
She went there to repair a slight hole in her girdle,
And nobody knew she was there.
The seventh old lady was Elizabeth Bender;
She went there to repair a broken suspender.
It snapped up and ruined her feminine gender,
And nobody knew she was there.

The janitor came in the early morning.
He opened the door without any warning,
The seven old ladies their seats were adorning,
And nobody knew they were there.
Happy New Year!

If people are in my home, they are either family or friends, what bathroom/lavatory they use is not a problem.

Oh my, I can’t imagine getting wound up about which bathroom, cloakroom, toilet or lavatory visitors or house guests use. We are fortunate to have one in the main bathroom upstairs and one on the utility area downstairs. We have twelve day guests tomorrow. As long as they’re comfortable and enjoy themselves, I’ll be happy.

I had a large home which had 6 bedrooms, 5 of which were en-suite, the sixth being in an attached cottage with separate bathroom.
We also had a downstairs cloakroom but the number of people who nosed around upstairs on the pretext of looking for a loo (mostly friends of our children or wives of couples) was unbelievable. I found one visitor opening a wardrobe
I wasn't polite and that couple were never invited back.
It's the height of rudeness.
I don't even sit down in friend's houses unless invited to do so.

I can't envisage a queue for the lavatory unless you were having a party (which I know you weren't)
I'd point to the downstairs cloakroom and say that the upstairs facilities are private and not used for guests unless they're staying overnight.
I certainly wouldn't give any further explanation.
What a cheeky guest.

Hahaha! Funny Ellan! ?

Why so many toilets ? I'd make sure guests didn't have such weak bladders.
What happened to outside ones ? Less embarrassment all round.

Mountains and molehills!

That's how it should be Willa.Guests should wait to be offered another bathroom, if the guest room is full.

Our lovely guest 'bath' downstairs is just a sink and a toilet. The operative word would be 'guest', because it's the one we use for company.

We also have two full bathrooms upstairs but to my knowledge, no one has ever ventured upstairs without an invitation.

Our upstairs hall bath is the one our overnight guests use. I can only recall one or two occasions that the guest bath was occupied and I offered the one upstairs.

Tricky with a townhouse if both loos equidistant. Here day visitors cloakroom downstairs, overnighters either.
I was quite taken aback when a neighbour complained that his married daughter on a visit to his house used the ‘family bathroom’ and not the cloakroom. To my mind family are family whether still at home or not and can use any!

I am very confused. Are we talking day visitors or overnight visitors. I deduce a three floor house with the living room on the centre floor. Which is the easiest to get to from the living room. If an overnight visitor where are the facilities in relation to the bedroom.

When I lived in a three floored house, the bathroom on the bedroom floor was much easier to reach from the living room than the cloakroom, so everyone, including guests used the upstairs bedroom.

To be honest, I appreciate that some people feel strongly on issues like this, but I find these worries incomprehensible. What does it matter?

Have you considered locking your bedroom door? I personally don't mind people looking into my bedroom, although I would snoop in someone else's house.

The trouble is, the ensuite is a spare bedroom with not much in there,but it is next to my bedroom, and I think it's too tempting not to take a peek.

I think it only polite that visitors use the downstairs loo generally (not overnight guests). I have a toilet in the bathroom and a separate toilet. I prefer everyone to use the separate toilet so the bathroom is free for showering etc.
Katyj - I would not let anyone use an ensuite.

mmmmm. Exactly

Yes it does feel personal sue as they obviously have to go into the bedroom.The relative that does this is nosey ! they used to use the excuse that they wanted you get weighed until I bought them their own bathroom scales. This Christmas they asked first which bathroom to use, so maybe they've got the message.

Yes it does matter to me which is why I posted in the first place. Just wanted to know what others thought and I have found the comments interesting and helpful in my decision to put my foot down firmer. Katyj I would definitely ban anyone from using en suite that’s far too personal. There is no medical problem with the said guest and they are not in the least bit shy. As far as a queue is concerned can’t remember anyone ever busting to use the toilet that much. Quicker in our house to stay downstairs and wait. Thank you all again. Wishing you all a happy new year x

Well I guess I m too laid back then Katyj! I ve absolutely no problem if anyone wants to use my upstairs or downstairs loo I just think I m dammed lucky to have one let alone two
Of course I clean my loos but I certainly don’t give them a deep clean after every use whoever uses them All my family and friends are clean people

My observation is, given the choice men will use the downstairs loo, women will use the nicer, warmer, men free upstairs loo, no rules it's what happens.

I always go upstairs when I visit my parents if I need a poo! Maybe your guest isn't nosey and just doesn't want you to hear them or smell out the downstairs!

It depends what your like Bluebell.I have three bathrooms, if they were all used by guests, they'd all have to be cleaned when they left, which is a lot of work.I know I'm probably too fussy, I wish I wasn't, but can't see me changing now.

Does it really matter ?

I have this problem Sue.I have an ensuite bathroom on the top floor, and a ground floor bathroom One visitor in particular always insists on going upstairs because it's warmer ! Infuriating, we also had friends around recently that knew the set up of our house and asked to use the upstairs bathroom, because the other bathroom was engaged, I know if I had been in their house I would just have waited.