Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about Toiletly

General

What is Toiletly?

Toiletly is a community-powered map that helps people find safe, clean, and accessible toilets quickly. We focus on families with toddlers, people with disabilities (such as wheelchair users or those with stoma needs), and others with specific toilet access needs (including paruresis, or shy bladder syndrome). But ultimately, everyone benefits from better information.

Is Toiletly free?

Yes. Access to toilet information should be universal, so the core service is completely free to use.

That said, keeping Toiletly running isn’t free for us - we cover the cost of servers, hosting, and ongoing development ourselves. If you’ve found the app useful, please consider supporting us with a small donation. Every contribution helps us keep Toiletly growing and free for everyone who needs it.

You can donate via Ko-fi using the button below. ❤️

Support us on Ko-fi

Where does your data come from?

From our community, venue partners (businesses, councils), and open mapping sources. New or edited info enters a moderation queue before going live, and community edits help keep entries fresh.

Using Toiletly

How do I find nearby toilets?

1. Open Toiletly in your browser.
2. Allow location access when prompted.
3. Browse the map and tap a marker for details.
4. Use filters to narrow down the results.

I’m unsure about “unisex” vs “all-gender”. What’s the difference?

“Unisex” often means a single cubicle usable by anyone. “All-gender” means a facility intended for people of any gender (may be multi-stall). If neither applies, we show “unknown” (not “no”) so we don’t mislead users.

Contributing

How do I add a new toilet?

1. Create an account or sign in.
2. Click “Add toilet” on the map.
3. Enter details and (optionally) upload photos that follow our photo rules (see below).
4. Submit. Your addition enters our moderation queue, then publishes once approved.

How do edits work?

When you edit an existing toilet, your changes go to a secure moderation queue. An admin (or trusted moderator) reviews and approves the change, keeping the live record reliable.

Some toilets are marked as unconfirmed — usually because they were reported from open data or added with limited detail. They do not appear on the main map until a contributor investigates and an approved edit confirms they exist. That is where Detective Mode comes in.

Detective Mode

What is Detective Mode?

Detective Mode is a special map view for signed-in contributors. Instead of the usual confirmed toilets, it shows unverified reports — locations we know about but have not yet verified enough to publish on the main map. Markers appear in grey so you can tell you are in investigation mode.

Think of it as the behind-the-scenes layer of Toiletly: you are helping us check whether a reported toilet is real, still there, and worth adding for everyone else.

How do I turn Detective Mode on?

1. Sign in to your Toiletly account (or create a free account if you do not have one yet).
2. Open the map on the Toiletly website.
3. Click Detective Mode in the search panel on the left.

If you are not signed in, you will see Become a Detective instead — that takes you through a short sign-up page explaining the benefits before you create an account.

When Detective Mode is active, an orange banner appears at the top of the map and the interface switches to investigation styling so you always know which mode you are in.

How do I turn Detective Mode off?

Click Exit Detective Mode in the orange banner at the top of the map, or click the Detective Mode button again to toggle it off. You will return to the normal map showing confirmed toilets only.

How do I help confirm a toilet?

Open an unverified report from the map, review what is already known, and add or correct details — for example opening hours, accessibility, access instructions, or photos. Submit your edit; once it is approved through moderation, the toilet is promoted to confirmed and appears on the main map for everyone.

You do not need to fill in every field. An approved contribution that verifies the toilet exists is enough to confirm it — though the more accurate detail you add, the more useful the listing becomes.

What’s in it for Toiletly?

• More reported toilets get verified and published, growing coverage faster.
• Community investigation keeps the map accurate without relying on a quick “thumbs up” that might not reflect reality.
• Human review plus moderation means only trustworthy updates reach the live map.

What’s in it for me?

• You earn XP for approved edits, just like any other contribution.
• When your approved edit helps confirm an unconfirmed toilet, you receive a +20 XP bonus for that confirmation (once per toilet).
• Help confirm 5 toilets and you unlock the Toilet Detective badge on your profile.

Confirmation bonuses and the Toilet Detective badge are tracked on your account, so you can see your investigation progress over time.

Levels & XP

How does XP work?

Every time you do something useful — add a new toilet, fix details, upload a photo, or help confirm an unverified report through Detective Mode — you earn XP. Level up, unlock badges, and climb the leaderboard as you help make Toiletly better for everyone. It’s all about rewarding genuine, helpful contributions (not spammy ones).

What about badges and leaderboards?

Oh yes. You’ll collect toilet-themed badges as you level up, from small splashes to serious porcelain prestige — including the Toilet Detective badge for contributors who help confirm unverified reports. Leaderboards show who’s been helping most - locally and across the country - so you can see how you stack up.

Photos

What are the rules for photos?

• No people in the shot, where the image shows the internal area of a toilet facility. Photos must respect privacy at all times.
• Show context: entrance, signage, step-free routes, door widths, layout, baby-changing area, grab bars.
• Keep it respectful and helpful; no branding shots for advertising.
• All photos are moderated before publishing.

Moderation & Quality

How is content moderated?

• Edits and new listings are reviewed before going live.
• Respectful, accurate, and relevant content is approved.
• We remove content that breaks our rules or law, and restrict repeat offenders.

Can I report an issue or incorrect info?

It depends on the type of issue. Here’s what to do:

• Toilet information (e.g. opening hours, accessibility details, location):
  You can make the correction yourself by clicking Edit on the toilet panel (when you click on a toilet inside a map). Your edit will go through our moderation process before going live.
• Cleanliness or maintenance:
  We can’t contact facility owners on your behalf. Please raise the issue directly with the venue or council responsible. You may find contact details or ownership notes listed on the toilet’s page.
• Reportable content (e.g. inappropriate images, offensive notes):
  We moderate everything before it goes live, but sometimes things slip through. Please contact us so we can review and remove it quickly.
• Technical or site issues:
  If something isn’t working (map, login, performance), please email us at contact us with details about your device and browser.

Accounts & Privacy

Do I need an account?

Browsing is open. You’ll need an account to add/edit listings, upload photos, save favourites, and earn XP.

How do you handle my data?

We collect the minimum needed to run the service, use analytics to improve performance and reliability, and never sell your personal data. See our Privacy Policy for details.

Can I delete my account?

Yes - any time in Settings. We may retain anonymised contribution records (e.g. a toilet location you added) to protect map integrity.

Why do you ask for location access?

So we can show nearby results and directions. You can deny access and still search manually.

Coverage & Accuracy

Why isn’t my area complete?

Coverage grows with contributions and partnerships. Add missing toilets or ask local venues/councils to partner with us.

How current is the data?

Community edits, moderation reviews, and partner updates help keep listings current. Older entries may be flagged for review if they haven't been updated in a while.

Roadmap and Development

Do you have a mobile app?

Yes! Our apps are available on the Google Play Store and the App Store.

I have a feature request or an idea for the project

We welcome feature requests and ideas. Please contact us with your suggestion.

Technical Help

The map won’t load or is slow - what can I try?

1. Refresh the page.
2. Check your connection; maps need a stable network.
3. Allow location access (optional but helpful for “near me”).
4. Clear browser cache and try again.
5. Try a different modern browser if issues persist.

My location looks wrong - what now?

• Ensure GPS/location services are enabled.
• Move the map manually and search the area.

Businesses, Councils & Partnerships

Can our venue list its toilets?

Yes. Add your facilities (including customer-only or paid access) and keep details accurate. Many venues see increased goodwill and footfall.

Do you offer perks or discounts?

We run partner programmes where venues can offer access and optional perks for Toiletly users. Ask about joining.

API access for developers?

We’re building a documented API for approved use cases. Get in touch to discuss timelines and access.

Safety & Legal

Is the information guaranteed?

No. We work hard to maintain accuracy, but facilities change. Always check signage and venue policies on arrival.

Can I rely on accessibility details?

We surface community-verified information and photos, but accessibility needs are personal. Use your judgement and report gaps so we can improve.

Contact

Questions, feedback, or partnership enquiries are welcome.

Contact Us

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