'I volunteered to clean Glastonbury Festival toilets – and one thing surprised me'
A woman has gone viral on social media after explaining why she volunteered to clean the toilets at Glastonbury Festival this year - and people were seriously impressed
It might seem like Glastonbury is fading into the past, but for those who were there, the memories are likely still vivid, but there's likely one particular aspect they’re probably not missing – the notorious festival toilets. Known for their endlessly long queues, horrid stench, and generally unappealing state, festival loos could make even the most ardent festival fan rethink their expensive ticket purchase.
Yet TikTok user Charley Newstead has added a fresh perspective to this grim expectation in her toilet-cleaning story from Glastonbury. Far from being disgusted by her task at Worthy Farm, she actually heaped praise on the experience, and shared a video showing her efforts helped raise an impressive sum of money for a good cause.
Charley's video, set to the backdrop of cleaning the surprisingly tidy festival toilets, featured the text overlay: "Why volunteer to clean the loos at Glasto?"
She paired her footage with the viral audio that brags: "Because it's iconic, and I love to do iconic s***" showing her happily spraying cleaning products and mopping in the cubicles.
In her caption, she further highlighted the charitable angle, saying: "While raising £500,000 for WaterAid. Not everyone is fortunate to have clean sanitation, and the change starts with water," reminding us of the broader context behind her efforts.
For anyone curious as to why the typically bustling Glastonbury toilets appeared so deserted in her film, Charley cleared up the mystery, stating: "This was at 6am Friday morning, that's why they're so quiet,” when most festival-goers would be snuggled up in their tents.
The comments section below her post saw an array of positive reactions from fellow festival attendees.
One festival-goer couldn't help but express their satisfaction, saying: "I can't lie, they did a really good job this year. I think the whole festival, I only had one bad toilet experience, other than that, the long drops were really clean most of the time, and the teams picking up rubbish were amazing."
Charley chimed in with appreciation for the crew: "I'm really glad that this was your experience, I thought the crew did a great job too."
Another attendee echoed these sentiments on cleanliness: "Completely agree with this, they were kept really clean across the site, only had one bad experience and honestly I think it happens when people try to squat and mis-aim."
The charity WaterAid hailed Charley's efforts as "iconic" in a tribute to her work.
To which Charley enthused about her unexpected passion for the task: "I didn't think I'd enjoy the role so much, but it really was iconic," revealing her love for volunteering at Glastonbury's loo brigade.
An upbeat commenter revealed in the festival facilities: "Well done, I'm glad it wasn't as bad as you thought! I actually thought all the loos weren't too bad this year. I know they do smell a bit, but it's all part of life! Give me them any day over a portaloo."
Others hailed the lavatory attendants as the unsung champions of the festival scene.
WaterAid stands out as a global non-profit striving to enhance access to safe water, proper sanitation, and hygiene in the world's most impoverished regions.
This dedicated organisation collaborates with local allies to construct and sustain water and sanitation structures, drive hygiene awareness, and persuade policymakers to make these essentials a top priority.
By doing so, WaterAid aids in reducing disease, enhancing health, and providing individuals the chance to lead dignified and productive lives. Their endeavours strive to break the cycle of poverty brought about by a lack of these vital services.