Why You NEED to Close the Lid When You Flush the Toilet
You might’ve heard rumors about what happens when the toilet is flushed when the lid isn’t down.
Unfortunately, what you heard might be true!
Read ahead to learn the truth…
What Happens When the Toilet is Flushed?
When the toilet is flushed, all of the waste and toilet paper are flushed to the sewers. However, left behind are a lot of germs and bacteria. Trillions are inside of your porcelain bowl before the toilet is flushed, while millions of germs and bacteria are left behind even after everything has been flushed.
Now, what happens to these germs? Well…
A rush of water will enter the toilet as the old water and waste heads to the drain pipe. Due to the velocity of the water being flushed, an aerosol effect is created where millions of germs and bacteria leap out of the bowl and settle onto the surfaces in the areas surrounding the toilet.
Let’s recap this real quick: When you flush the toilet with lid up, microscopic fecal matter and the bacteria that comes with it is now spread throughout your bathroom. Gross, right?
How to Prevent Bacteria From Spreading
If you want to prevent your entire bathroom from becoming covered in microscopic fecal matter, germs, and bacteria — put the lid down before you flush the toilet. However, not every person that uses your bathroom will do this, so you must employ other measures.
- Protect Your Toothbrush – Most of America keeps their toothbrushes in a holder on their sink’s vanity. If this is close to the toilet, consider moving your toothbrush elsewhere by at least three feet — like inside of your cabinet.
- Utilize Toilet Cleaners – Get into the habit of cleaning your toilet bowl more often if you want to avoid living in a fecal-filled bathroom. Apply a liquid toilet cleaner to the inside of the bowl every so often. Avoid using tank cleaners, as these can harm the working parts of the toilet over time.
- Wash Your Floors More Often – Most of the fecal matter, germs, and bacteria in your bathroom are going to be on the floor closest to your toilet. Like cleaning your toilet bowl, get into the habit of cleaning your bathroom floors on a regular basis.
- Always Wash Your Hands – Each time you use the bathroom, make sure you wash your hands. Chances are the toilet lid, lever, and surfaces near the toilet are covered in germs that you’ve already touched.
- Flush and Run in Public – Public toilets don’t always have lids, so when you flush the toilet — run! And when you do flush, maybe use your foot (or a paper towel) instead of your hand because the lever is probably covered in bacteria.
Closing the lid of the toilet is something you should do every single time you flush.
Every. Single. Time.
For more information regarding your home’s plumbing and the fixtures attached to it, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We’d be more than happy to answer any questions and make any repairs you may have for us!
