But there's one thing that not everyone may be on the same page about—whether you should close the lid before flushing the toilet. As it turns out, research suggests that we definitely should be closing the lid before every flush, no matter how clean your toilet is.
Engineers at the University of Colorado Boulder have confirmed what the germ-phobic among us have long suspected: The flush of a commercial toilet releases a Vesuvius-like cloud of tiny droplets and aerosol particles that reaches more than 5 feet above the seat.
When you flush the toilet, do you close the lid? If you don't, you are likely releasing a “toilet plume” into the air — which is essentially an aerosol spray filled with bacteria. All that bubbling, swirling and splashing can aerosolize fecal waste, sending tiny particles airborne.
Closing the lid when you flush is a good habit to get into.
Closing the lid before flushing can definitely curb the spread of some aerosolized microbes that would otherwise be sprinkled throughout the bathroom, says Marilyn Roberts, Ph.
The research found that putting the toilet lid down reduced the number of both visible and smaller droplets during and after flushing by 30-60%. However, use of the lid also increased the diameter and concentration of the bacteria in these droplets.
#4 You should close your toilet lid before flushing
Mythbusters did an episode about this process and confirmed, unfortunately, that when you flush a toilet with the lid up particles of feces will be almost everywhere in your bathroom, including your toothbrush.
Make sure you do not wet the toilet seat. Do not throw water on the floor as someone might slip and get hurt. Females should always sit on the toilet seat while peeing. Male employees should always stand a little close to the toilet seat to avoid dripping. Never forget to use flush once you are done.
Research flushes out the risks of bacterial infection in toilets. Leaving the loo lid open after flushing might disperse contaminated droplets up to 1.5 metres, and these particles could hang around for up to 30 minutes.
The water in your toilet bowl is cleaner than in your sink. This is because the water in your toilet bowl is constantly being flushed, which means that any dirt or bacteria is quickly removed. However, the water in your sink is not constantly moving, providing a perfect environment for bacteria to grow.
Research flushes out the risks of bacterial infection in toilets. Loo etiquette has a new standard: put the toilet lid down as well as the seat, because leaving the lid up when flushing could lead to bacterial and viral transmission.
"Urine is normally sterile as a body fluid. Even if you have a urinary tract infection with bacteria in your urine it would be inactivated with the chlorine levels in the public water supply," he said. "So there's really no known disease transmission with urine left un-flushed in the toilet."
Clear a Clogged Toilet
A clog is the most common reason for a toilet that doesn't flush. Clogs can range in severity, from a complete blockage to a partial obstruction. Wipes, toilet paper and other items can build up in sewer lines, which could result in slow flushing that doesn't completely clear the bowl.
Too many bathroom renovations result in the toilet being placed in a less than ideal location. It definitely should not be the first thing that people see when they open the door! When the bathroom door is open, lines of sight between any toilets and other rooms should be avoided.
Pathogens are not transmitted via skin contact
Even if many public restrooms do not look inviting - sitting on toilet seats cannot transfer germs if the skin is intact. Admittedly, sanitary conditions are not inviting in many public restrooms.
Any household shared by men and women inevitably deals with a pressing question: what do you do with the toilet seat after it's used? Conventionally, it's considered courteous for men to always lower the seat back down after they've urinated.
Hospitals often do not have lidded loos because it's believed they are too difficult for patients with mobility problems to utilize.
Keep Your Underwear Dry
After urinating, always wipe yourself dry. This will ensure that no unwanted bacteria starts to breed on your undergarments. While wiping your intimate area after urination, make sure you wipe your pubic hair too, and then pull up your undergarment.
Urine is generally sterile, but bacteria from feces may spread and contaminate surfaces you're unwashed hands touched. I had quite a discussion with a male friend on the subject of washing your hands after urinating. I consider it unnecessary. There are no bacteria in urine.
Failure to wipe correctly could leave you vulnerable to a urinary tract infection or aggravate any existing rectal issues, like hemorrhoids or anal fissures. That's why Health turned to a gynecologist, a medical doctor specializing in the female reproductive tract.
How often you have to urinate is a good indicator of your body's overall state of hydration. It's considered normal to have to urinate about six to eight times in a 24-hour period.
Leaving pee in the bowl instead of flushing it away seems gross and unsanitary to some. However, the science says that flushing every time actually spreads more germs. Yup. Meet 'toilet plume' – the spray caused by that blast of water when flushing.
Many doctors recommend avoiding holding in pee for extended periods of time, as it can increase the risk of UTIs, especially if a person has a history of frequent UTIs. People who do not drink enough liquids may be more likely to develop a UTI, because the bladder is not telling the body to pee often enough.
Its fine if you drink water just after urination but you can also have water whenever you feel like drinking it. Was this answer helpful?