Toilets are designed to efficiently empty the contents of the bowl through a downward motion into the drainpipe, but the force of the flush cycle also creates a fine spray of particles in the air. Those particles easily spread when a lid is left up during flushing.
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.
While it was also found to make the droplets larger and more concentrated with bacteria, the broad consensus among scientists is that it's more hygienic to flush with the lid down.
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.
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.
Clean The Rim Jets
If mineral deposits or bacteria build up in the holes, it will affect the water pressure that's important for pushing the contents of the toilet down the drain. Luckily, this is a pretty simple fix. Take some vinegar and an old toothbrush – then reach up into the rim jets to clean out all the holes.
#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.
Some people may think that not flushing a toilet may be beneficial. They might consider toilet flushing less sanitary and a waste of water and money. However, flushing a toilet after using it plays a role in helping keep people healthy and adding to cleanliness. US Environmental Protection Agency.
The UK study tested the dispersion of C. difficile, with toilet lid open and closed. When a toilet was flushed lid up, bacteria were found up to 25 cm above the seat. After 60 minutes, the number of bacteria decreased eightfold, and at 90 minutes, a further threefold.
It's more sanitary to put the seat down and it makes everything a bit easier for the women in your life. It's a sign of respect and placing the seat down is also an act of solidarity. All this aside, putting the toilet seat down also puts it in its proper resting position.
To increase toilet flush power, you can adjust the water level in the tank to 1/2 inch below the flush valve. Adjust the chain length to 1/4 inch of slack. Get an adjustable flap. Increase the water level in the bowl to the maximum height.
There are only three things you can safely flush down the toilet into the sewer system —pee, poo and (toilet) paper. Just remember those three as the three Ps that you can flush.
Daily: Flush your toilet every day (even if it's not in use) to discourage the growth of bacteria. Weekly: Deep-clean your toilet once a week or biweekly—this includes the toilet bowl, exterior and toilet seat. Yearly: Clean your toilet tank twice a year.
The most common sediment buildup is calcium and rust. Overtime, this buildup can start to clog the holes where the water flows into the toilet bowl. This can cause a weak or incomplete flush. To alleviate sediment buildup in your toilet, you will need to clean the rim feed and jet holes.
The normal water level in a toilet bowl is about halfway full. The water should sit above the P trap drain because this creates a seal and suction. When you flush the toilet, the suction keeps sewer gases from entering your house through your toilet.
The easiest way to curb this literal explosion of bacteria is simple: Close the lid. "It is a good idea to lower the seat, especially if the bathroom is used by multiple people," Philip Tierno, a microbiologist at New York University, told Business Insider.
Over time, flappers wear out, which allows water to continually drain from the tank. The result is not enough pressure released at flush to completely empty the contents of your toilet bowl. You can fix this problem by replacing the flapper. It is easy to do with any standard flapper purchased from a hardware store.
If you're in a partial squat, it doesn't allow the full excursion for urine to flow. The path of urine is impaired, and it's not as open. The stream can change; that's when we may develop habits to empty all the way like straining and bearing down. That extra force can be damaging to the body.
"Short of a medical explanation for someone spending a long time in the bathroom, there may be psychological reasons," he said. They may see toilet time as a way to get away from the bustle of a busy home, he said. “It may serve as their sanctuary and perhaps the only place they can actually have alone time."
Make sure your feet are flat on the stool and that your knees are made higher than your hips. Lean forwards slightly. Breathe in, then as you breathe out , try to either make a sound in your throat, for example say the word 'Idge' or 'Ooo'.
Use a bathroom-specific disinfectant: Forte recommends Lysol's Power Bathroom Cleaner because it clearly states how long you'll need to leave the surface wet in order to neutralize common viruses and bacteria: 10 minutes.
It's totally safe to let your pee sit in the bowl, BTW
So we asked an epidemiologist to give us the scoop. “Just because you are grossed out by it doesn't mean that it is a health hazard,” says Brian Labus, PhD, MPH, assistant professor of public health at the University of Las Vegas School of Public Health.