You're flushing the toilet wrong - here is the right way to stop spreading germs

10 September 2023 , 12:58

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Do you close the lid or keep it open? (Image: Getty Images)

Bathrooms are a breeding ground for gross bacteria. We know that to keep ourselves healthy, we should wash our hands for a good 20 seconds with hot soapy water, and routinely clean our bathrooms. What you might not know is there is one regular occurrence of spreading germs in your bathroom.

One woman entered a debate about , as she realised she was in the minority of people kicking the flush button with her toilet as she didn't want to come in contact with the germs. However, there's another common debate - to close the lid or to not close the lid?

Better Homes & Gardens has found research which suggests that you should close the lid before you flush the toilet, no matter how clean you think your toilet is. While many people might not even think about what they're doing as they flush, it's better to close the lid beforehand so that you avoid spreading germs around your bathroom.

As early as the 1950s, scientists found that when you flush the toilet it produces something called 'bioaerosols' which is an airborne collection of biological material. These aerosols settle onto surrounding surfaces over time, spreading faecal organisms on surfaces - so if your toothbrush is in the vicinity of your toilet, be particularly careful.

As COVID-19 saw more public concern about how viruses might spread through toilet flushing and contaminated surfaces, scientists are continuing to explore the potential risks of these bioaerosols. Either way, your toilet lid is there for a reason - so you might as well make good use of it.

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Do you keep the lid open or closed when you flush? Let us know in the comments.

Bryony Gooch