Show those germs who's boss.
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| | | | | One of my past roommates had a cat — Constance. She liked to play in the bathroom. And by that, I mean she thought the toilet bowl was a waterpark and a watering hole. This was gross for everyone involved. I mean, who wants to pet a mysteriously wet cat? | | So, we started shutting the toilet lid to discourage her behavior. Even though we did this solely to curb her curiosity, this small change might've had health benefits for us (and possibly her, too). | | Unbeknownst to me at the time, flushing with the lid open can be unhygienic. (Think: nearby surfaces and toothbrush contamination 🤢). Let's take a closer look at just how germy this habit may be. | | | | | | | Keep it clean,
Sarah Matysiak,
Associate Editor, Healthline |  | | Written by Sarah Matysiak
February 28, 2025 • 4 min read | | | | | | | |
| |  | | | You might want to start closing the toilet lid | | Bathrooms are notoriously germy places. I'm talking E. coli, Salmonella, norovirus — all found in your urine or stool — and the list doesn't end there. When you flush the toilet with the lid up, these germs may become airborne, or aerosolized, and ejected in water droplets. Toilets in public restrooms have been shown to spray these particles at alarming speeds — 6.6 feet (2 meters) per second. | | You may breathe in these aerosols, which may remain in the air for several minutes or longer. The larger water droplets can land on close surfaces like the toilet seat and handle (flusher), potentially contaminating them for hours afterward. Research has found they can even reach heights of about 5 feet (1.5 meters) above the toilet. | | Putting the lid down before flushing aims to reduce possible bacterial and viral transmission. In fact, this simple action can slash particle emissions by 30% to 50%. If you're like me, you were hoping for a higher number — say, 75% to 100%. But half is better than none, right? | | To be clear, the chances of you actually getting sick from flushing the toilet with the lid up are pretty low. We need more research to support a direct link between this behavior and getting ill. But practicing good bathroom hygiene is still important, and that includes shutting the lid. | | Though research suggests closing the lid doesn't protect you from *all* microorganisms, you only need to take one more step to beat these little beasties: disinfect! Disinfectants are critical in stopping most of the remaining germs in their tracks. It's a good idea to regularly disinfect your bathroom countertops, flusher, toilet seat, and other nearby surfaces with a proper bathroom cleaner. | | To protect your toothbrush, you might try using a cover (that allows your toothbrush to dry between uses), storing it in a drawer or medicine cabinet, and replacing or cleaning it often. | | My current bathroom isn't spacious. The sink, toilet, and tub are less than half a footstep apart, with the toilet tightly tucked between the two (I'm talking mere inches). I'll do anything to ensure the chances of toilet germs contaminating my toothbrush are minimal — even if that means there's still a 50% possibility something makes its way to it. | | Again, it's not the end of the world if you choose to flush with the lid up. It's totally up to you and your personal preferences! Sometimes, toilets don't even have a lid to close, which completely removes the option. | | I don't have the same roommate or share my space with a cat anymore, but I continue to shut the lid when I can and encourage others to do the same. I even got my new roommate to start doing it, too — all thanks to Constance! | | | | | | | | | Wiping made easy | | | | | | |  | | LUXE Bidet NEO 120 | | Bidets aren't a bathroom basic in the United States — unless you visit my boyfriend's family home, which is where I tried one for the first time. I used to think water shooting at your behind and from behind would be scary. I was wrong. With this bidet, you can control the pressure of the water. It's also self-cleaning (very important!) and doesn't leave an annoying gap between the seat and the bowl. I felt so clean afterward and haven't felt as clean after using the bathroom since! | | | Every product we recommend has gone through either Healthline's or Optum Store's vetting processes. If you buy through links on this page, we may receive a small commission or other tangible benefit. Healthline has sole editorial control over this newsletter. Potential uses for the products listed here are not health claims made by the manufacturers. Healthline and Optum Store are owned by RVO Health. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | How did you feel about this newsletter? | | | | Email wellnesswire@healthline.com with comments related to this newsletter or topics you'd like to see in future editions. The newsletter editors read every message that lands in our inbox — yes, really! We look forward to hearing from you. | | | | | | |
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