This Disgusting Fact Is Why You Should Always Close The Lid Before You Flush Your Toilet

#1

Men shouldn't be the only ones getting nagged about putting the toilet seat down anymore. If you leave the seat up when you flush, you may want to rethink that practice as you very likely to be covering your bathroom in fecal particles.

#2

Business Insider says that “when you flush a toilet, the swirling water that removes your waste from the bowl also mixes with small particles of that waste, shooting aerosolized feces into the air." The scientific term for this is “toilet plume” or in other words, spreading potentially harmful bacteria all over your bathroom.

#3

It's a good thing that most newer low-flow style toilets have much less of a chance of toilet plume. Still, older models will still send bacteria flying up a staggering 15 feet.

#4

Since most of us leave toothbrushes and the like in our bathroom, the risk of ending up with a poop covered toothbrush is very real. The bacteria can also land on your shower, on your bathtub, on your sink and on the toilet itself.

#5

To make matter even worse, your toilet is likely already covered with disgusting bacteria. Microbes stick to porcelain, so unless you scrub your toilet regularly, it's already too late. You should clean it immediately.

#6

If you ever needed to hear a reason as to why you should clean your bathroom more often, this has gotta be it. Along with closing the lid before you flush, you should always keep your toiletries put away in a medicine cabinet or drawer.

#7

In public restrooms, it's almost impossible to ensure cleanliness. Microbiologist Phillip Tierno told Business Insider that you should leave the stall as you are flushing and should always wash your hands properly before leaving a public bathroom.

In your own home, you should make sure that you are cleaning your bathroom properly.

While it’s no surprise that toilets harbor plenty of germs, there’s one common cleaning mistake that could be making matters even worse. No matter how much you clean your toilet, if you put the toilet brush away wet, you should stop right now.

#8

When you scrub the toilet with a brush it's covered in bacteria from the inside of the bowl. If it's put away while it's still wet, it becomes a perfect breeding ground for the bacteria to grow and spread. Even if you rinse it with hot water, that is not enough to prevent this problem.

Stephanie C, a hygiene expert from 'Expert Home Tips', said: “Bacteria thrives in moist environments, so storing your toilet brush in this way encourages germ multiplication. “In order to minimize this risk, the toilet brush should be bleached after each use to kill germs, then left to sit over the toilet bowl until dry. It can then be replaced in the holder.”

#9

A growing number of experts suggest not using a toilet brush at all. Kim Woodburn and Aggie MacKenzie say that the brushes are “an unworthy compromise for strict hygiene,” in their home tips guide 'The Cleaning Bible'. They suggest wearing rubber gloves and cleaning the bowl by hand with cleaning chemicals.

#10

They also suggest that you empty a can of Coke or Pepsi around the toilet bowl, then leave it overnight. In the morning you should come flush it. It's a well known DIY fact that Cola based sodas make for excellent cleaners due to their acidic content.