Whether to keep the lid on is the question
Flushing the toilet with the lid down doesn't stop the spread of small germs, a new study finds. This is what scientists said in a published article in the American Journal of Infection Control.
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Researchers are detecting microscopic virus particles throughout the toilet when a person flushes the toilet — regardless of whether the lid is up or down.
“Many people have said that all you have to do is close the lid, and the problem is solved,” lead researcher and microbiologist Charles Gerba commented to USA Today.
The expert added that when a person flushes the water, all the air spreads somewhere and carries away the viruses that are in the toilet. Previous studies have shown that closing the lid reduces the spread of germs, but Gerba noted that these results focused on larger virus particles.
Although the new study found that closing the lid did not reduce overall bathroom contamination, it did come up with conclusion that the lowered lid actually changed the trajectory of the microbes. When the toilet was closed, the level of contamination was slightly higher on the left side and immediately in front of the toilet, but slightly lower on the right side of the toilet.
Scientists believe that instead of worrying about keeping the toilet closed, you should disinfect the toilet bowl, the water in the tank and nearby surfaces. Thus, this will be the best way to reduce the spread of germs.
Experts have found that the restroom becomes cleaner when the toilet is cleaned with a brush and a hydrochloric acid disinfectant.
“You really need to make sure that you always wash the toilet seat and other places in the toilet,” insists Charles Gerba. Experts advise washing your hands for 20 seconds after using the restroom, but germs in the bathroom can linger much longer after the toilet is flushed.
Germs can survive on bathroom surfaces, according to a study published in the American Journal of Infection Control room for approximately 30 minutes after flushing. To keep things and yourself clean, experts advise against storing products such as toothbrushes and cosmetics in an open space in the bathroom. And one more thing — experts do not recommend using the phone in the toilet.