Bathroom etiquette runs the gamut from the non-negotiable (men putting the seat down after use) to the debatable (toilet paper roll over or under), but one of the most disputed behaviors has to do with the unassuming toilet lid. You may have heard that you’re supposed to close the toilet lid when flushing, but just how bad is it to keep it up when nobody is using the toilet? An uncovered toilet isn’t a home decor do or don’t, but is it a health hazard? There’s no delicate way to say this: If you flush with the lid up, you’re creating a “toilet plume” — the scientific term for a spray of droplets of bacteria and viruses. When you flush with the lid up, those droplets can spread as far as 6 feet from the toilet. Shutting the lid before flushing can prevent that from happening. Now for the big question: Should you keep the toilet lid open or closed when the toilet isn’t in use? According to expert microbiologists, you should still keep the lid shut. That’s because when the lid is closed, you’re preventing a potential vehicle for spread. Although the majority of spread happens during the flush, there may still be residual bacterial contamination that could potentially be a problem. No matter how clean your home is, your toilet bowl is teeming with germs, including viruses like norovirus, E. coli, C. diff, and other pathogens. You may be asking, “Wait a minute…..how can those germs fly around when I’m not using the toilet?” Believe it or not, the main route is via your pet. Dogs, and even some cats, treat the toilet as their personal water station. Not only can animals get sick, they can transfer the infection to you. Aside from cleanliness, keeping the toilet lid closed when not in use might also help control the humidity in your bathroom. When it’s open, it can make the bathroom slightly more humid. Since high indoor humidity is linked to mold growth, it’s a good idea to close the toilet lid to prevent that from happening. Bonus tip! After pooping, double flush! According to a study that compared E. coli levels in toilet water after one and two flushes, a follow-up flush reduces the bacterial levels. It’s not perfect, but it helps.
