Ask Science @lemmy.world Deebster @lemmyrs.org 1 yr. ago

Is it worth closing the lid on a toilet before flushing?

This seems like something that should be true, but I think I remember seeing a Mythbusters episode where they decided it didn't make a difference. That show was more about entertainment than science, so I wondered if there was a more rigorous study done? I've definitely seen splashes of water(?) come out from flushes so that alone seems to argue for closing lids.

34 comments

I remember watching a video where they added some liquid visible with UV to the water and flushed, there were droplets everywhere including the tester's face.

It's not a study but it's enough to make me close the lid, especially when my toothbrush is in the same room.
- Yes, toothbrushes live uncomfortably close to the loo in my house too.
  
  A friend gave me some light banter about closing the lid = under my wife's thumb but it's absolutely about me attempting to keep the toilet business contained to the toilet!
- I saw the same or a very similar video.
  
  Someone once tried to argue against it by saying it still got the droplets in the air with the lid closed so there's no point. My counterargument was that it still contained a lot of the droplets by closing it and that it's the most minor of inconveniences to close it so you should just do it anyways.
  
  Ah the ol "it's not 100% effective and guaranteed to work so you should actually do nothing about it" argument...a true classic in any situation
  
  Seriously though...I never even considered all the splashing and I'm a grown ass adult :/ happily my and my daughters toothbrush live in the kitchen
- I'm pretty sure it was mythbusters
I think someone urgently needs to come up with one of these solutions:

The foot-operated lid;

The toilet with flush and suction;

The Jedi throne (a Jedi-style toilet lid activated by hand movements) and lastly

The Terminator (a time-activated flames of hell) solution. The time-activated mechanism locks the toilet door after the user leaves and burns the entire compartment at solar flare temperatures.
- In France they have public toilets that basically do number 4. The toilet gets completely cleaned automatically with hot water and detergent after you used it. It works by locking up after you unlocked the door after using it. If you hold the door for someone, they get the cleaning treatment.
  
  Unfortunately, I've never been to France, but nothing beats a spotless clean public toilet. And, thanks for the tip: if someone holds the door for you, kindly step back. That alone should be highlighted in all tourist guides.
- Jim Jeffries had a whole bit on his show about his idea for a foot pedal that lifts and lowers the seat, just begging for anyone to make it.
  
  Some day I'll buy a bass drum kick pedal and a 3D printer and make it happen.
  
  I've only found one product that does this, it's all plastic, very expensive, and the reviews are terrible.
  
  Jim's a clever guy. We could even seek inspiration in some trash cans that have embraced the pedal idea. Can you believe we're in the 21st century,, surround by ai systems, risking extinction for various reasons, and unable to solve the toilet seat conundrum?
The real question is wether it has an effect which matters. Does it impact your health? Does something get damaged by becoming wet? Things like that.

I'm pretty sure there is next to no such effect. Which still does not mean this is the answer!

I think the actual answer is to do what feels better for you. This has probably a much bigger effect on your health than actual droplets.
- Toothbrushes were mentioned, and I'd assume that the toothpaste does a good enough job at killing bacteria that it doesn't make a difference, aside from that the bacterial load is probably low enough to be negligible.
  
  But yeah, you don't want to be thinking about putting a pooey stick in your mouth either.
- Pretty sure aerosolized droplets from the toilets are a great way to spread diseases, especially digestion-related stuff
  
  But yeah that's not a scientific argument right there, just a hypothesis
- I mean, we still CLEAN our toilets when they're still just visibly stained with hard water or whatever causes rings and whatnot, so I can see the feeling better about being a huge component
I think this video should convince you it's absolutely worth it.
- That's a great demonstration, and also makes me want to go clubbing.
- Great video. Clearly, the only viable option is to never flush again. All of our work toilets lack lids, so we're just gonna start stacking turds.
  
  /s
- Woah, cool video! I think this video deserves its own post. I just need to figure out which scientific community it is most relevant to .... Physics? Epidemiology? Hmmm 🤔
Just think about all those public restrooms with like 8 toilets in a small area, all of which have no lids (not like anyone would put them down anyway) and use those super high pressure flushing mechanisms!
I close the lid as neutral of keepibg the seat up or down. Just close the lid and everyone has to lift seat/lid
There have been zero deaths reported from a few micro droplets of toilet water as far as I know. Plus there are way more nasty things people already do yet don't care such as not cleaning their phones on the daily, eating without washing hands, letting their pets such as dogs lick their face and lips, etc.
Permanently Deleted
- toilet aura
  
  I guess your downvoter is pro toilet aura.
  
  Permanently Deleted
Where are all the Toilet experts/scientists at!?
- I cross-posted to !nostupidquestions@mander.xyz and got a good scientific reply.
  
  I guess lemmy.world is more interested in beans or three-day challenges 😁
  
  Hi there! Looks like you linked to a Lemmy community using a URL instead of its name, which doesn't work well for people on different instances. Try fixing it like this: !nostupidquestions@mander.xyz
  
  Today I learn of this community, I just subscribed!
I seem to recall that Mythbusters episode proving the exact opposite. They showed that fecal matter definitely gets sprayed all over the bathroom when the lid is up when flushed.
- I watched that episode recently. They just proved that there are shit particles everywhere, and the expert agreed.
- You may be right; it was about 20 years ago I watched it. Perhaps their conclusion was it happens just as much when the lid is down.
But how do i use the brush then, if the lid is closed? Don't you use the brush while simultaneously flushing the toilet?
- you don't, most of the time is not needed. if it is, a sencond lighter flush with the brush thing will take care of everything that is still there. with a controlled flush you just let some water run.
- Er, no. Because if you do that the brush just gets covered in shit.

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