If you’re savvy, you probably always put the lid down when you flush – after all, surely everyone knows if you don’t, it basically sprays poo everywhere.
Well, we have bad news for you.
The truth is, closing the lid does not reduce any cross-contamination on bathroom surfaces when it comes to spreading nasties like norovirus in tiny particles of faecal matter.
When you flush, millions of invisible aerosolised particles are ejected into the air, with such force this ‘toilet plume’ can launch particles five feet or more away from the bowl.
Now it seems, even with the lid down, those crafty microbes still spray out the sides and float around the bathroom, just hoping to come into contact with a human.
A study, published in the American Journal of Infection Control, found the only effective way to reduce viral particles was via disinfecting the toilet, toilet water and nearby surfaces.
But there is good news – two bits in fact.
Firstly, if you add disinfectant to the bowl before flushing and use disinfectant dispensers in the tank, you will significantly reduces cross-contamination.
Secondly, closing the lid does reduce the spread of bacteria, and we’ll still take that.
So a semi-win.
The researchers found no statistical difference in the amount of virus collected from surfaces on the toilet or the nearby floor whether the toilet was flushed with the lid up or down.
Basically, the researchers advise that you should clean your toilet at least twice a week to reduce the spread of viral pathogens – and use a disinfectant.
This should be done more often if someone in the household is sick, particularly with gastroenteritis (commonly called stomach flu).
‘We also recommend using disinfecting wipes on the toilet seat and flush handle, as these surfaces will get contaminated after flushing,’ said co-author Dr Charles Gerba.
In a closed-lid scenario, floor surfaces in front of and to the left of the toilet were more contaminated, and floor surfaces to the right were less contaminated, compared to flushing with an open lid.
So now you know where to clean.
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