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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.

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[-] Renacles@discuss.tchncs.de 17 points 1 year ago

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.

[-] Deebster@lemmyrs.org 9 points 1 year ago

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!

[-] Lemmesee@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago

I'm pretty sure it was mythbusters

[-] Spzi@lemm.ee 8 points 1 year ago

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.

[-] nyoooom@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

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

[-] Deebster@lemmyrs.org 5 points 1 year ago

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.

[-] Tigerfishy@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

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

[-] MagneticFusion@lemm.ee 7 points 1 year ago

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.

[-] shawnshitshow@sopuli.xyz 5 points 1 year ago

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!

[-] Ilikepornaddict@lemmynsfw.com 3 points 1 year ago

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.

[-] slackassassin@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 year ago

I watched that episode recently. They just proved that there are shit particles everywhere, and the expert agreed.

[-] Deebster@lemmyrs.org 2 points 1 year ago

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.

this post was submitted on 07 Aug 2023
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