11 February 2024 , 15:00
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Next time you finish on the loo - do everyone in your house a favour and close the lid... Please.
Aside from general etiquette, research warns against leaving the bog seat up (especially when flushing) in fear of creating a 'toilet plume'. This is where aerosolised droplets can spread pathogens throughout the bathroom, as human faeces can contain a number of disease-causing bacteria, including E. coli and Staphylococcus.
In 2019, researchers at University College Cork assessed the airborne particles in a shared loo over a week. They found that closing the toilet seat reduced the number of both visible and smaller droplets during and after flushing by 30-60 per cent.
Eleanor Potter of Plumbworld says households should now consider putting in 'reminders' in bathrooms to encourage people to close the lid before they flush. She says this will help prevent contaminating surfaces such as towels, countertops, and even our toothbrushes.
"It's evident that this simple adjustment in our bathroom habits can have a profound impact on our overall hygiene and health safety," she added. "This practice, while seemingly minor, plays a crucial role in mitigating the spread of germs and infections within the household."
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Keeping the lid closed whilst flushing can quicken the build-up of mineral deposits, also known as limescale. While this isn't harmful to health, it can look unsightly and stain your seats a yellow-brown colour.
However, cleaning expert Nancy Ememery over at Drench has an easy solution to keep your loo clean. She recommends creating a paste by mixing equal parts of baking powder and white vinegar together and applying it directly to the affected area.
"If you leave it working for five minutes, then wipe clean with a microfibre cloth, the stains should lift," she added. For 'deeper, older stains', you may need to repeat the process.