Reasons why you must close the toilet lid when flushing

If you still open the toilet lid every time you flush, it’s time to think again. When you flush the toilet, the water will wash away the waste in the bowl, mixing with small particles of waste containing germs and bacteria, spraying into the air.

According to Realtor.com, this is called the “aerosol effect.” Bacteria are propelled up to 10 inches into the air after a toilet is flushed without the lid closed, and smaller amounts continue to be propelled into the air 90 minutes after flushing. This bacteria then spreads onto the toilet bowl, the floor, and surrounding surfaces.

These germs can land anywhere and everywhere – including on… your toothbrush, the thing you use to brush your teeth every day.

A study by Leeds Hospital found that bacteria can fly up to 10 inches into the air. So, in addition to closing the toilet lid when flushing, you should also keep your toothbrush and towel away from the toilet. While you may not think it's disgusting to have your toothbrush in the air full of bacteria, it can actually make you physically ill.

This would happen if the bacteria you came across was hepatitis A or norovirus - which causes infection, with symptoms such as vomiting, stomach pain and diarrhea.

Among sanitary equipment, the toilet is a sanitary equipment used a lot during the day and is also a device that contains many bacteria that are harmful to health. In addition to closing the toilet lid every time you flush to limit the spread of bacteria, cleaning the toilet as well as other sanitary equipment regularly also contributes significantly to repelling and limiting the existence and development of harmful bacteria.

Therefore, we should pay special attention to sanitary equipment, not just the toilet, because if the toilet is clean but other sanitary equipment such as the sink or bathtub is dirty, bacteria still have the opportunity to grow, develop and spread widely.