The belief that closing the toilet lid can prevent germs from spreading around the bathroom has been discredited by new research. Disinfecting the toilet and the scrub brush were found to be the most effective ways to prevent the spread of viral pathogens READ MORE: The dirtiest places you touch every day may surprise youBy Cassidy Morrison Senior Health Reporter For Dailymail.Com Published: 14:01 EST, 26 January 2024 | Updated: 14:01 EST, 26 January 2024
Putting the toilet seat down prior to flushing does little to stop virus particles from contaminating the area around it, new research shows. Many people believe that closing the lid can prevent aerosolized germs from traveling up to five feet away from the toilet, spreading pathogens to floors, walls, and the sink. However, researchers from the University of Arizona and Reckitt Benckiser – the maker of Lysol – have concluded that this is false. They found that the only way to truly prevent the spread of viral pathogens was to disinfect the toilet and scrub brush. Earlier studies have shown that a closed lid can help reduce the spread of bacteria from the flush, but the latest research aimed to see if the same applies to smaller viral particles. 
Viral particles spread to many restroom surfaces during toilet flushing, regardless of whether the toilet lid is up or down
Researchers tested for viral particles in a residential and a public toilet in an office building. They put a virus that does not infect humans into the toilet, flushed, and, after a minute, used a sponge to swab restroom surfaces, including the spots in front and either side of the toilet, as well as the surrounding walls. The researchers found no statistically significant difference in the quantity of virus retrieved from bathroom surfaces, regardless of whether the toilet lid was up or down, or whether the toilet or the nearby floor was examined. Minimal viral contamination was found on the surrounding walls in both lid up and lid down scenarios, with the most contaminated surface being the toilet seat. Comparable patterns of contamination were also identified in public toilets. Closing the lid before flushing led to increased contamination levels to the left and in front of the toilet but a minor reduction in contamination to the right of the toilet, according to the researchers. Toilet bowls that were cleaned with both a brush and a disinfectant, specifically hydrochloric acid, showed lower contamination compared to those cleaned solely with a brush. The study further indicated that using a disinfectant during bowl cleaning led to decreased contamination on adjacent surfaces, such as the restroom floor and the toilet brush caddy. Cleaning with a disinfectant and brush reduced viral contamination on the toilet by more than 99.99 percent and on the brush by over 97 percent. Dr Charles P. Gerba, lead author and a professor of virology at the University of Arizona, said: ‘With results showing that closing toilet lids has no meaningful impact on preventing the spread of viral particles, our study highlights the importance of regular disinfection of toilets to reduce contamination and prevent the spread of viruses.’ Their research was published in the American Journal of Infection Control.
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Does flushing the toilet with the lid down really stop germs from spewing across your bathroom? A study says no
