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Is it worth closing the lid on a toilet before flushing? (lemmyrs.org)

submitted 11 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

9 comments fedilink hide all child comments

cross-posted from: https://lemmyrs.org/post/257873

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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[–] [email protected] 6 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Once you see the term “fecal plume”, you’ll see the need to close the lid.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

That assumes that it is worth avoiding a "fecal plume". I would think that useful research would tell us whether such a thing is actually bad for us, beyond sounding gross.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

Yes. Link cites researchers and institution. https://microbiologysociety.org/news/society-news/does-putting-the-lid-down-when-flushing-the-toilet-really-make-a-difference.html

Ninja edit: Does not eliminate but greatly reduces. Appears "Worth it."

[–] [email protected] 5 points 11 months ago (1 children)

The research found that putting the toilet lid down reduced the number of both visible and smaller droplets during and after flushing by 30-60%. However, use of the lid also increased the diameter and concentration of the bacteria in these droplets.

It was also found that airborne microdroplets were detected for 16 minutes after flushing the toilet with the lid down, 11 minutes longer than when the toilet was flushed with the lid up. The researchers suggest that this could be due to particles being re-aerosolised from surfaces rather than being created by the turbulence of the toilet flushing. Alternatively, the researchers suggest that airborne particles could stick together, or agglomerate, which would cause them to remain airborne for longer.

Those are fascinating findings; I wouldn't expect that in some ways lid-down is worse...

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

It makes sense in some regards because with the lid closed you don't have air flow so therefore you would have microdroplets suspended in the air in the bowl. I'd rather a longer loiter time in the bowl than dispersion into the greater area.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

I just re-read your link it to see if it mentions where the sensors are; I'd assumed the sensors were outside the bowl since that's what people are interested in but it doesn't say.

The paper is available, but as a layman the "read full text" path just takes me in a circle.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago

Toilets make essentially a big ass mushroom cloud ofl bacteria when you flush, so yes.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago

Related fun fact: norovirus, the most common cause of food poisoning is easily spread when flushing the vomit or poo of someone who has it.

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