If you flush a toilet with the lid up, do germs and bacteria from the bowl really go airborne and land all around the bathroom?

In episode 12 of Mythbusters (see http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/mythbusters/episode/00to49/episode_08.html )they did a study of tooth brushes in the bathroom, about 50 toothbrushes hung at varying distances from the toilet. As a control, they put one toothbrush in a glass in the breakroom (about 50') from the bathroom, and covered it with a glass. Each toothbrush, they would wet with warm water each day for 2 weeks. At the end of it, they had the toothbrushes checked for a specific bacteria found in fecies. *Every* one of the tooth brushes, including the controls in the break room, showed evidence of the bacteria.

Turns out that the bacterium is so ubiquitous that it didn't matter how far the toothbrushes were away from the toilet. (Or is the toilet is closed, I presume.)

Flush a toilet with the lid up and tiny drops of water (containg a proportion of whatever was in the bowl) escape the toilet bowl. Easy to prove it - try flushing the toilet while holding a piece of paper near, but outside the bowl. Then hold it up to the light. I just tried it and got three small drops about the size of pinheads - there may have been others too small to see. These drops go in all directions and virtually all distances.

In Mythbusters, episode 12 season 1, Tooth Brush Surprise, they did an experiment with over 30 toothbrushes hanging on the wall in the open air around the toilet. They put the tooth brushes into use as if they were being used normally. After 30 days of exposure to daily toilet flushing they took the tooth brushes to a medical labratory to have them analyzed for the amount of bacteria. The clinical analysist (a woman) reported that even after 30 days of exposure there was not enough bacteria on the brushes to even be a concern. So even though there may be some bacteria it is not enough to do anything to you and that is what our immune system is for.

If this was actually a big enough problem then you still have a problem with the lid down. When you flush with the lid down all the bacteria is landing and spreading on the lid and the mist is also lingering in the bowl, like when you blow up a ballon. When you reach down and raise the lid with your bare hand all the bacteria would be going on your fingers and where ever you touch. When you are done you touch the toilet paper, spreading bacteria to the roll. Then you turn on the water and put bacteria on the faucet handles. You may wash your hands with soap but when you turn the water off you get bacteria right back on your hands. When you open the door you are getting bacteria from previous persons and putting more bacteria on the knob as well. Also, when flushing with the lid down the mist is lingering in the bowl and the floats out when you open the lid. You inhale the mist, get it all over yourself and so on.
Yes you can get sick if it is the right germ or bacteria but the average person won't.
Think of how many times you have gone to a public bathroom, where there is so much more activity, and have not gotten sick.

People are over exaggerating this issue. One site says the mist will fly 6 feet another says 10 feet, 15 feet, 25 feet, all over. Pretty soon they will be saying it fills the whole house from one flush. We should live on the street instead of houses. But then what about the bacteria, viruses and germs outside.

For 60 plus years, my family and i have flushed the toilet both ways. we are still healthy. i say it makes absoulutely no difference.

How do these rumors get started, anyway?

Does it really matter? All the current paranoia about killing germs and bacteria is actually reducing our bodies' ability to fight infection, because we come into contact with fewer of them than previous generations did.

Yes they do. If your toilet is by your sink put your toothbrush far away from it.

It's not generally something to get paranoid about. There ARE some poorly adjusted "flush-o-matic" systems that cause some splattering when you flush, but generally, toilets work well, don't splatter, and they have an S-shaped trap to keep sewer gases from entering the room, so no worries. The best argument I've heard for closing the lid routinely is to keep animals and toddlers out.

most germs travel mostly on the hands of the person who had just used the toilet. whatever they touch the germs go there too!

Its true, I think they proved it on mythbusters...didn't they?

no

Yes, in some instances this can happen.. It has been around the internet in certain e-mails to keep your toothbrush and hair brush, etc.. all personal items at least 6 feet from the toilet, and to clean the counter and sink often.

Do the men put their penis on their lap, or let it hang in the toilet if they have to pee. I wonder? Also, why do most of them have streaks of poop in their underpants. Why don't they clean themselves better. Are they afraid of touching their anus, and it feeling good, are they afraid of feeling gay or contemplating the down low.

Share your answer..I put my toothbrush in the medicine cabinet behind the cabinet door, I don't think germs can enter, and clean and sanitize your bathroom often, and spray with lysol on handles and door knobs. I wonder if when men sit on the toilet if they are well endowed does it hang in the water or poop. I know sometimes women have a ball that hits the water and pops a splash of water on her vagina or buttocks. I am sure this happens to men as well. And to think people put their mouths down there. EWWWWWH! I don't allow dogs to lick my mouth either, because they use their mouths for toilet paper, and they will lick and eat almost anything.

re: water splash back, one would hope that at some point people wash their genitals BEFORE allowing someone else's mouth to contact them.

but also, with 21st Century technology can't someone have designed a toilet that won't splash back regardless of the force of a "plop".

and also, I, for one (a male), actually wash my back end with a damp cloth following a bowel movement, not just casually wipe it with a scrap of paper.

No this is more to science fiction that reality !!
+2 anyway !

if a man has a long penis, and he has a bowel movement, does his penis touch the stools. Sometimes when we poop the poop hits the water and causes a drop to hit your bottom or vagina. Surely this happens to men as well. And to think people put them in their mouths.

I don't use toilet paper at all. Instead, I use a Toto brand bidet. (If you don't know what a "bidet" is put the word in the search window on eBay.) They have been more common in other developed countries---especially Asian countries where there is more people than paper---and several brands are manufactured. So, go green and keep your hindside clean!

The benefits are: No more racing stripes for men. Women are more likely to get their man to go downtown after 3 minutes on one of these. Cleaner and less irritation than using paper. Saves trees.

I recommend that you get one that oscilates and blow dries. Plan to spend $300-$400.