PUT THE TOILET LID DOWN. There are two reasons for this, and where I come from, I should not at all have to explain it. I say, you do.
It’s actual fact that when you flush the toilet, bacteria come flying out the top.
It’s “dirtier” to flush than it is to SIT on a toilet. So as Paula Poundstone puts it, a “fine fecal mist” goes flying out all over the bathroom.
I’ve read that it’s like a six foot radius that the stuff goes flying, but I don’t know how true that is.
-swanky's blog
The
MYTH BUSTERS
studied that . . . put tooth brushes enclosed in other rooms.
The fecal mist thing was soooo widespread in the air of the whole house, evidently, that it still managed to get on
ALL the tooth brushes regardless of where they were put.
I suspect, one would have to put some sort of flushable paper towels (REGULAR ONE'S ARE NOT FLUSHABLE AND EARN PLUMBERS A LOT OF FRUSTRATED MONEY) . . . I suspect one would have to put some sort of flushable paper firmly on top of the rim of the bowl when flushing to avoid spreading the hazardous mist everywhere. Unlikely to happen.
Evidently it's not ideal but not as dangerous as most would think . . . according to the medical expert consulting with the MYTH BUSTERS.
"I’ve read that it’s like a six foot radius that the stuff goes flying, but I don’t know how true that is."
It's true. Some women who got chronic UTIs were found to flush while still seated.
Putting the seat and lid down before flushing is the sanitary thing to do.
If there are 'fecal' anyhing involved, then all participants are sitters, and the issue is moot.
A bathroom floor is likely no more contaminated than a kitchen floor.
If one was to culture the kitchen countertops, they would be appalled to know what was 'growing' in their homes.