Flush with the toilet lid down
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (338199)
Rockingham, Australia
December 9, 2022 8:28pm CST
I’m a bit light on for stuff to write about but then Vince told me about a news article. You can read it here: Toilets spew invisible aerosol plumes with every flush – here’s the proof, captured by high-powered lasers - ABC News
It seems that, when a toilet is flushed, tiny water droplets are propelled into the air. These can spread pathogens. This exposes people, especially in public toilets, to contagious diseases. Smaller particles remain suspended in the air while larger particles settle on surfaces. All the particles are invisible but can spread diseases such as flu, covid and intestinal diseases. One way to limit the spread is to always flush with the toilet lid down.
This was all interesting reading but what was funny was that, when we first came across it, the headline above read ‘Flood Warning’.
The photo is of a ‘thunderbox’ – an old-style outback toilet.
16 people like this
15 responses
@wolfgirl569 (104771)
• Marion, Ohio
10 Dec 22
That is a funny title for that story. My uncle had one of those toilets for a long tome. I didnt spend the night with my cousins in the winter 
3 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (47005)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
10 Dec 22
@JudyEv We had an indoor "outhouse" when I was young... there weren't any sewers until maybe 1960 or so.
3 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (104771)
• Marion, Ohio
10 Dec 22
@JudyEv I didnt really mind the rest of the year. It never had to be repaired at least.
3 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (89728)
• Arvada, Colorado
10 Dec 22
Always..that is a rule here in this place..toilet lid down.
That looks a cute little stinky outhouse
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50058)
• United States
10 Dec 22
I remember seeing this on a news show some years back. They said that things left in the open would be contaminated. Toothbrushes, towels, whatever.
2 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (50058)
• United States
11 Dec 22
@JudyEv it’s pretty yuck to think about.
2 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (47005)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
10 Dec 22
I always flush with the lid down (when there's a lid). Sometimes more than just aerosols get propelled.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (338199)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Dec 22
It was all news to me but I'll put the lid down in future.
@FourWalls (67116)
• United States
10 Dec 22
Makes you want to not flush a public toilet again (since they tend to not have lids).
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (338199)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Dec 22
They gave a lot of evidence to support it. I hadn't heard about it before but I guess commonsense should have told me.
@LindaOHio (175823)
• United States
10 Dec 22
I know about the water droplets. I make sure to face the other way when I flush. Maybe I will have to close the lid from now on! Glad I don't have to go in a thunderbox.
1 person likes this
@Beestring (14447)
• Hong Kong
10 Dec 22
Yes, heard about this. The government here also advise people to flush with the toilet lid down. I always do so.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137247)
• United States
10 Dec 22
Hey! Your picture looks similar to the toilet we had when I was growing up on the farm! Mom had an indoor toilet installed when I was 15 years old.
And yeah, flushing with the lid down is always best! (It's best not to use public toilets except in direst emergencies, too.)
1 person likes this
