Scientist reveals the ‘disgusting’ reason why you should NEVER flush your toilet with the lid up
- Dr Karl has explained why you should always flush the toilet with the lid down
- The scientist said flushing with the lid up releases a plume of bacteria and water
- He said the bacteria and water particles float around the bathroom for hours
- When they settle, there’s a chance they could land on your toothbrush, he said
Australian celebrity scientist Dr Karl Kruszelnicki has revealed the alarming reason why you should always be flushing the toilet with the lid down.
In a video posted to TikTok, Dr Karl, 73, who has degrees in medicine and biomedical engineering, said flushing with the lid up releases a ‘polluted plume of bacteria and water vapour’.
He said the particles eventually land around your bathroom, sometimes even on your toothbrush.
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Australian celebrity scientist Dr Karl Kruszelnicki explained the reason you should always be flushing the toilet with the lid down
Dr Karl, 73, who has degrees in medicine and biomedical engineering, said flushing with the lid up releases a ‘polluted plume of bacteria and water vapour’
‘If you flush with the toilet lid up you could be brushing your teeth with toilet water,’ he said in the clip.
The popular scientist said when you flush with the lid up, bacteria and water particles ‘erupt’ from the toilet bowl into the air around the bathroom.
‘The plume and water particles float around for a few hours around your bathroom before they all eventually land and some of them could even land on your toothbrush,’ he said.
‘I guess that’s one way to get the males in your household to put the lid down.’
He said the particles eventually land around your bathroom, sometimes even on your toothbrush
Since it was posted yesterday, the clip has received more than 180,600 views and a barrage of horrified responses.
‘I did not know that. Loo separate from bathroom but will flush with lid down from now on,’ one fan said.
‘And just like that…the seat will be down from now on,’ a second wrote.
Many commenters were thankful their toilet was in a separate room from the bathroom and others said flushing with the lid down was a household rule.
‘My mum instilled always putting the lid down. That’s my house rule. Always. Not in use, lid is down. Nobody wants to see inside a toilet anyway,’ one person explained.
Many commenters were thankful their toilet was in a separate room from the bathroom and others said flushing with the lid down was a household rule
‘This is why my toothbrush is in the cupboard, and also why I’m glad our toilet is separate to the actual bathroom,’ another commented.
‘I’ve said this for so long! However I didn’t know they lingered. Now public toilets will be an even scarier place,’ a third said.
Some questioned whether the particles would make you sick and joked that it builds immunity.
‘You’re unlikely to get sick but the concept of putting faecal matter in my mouth isn’t something I want to do…’ Dr Karl responded.