Many people drop something in the toilet all the time, so if this has happened to you, know that you are not the only one. Some tend to throw away things that have fallen in the toilet in order to avoid going through all the trouble of cleaning them. However, some things are quite valuable, so you will need to disinfect them to use them again.
To disinfect something that fell in the toilet you will need a pair of rubber gloves, hot water, and strong antibacterial soap. To be on the safe side, with certain non-personal objects you can use rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. Also, bleach can help in disinfection, but you need to be extremely careful since it can cause injuries.
Instead of throwing away something that fell in the toilet, you can simply disinfect it. You do not need anything special to do so, but you have to know what kind of cleaning agents are safe to use. Here, you will read about things you need, and steps you have to take in order to disinfect things that have fallen in the toilet properly.
5 Simple Ways To Disinfect Something That Fell In The Toilet
Many people do not feel comfortable using things after they have fallen in the toilet. However, there are simple ways that let you preserve your things in a safe manner. There are many things that you cannot throw away because they are quite valuable, and it is not easy for you to get rid of them.
In addition, it is convenient to note that these kinds of things happen all the time, especially if you have kids. Namely, children can be quite careless, and they can drop things in the toilet bowl simply because it is interesting for them. If they do this regularly, you will be forced to throw away many things weekly.
In order to avoid that, you can try several methods that will allow you to disinfect things that fell in the toilet.
- Disinfection with antibacterial soap and water.
- Disinfection using heat.
- Disinfection with rubbing alcohol.
- Disinfection with hydrogen peroxide.
- Disinfection with bleach.
Use Antibacterial Soap With Hot Water
The most common method that will help you disinfect things that fell in the toilet is washing with the use of strong antibacterial soap and hot water. This is the best method for some objects that are intended for personal use. Hot water and antibacterial soap will not destroy things while you try to disinfect them, but they will successfully kill germs that might be on the surface of the object.
Namely, soap and water are good for things like glasses or some type of clothing. However, make sure that you do not use it with things you put in your mouth, or something like that. For instance, if your toothbrush falls in the toilet, it would be wrong to assume that soap and water will be enough for disinfection.
Nonetheless, soap combined with water might be the cheapest solution, but an effective one. Therefore, make sure that you do not underestimate its features.
Use Heat
Heat is known to be a magnificent killer of germs. However, it is also beneficial when it comes to killing bacteria, viruses, and pathogens. Therefore, when something falls in the toilet, it would be wise to consider boiling water or ironing for disinfection.
That is, if you place something for a few minutes in boiling water, you can be certain that the hot water will kill many kinds of bacteria and viruses. If you have a piece of clothing that has fallen in the toilet, you can easily disinfect it by ironing. It is usually easier to deal with the disinfection of clothing than with the disinfection of various objects of different materials.
Use Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol is known as one of the most powerful disinfectants. Alcohol successfully kills germs, bacteria, fungi, and different kinds of pathogens. However, alcohol cannot always be used because this is a strong substance. For instance, it is quite convenient to use alcohol for the disinfection of metal objects, but you should not consider it for things intended for personal use.
If you decide to use rubbing alcohol for disinfection of things that fell in the toilet ensure to allow the alcohol to stand on the surface for some time. If you just wipe the object with alcohol, it will act as a sanitizer, not as a disinfectant. In order to kill germs and bacteria successfully, alcohol needs to remain on the surface for some time.
Use Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is great for objects made of plastic or glass. It can successfully kill bacteria, germs, and viruses, even spores. Some people use hydrogen peroxide to disinfect toothbrushes that fell in the toilet, but it is recommended that personal things like this should not be used after being contaminated.
You should never use hydrogen peroxide for the disinfection of metal objects because it is a strong oxidizer, meaning that it can easily damage the surface. In addition, you should always be careful with hydrogen peroxide because it can cause serious injuries. Therefore, it is advised that you always wear gloves and goggles to avoid unpleasantries.
Use Bleach
Bleach is another great tool for disinfection of things that fell in the toilet, especially when it comes to killing microbes. Bleach works with things made of plastic, glass, and ceramic – that is why people use it for disinfection of the toilet.
However, you need to bear in mind that bleach is a strong agent, and it may cause injuries. So, if you are not sure how to use it for the disinfection of things, it is better to stay away from it.
What Tools Are Needed For Disinfection Of Things That Fell In The Toilet?
You do not need any special tools for the disinfection of things that fell in the toilet besides a pair of rubber gloves. However, depending on the agent you use for disinfection, you might be advised to use some additional protective equipment. For instance, when using hydrogen peroxide it is recommended that the person using it wears protective goggles.
While you do not need any special tools, you need to possess some skills. That is, you have to act quickly and wisely. Once a thing falls in the toilet, you need to be prepared to put on your gloves immediately and disinfect it right away. This way you do not allow bacteria and germs to find their way onto the surface of the object in question.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Toilet Water Make You Sick?
When you flush the toilet, bacteria can jump for five meters, meaning they can reach different kinds of surfaces around the bathroom. This might not make you seriously sick, but it is advised that you keep the toilet lid down when you flush.
Should You Use A Toothbrush That Fell In The Toilet?
It is possible to disinfect a toothbrush that fell in the toilet using hydrogen peroxide, for example. However, since this is an object for personal use, you should get rid of it rather than disinfect it in order to be on the safe side.
What Types Of Bacteria Are Present In The Toilet?
The most common types of bacteria found in the toilet are Norovirus, Escherichia coli, Campylobacter, and Salmonella. These bacteria types usually cause stomach infections, and sometimes, they may develop serious illnesses.
Final Thoughts
Now you know the proper ways to disinfect things that fell in the toilet, so you will not be forced to get rid of them. However, you always need to make sure that you are doing the disinfection appropriately in order to be able to use things again without worrying. Hopefully, after reading this article, you will know exactly what to do when an object falls in your toilet.
Amos Christen graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Interior Design from Drexel University — Philadelphia, PA. Since 2003, Amos has worked with top interior design professionals in this area, including architects and interior/graphic/lighting designers. As a skilled interior designer, Amos Christen is highly versed in fine arts and crafts and uses that to supplement his main area of expertise. He often publishes articles related to home décor on several websites, including Sprucetoilets.com, Sprucebathroom.com, and Mybesuitedhome.com. He also contributes to leading interior design magazines.