Are you worried that you might get toilet water splashback disease when using a public toilet? You’ve probably heard a lot of myths about getting sick if you experience toilet splash back, but worry less!
Of course, there might be plenty of pathogenic bacteria in the bathroom, such as E. coli, staphylococcus, shingella, and streptococcus. Common viruses like hepatitis A and Rhinovirus may also be found in the bathroom. However, getting diseases from toilet water splashback is very rare.
How Easy Can You Get Toilet Water Splashback Disease?
If you have a strong immune system and always wash your hands frequently, it’s possible to kill most of the germs you come into contact with. Adopt this habit to minimize chances of getting an infection from toilet water! Due to the presence of germs everywhere in public bathrooms, many people think the germs cause STDs like gonorrhea and chlamydia.
But before you start to panic, know that the toilet seat isn’t a common place for infection-causing organisms to spread to humans. Many bacteria that cause infections can survive only a very short period on a toilet seat, which means that they must be carried from a toilet seat into your genital tract or urethra or via a sore or cut on your thighs or buttocks. Even though that is possible, it’s extremely unlikely!
Germs, like most viruses, can die quickly and thus are less harmful than you think. But since germs from poop can get into the air when you flush the toilet, we strongly recommend that you do not go to the restroom immediately after someone has flashed it. Doing so will prevent the microbes in the air from landing on your skin.
Keep in mind that aerosol dispersal often occurs after you’ve flushed the toilet rather than when the water in the bowl starts to run off the side of the toilet. Even if you often use public washrooms, you can still live safely with the germs around you.
How to Prevent Toilet Splash Back?
It’s gross to have water splashed all over you when using a toilet, especially if it’s a public washroom. Here are some ways you can avoid contamination from toilet water splash back:
1. Shift Forward On the Toilet Seat to Avoid Toilet Splash Backs
You can try adjusting your position to sit higher on the toilet to avoid having poop splash all over your bum. If you sit forward, poop will likely end up hitting the bowl surface instead of hitting the water. We all know water starts to shoot upwards when something solid hits it.
If you shift forward, it can help keep the water from splashing onto you. But keep in mind that doing this may mean more cleanups for you! Knowing exactly how to position yourself on the toilet seat might be tricky, but you’ll definitely find a suitable angle.
2. Using Toilet Paper
Protect yourself from getting splashed when you flush the toilet by covering the water in the bowl with toilet paper. You may use as many pieces of toilet paper as you like or think is necessary, depending on the size of your bowl. If you plan to use this method, you must make sure that you cover all the water in your toilet bowl before doing your business.
If you want to protect yourself from splashing water while you poop, cover as much of the toilet bowl as possible. Or at least where you think the mess will land. Even though it’s less common to have splashes when peeing, you should still protect yourself by doing this.
Using this trick to prevent toilet splashback might only be effective for your first piece of poop. If you’re planning on doing round two, the toilet paper may have already sunk into the bowl water. It may cause your subsequent purchases to be less comfortable. However, depending on how hard the toilet paper is, your poop may not sink into the water completely.
If you really hate the idea of having dirty water splash all over you, you could always add a couple of extra sheets of paper to the water. In case you’re running out of toilet paper, just drop some paper towels in the bowl. Alternatively, if you don’t have any paper towels, you could use some tissue.
Any kind of paper will aid you in changing the water’s surface tension, thereby cushioning the fall of your poop. Some people have claimed to have been applying this method for years! It’s, therefore, an effective way to prevent poop water backsplash.
If you want to help the environment, buying bamboo toilet paper may be the most appropriate conservative solution. It’s eco-friendly and serves a great deal to help you prevent backsplashes.
Also, you may opt to go for an affordable brand. Amazon Basics 2-ply toilet paper has 5.4x extra sheets than a standard toilet paper roll. Its excellent strength will help you stop toilet water backsplash.
After the first announcement of the COVID-19 case, some places experienced a severe shortage of toilet paper as customers were stockpiling it. It’s important to store extra rolls of toilet paper in case of an emergency or if there is a need in the future.
How To Avoid Toilet Water Splash When Flushing
As you flush the toilet, water may spray everywhere in the bathroom. Not only will it sprinkle on you but also on walls and rugs, which can be annoying.
Fortunately, there are some easy ways to fix this problem:
- Lower the water level in your toilet bowl. High water levels can cause bigger toilet splashes that may spray around your bathroom. Reducing the water level in your toilet can help you to avoid having water splash all over you when you sit down to use it.
- Put the toilet lid down before you flush the toilet. Closing your toilet lid can help prevent toilet water flush back. It’s vital to remember to clean the toilet lid regularly for hygiene.
FAQs
Can You Get HIV from the water in a Toilet?
We’ve covered similar topics before. But it would be wise to make a wrap up for everyone. HIV is not something that you can get from toilet water. There’s no way that HIV could be transmitted to you by toilet water splashing on your bam.
Can you get an STD by touching your bathroom toilet seat that has got urine?
It’s time to break down the myth that you can get an STI from touching a toilet seat. It’s just a myth! It’s not a problem that will happen to you now or tomorrow. It is extremely unlikely that you will catch STDs by touching the toilet bowl.
Does toilet water become dirty after it’s flushed down the toilet?
If you have regular toilet water that’s always clear and blue (that is, if you use toilet bowl tablets), the water you get from flushing the toilet is safe. But some homeowners will notice that after they flush the toilet, the water turns to brown or dirty. This can be due to a variety of reasons, including rusted plumbing systems.
What term should be used instead of dirty toilet water?
Toilets are designed to flush waste down a sewer pipe. The pipes that carry your waste away from your house also collect and remove other waste. It could also be soapy water from other people’s baths, showers, or the water left over from people washing clothes and dishes. Together, these various waste materials are referred to as “sewage.”
Final Verdict
It’s very unlikely to get toilet water splashback disease. That is because toilet water is rarely dirty. Therefore, toilet water splash back should not be a worrying concern. You should be more worried about the toilet door knobs and seats. These have the potential to carry germs from other users. However, it’s good that sometimes you carry a hand towel to wipe the toilet seat before using the toilet (especially whenever you want to use a public bathroom). Also, remember to wash your hands regularly. It will save you a great deal!
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.