Sometimes, when you need to use a public bathroom, you might wonder if it’s better to hover above the toilet seat or cover it with toilet paper. Are you really at risk of catching germs from the seat?
You might be surprised to learn that your kitchen cutting board has about 200 times more germs than a toilet seat. Even more shocking, a dish sponge can have 200,000 times more bacteria. While public toilets can look dirty, if they seem clean, they might actually be cleaner than many other things in a bathroom.
Your skin does a great job of keeping germs out. Even though some bacteria, like E. coli, can live on a toilet seat for a long time, they usually can’t get into your body unless you have a cut or there’s something sharp on the seat.
Putting toilet paper on the seat might make you feel better, but there are a few things to think about. The bacteria on toilet seats are often the same ones that live on your skin, so they’re not very dangerous unless your immune system is weak. Also, when you flush the toilet, it spreads germs into the air, so the toilet paper might already have germs on it.
The biggest risk of getting sick comes from not washing your hands properly. If you touch your mouth, eyes, or face after using the bathroom, that’s when germs can get in. If you’re really worried about germs, using toilet paper might not make a big difference because germs are everywhere.
If you’re concerned about germs, hovering over the toilet seat is a good option. Plus, it gives your legs a little workout! Otherwise, you can sit down, wash your hands well, and be careful about touching things like the door handle, which many people touch without washing their hands.
Thanks to Audible.com, you can get a free audiobook of your choice at audible.com/asap. Audible has over 150,000 audiobooks on all kinds of topics. You might enjoy “Think Like a Freak,” by the authors of “Freakonomics.” You can download it for free and listen on your device. Special thanks to Audible for supporting educational videos, and don’t forget to subscribe for more science fun!
Conduct a simple experiment to compare the number of germs on different surfaces. Use swabs and petri dishes to collect samples from a kitchen cutting board, a dish sponge, and a toilet seat. Observe the growth over a few days and discuss the results with your classmates.
Participate in a role-play activity where you act as the skin, defending the body against germs. Create scenarios where germs try to enter through cuts or abrasions, and demonstrate how the skin acts as a barrier. Discuss how maintaining healthy skin is important for protection.
Join a relay race that emphasizes proper handwashing techniques. Set up stations with soap and water, and race to see who can wash their hands thoroughly in the shortest time. Remember to cover all parts of your hands and discuss why each step is important for hygiene.
Engage in a debate about the effectiveness of using toilet paper to cover toilet seats. Split into two groups, one arguing for and the other against the practice. Use facts from the article to support your arguments and conclude with a class discussion on the best practices for hygiene.
Try a fun exercise challenge by practicing the “hovering” position over a chair. Time how long you can hold the position and discuss the benefits of this practice for both hygiene and leg strength. Reflect on how this can be a practical solution in public restrooms.
Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Sometimes it just can’t wait until you get home, but with the questionable sanitary state of public bathrooms, one has to wonder: should you hover above or cover the seat with toilet paper? Are you really at risk of contamination?
It may be surprising, but in a typical home, your cutting board has around 200 times more fecal matter on it than the average toilet seat. Even worse is the dish sponge, which has around 200,000 times more bacteria. While we’ve all seen our fair share of dirty public toilets, the truth is, if it passes the sight test and seems okay, it’s probably cleaner than most other objects in a bathroom.
Regardless, your skin is designed as an excellent barrier to microorganisms. Even though some bacteria, such as E. coli, can survive on a toilet seat indefinitely, if you don’t have an open wound nearby or there isn’t something foreign or sharp on the seat, the bacteria isn’t likely to get inside your body.
While placing a layer of clean paper on the seat may reduce your contact with germs, it’s worth considering a few things first. The species of bacteria typically found on toilet seats are common skin microbes that most people already carry, meaning they pose little threat unless you’re immunocompromised. Secondly, chances are microorganisms are already present on everything in the bathroom. Simply flushing a toilet creates aerosolized bacteria, meaning that the toilet paper itself is likely contaminated.
The risk of infection comes most frequently from improper handwashing followed by touching your mouth, eyes, or other bodily openings. If you’re that worried about germs and insist on using toilet paper for your comfort, you might want to consider that you’re still being exposed to germs in other ways.
On the other hand, hovering over the toilet is a perfect alternative if you’re concerned about cleanliness, and it gives you a little workout as well. Otherwise, sit with confidence, wash your hands, and when you’re done, walk over to that door and touch the handle that everyone else who didn’t wash their hands has touched too.
Thanks to Audible.com for giving you a free audiobook of your choice at audible.com/asap. Audible is the leading provider of audiobooks with over 150,000 downloadable titles across all types of literature. Check out “Think Like a Freak,” which is by the same authors who created “Freakonomics.” You can download this audiobook or another of your choice for free at audible.com/asap, then use their free app to listen on your Apple, Windows, or Android device. Special thanks to Audible for making these videos possible, and subscribe for more weekly science videos.
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This version removes any explicit references and maintains a more neutral tone while preserving the original message.
Germs – Tiny organisms that can cause disease and are often spread through contact. – Washing your hands regularly helps prevent the spread of germs.
Toilet – A fixture used for the disposal of human waste, important for maintaining sanitation. – It is important to flush the toilet after use to keep the bathroom clean.
Bacteria – Microscopic living organisms, some of which can cause infections or diseases. – Not all bacteria are harmful; some are essential for digestion.
Skin – The outer covering of the body that protects against germs and regulates temperature. – Applying sunscreen helps protect your skin from harmful UV rays.
Hygiene – Practices that help maintain health and prevent the spread of diseases. – Good hygiene includes brushing your teeth and showering regularly.
Immune – Relating to the body’s ability to resist infections and diseases. – Vaccinations help strengthen your immune system against certain viruses.
Paper – A material used for writing, printing, or cleaning, often made from wood pulp. – Using paper towels to dry your hands can reduce the spread of germs.
Flush – To clean something by causing water to flow through it, often used with toilets. – Remember to flush the toilet to keep the bathroom sanitary.
Hover – To remain in one place in the air, or to stay in a position without moving. – Some people hover over public toilet seats to avoid contact with germs.
Risk – The possibility of something harmful or unpleasant happening. – Not washing your hands increases the risk of catching a cold.
