Should you close the toilet lid before flushing? While many people worry that flushing with the lid open could spread bacteria and viruses through airborne water droplets, Japanese bathroom manufacturer TOTO says closing it is still recommended, although modern toilets are already designed to minimise splashing.
According to Japanese media outlet Grape, TOTO explained that closing the lid before flushing can further reduce the amount of water splashing outside the toilet bowl.
However, the company pointed out that modern toilet designs place considerable emphasis on preventing water from splashing out. As a result, flushing with the lid open would generally not cause large amounts of water to spray outside the bowl.
TOTO also clarified that toilet lids were not originally designed specifically to prevent the spread of bacteria or viruses.
Instead, their primary purposes include preventing objects from accidentally falling into the toilet, improving the overall appearance of the bathroom and reducing heat loss from heated toilet seats.
For households using bidet toilet seats with heating functions, TOTO recommends keeping the lid closed whenever the toilet is not in use.
This helps retain heat and reduces the amount of electricity needed to keep the seat warm, potentially lowering energy consumption.
As for whether closing the lid can prevent viruses from spreading, TOTO noted that Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare had previously recommended closing toilet lids before flushing as part of its guidelines for daily hygiene practices.
However, the company stressed that it is not a medical research institution and therefore cannot confirm that its products can prevent the transmission of viruses or protect users against specific bacterial or viral infections.
TOTO also reminded the public that closing the toilet lid is only one part of maintaining bathroom hygiene.
People should still wash their hands thoroughly after using the toilet and regularly clean the toilet bowl and surrounding areas to maintain a hygienic environment.
