Ever since I was a little girl I've put paper on the toilet seat, because my mom would always go on about all the diseases you can get from them. However, I recently heard that you can't get diseases from toilet seats. So my question is, can you?
2006-12-27 06:02:15 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ STDs
Your chances of contracting some horrible disease is very low. Most human borne viruses and bacterias have a surprisingly short life outside the human body, especially on a dry surface. Unless you have a cut, open sore, or some other compromise to your skin, your risk of contracting HIV, staph infection, or any other communicable disease is very low. Only hepatitis can live in a dry environment for a sustained period of time. Hand washing is your best defense against contracting and spreading communicable diseases. There is certainly nothing wrong with covering the seat with TP or even wiping them with a sanitizing wipe before use, especially if it puts your mind at ease.
2006-12-27 06:18:29 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
No, toilet paper, paper covers or even the uber cool rotating plastic covers provide no protection, all they do is mentally separate your butt from all the other butts that have been there before. There have been no reported cases of acquiring an STD or diseases from a toilet seat since the organisms that cause these cannot survive for very long on a toilet. You have more to fear from bathroom door handles and faucets than from the toilet seat. The University of Arizona actually did a microbiology experiment and found that phone receivers had 25,000 bacteria per square in, while toilet seats only had 49. I also did a similar experiment in a college biology lab and just measured the amount of bacterial growth in a culture. We had NO growth from the toilet seat, but the plate was covered from the sink knobs and was completely disgusting from the door handle and, brace yourself, the paper towel dispenser handle! I now will walk to the new building next door to the biology department since they have doors that you can kick open and everything is automatic. Yet, even with this knowledge I still use the seat covers, I prefer the peace of mind.
2006-12-27 15:53:24 · answer #2 · answered by woaikonglong 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Toilet seat covers are not useful at all. They are a waste of paper. Use of them is purely a psychological barrier.
Actually, germs have a better chance surviving on the covers than the seat since toilet seats are non-porous. If there is urine on the seat, it is better to just wipe it off with a few sheets of TP, then wash your hands afterwards.
If you have an open sore or wound, you still should not use the covers since they will not protect you from infection. Hovering is the best way to prevent infection. Always wash your hands with hot water afterwards.
2006-12-29 17:01:47 · answer #3 · answered by elastichick2 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm not particularly a 'germ freak' but when I go into public restrooms I use an antibacterial wipe to the seat clean. I carry a small package of wipes in my purse. I have been into many restrooms where people have left a wet seat behind (generally the ones who won't sit also won't wipe the seat) and for my own personal peace of mind I prefer to clean the seat. There is nothing much more irritating then to be wearing a pair of $400 slacks and sit in someones pee on the toilet seat!
2006-12-28 06:55:14 · answer #4 · answered by i have no idea 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No you cant get horrible diseases from toilet seats, u have to have a big cut or an open sore touching an open sore, the chances are very small of getting anything even thenthe chances are still small, if we did everyone would be ineffected with diseases, you cant really get urine related problems from seats either, the tiolet seat is actually the cleanest place, has few bacteria and stuff
2006-12-27 23:31:06 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My friend is a nurse and although she will not even sit on a tissue lined seat she also said it would be like nearly impossible to catch anything from a toilet seat. Honestly sometimes I can't wait long enough to cover the seat. (only in nice bathrooms and only since she told me that) But when it is not so urgent I definitely cover!
2006-12-27 14:56:33 · answer #6 · answered by yakimablueyes 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You can't catch an STD (unless you classify crabs as and STD) from a toilet seat, but you can catch other diseases. Hepatitis is one of the more serious.
Most important isn't covering the toilet seat, but washing your hands afterwards. Your butt isn't likely to convey diseases to your mouth, but your hands will.
Most diseases of these sorts are of the fecal oral route. Very few diseases are transmitted via urine. Urine, contrary to popular opinion is usually sterile.
2006-12-27 22:22:07 · answer #7 · answered by Radagast97 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's incorrect...you can get crabs from a toilet seat and that would be a sin....especially when almost all rest rooms have seat covers...Even when I use seat covers, I still don't sit down on the seat of a public toilet...it's just not safe.
2006-12-27 15:03:26 · answer #8 · answered by Wife~and~Mom 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
according to the medical reports, you can not get diseases from the toilet seat... but if that is right... then how can you get a disease if you borrow someone's pants who has a disease?? So, i don't really know, but personally, i think you can get some type
2006-12-27 15:03:10 · answer #9 · answered by Anda 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Most public restrooms clean their toilets regularly so the chance is very small.
2006-12-27 14:56:45 · answer #10 · answered by Ray 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋