Mia Williams
An NHS doctor went viral after showing what really happens when you flush your toilet.
Flushing the toilet is a daily activity for us all, with the majority of us not even thinking twice when we do it. But did you know that it could actually be incredibly unhygienic?
A doctor has caused quite the stir online after bringing people’s attention to what the human eye cannot see when you flush your toilet.
NHS surgeon and lecturer at Sunderland University Dr. Karan Raj made a video on TikTok explaining the unhygienic - and, we'll be honest, very icky - dangers.
Advert
It turns out that when you flush your toilet without the toilet lid down, things can get really grim.
Dr. Raj actually describes it as a ‘raging sewage volcano’, which is going to make you want to change your loo habits pronto.
This is because when the toilet is flushed, a 'plume' of pathogens is spread onto common bathroom items, such as your towels and toothbrushes.
In the video, Dr. Raj said: “Every time you flush the toilet with the lid open you create a raging sewage volcano.
Advert
“This allows aerosolized toilet juice to travel far and wide.
“To capture this disgusting tidal wave of microscopic waste and pathogens, scientists use lasers and cameras to capture the movement of tiny water droplets."
Researchers have discovered that droplets of toilet water were able to move at two metres per second, and reach 1.5 metres above the toilet in as little as eight seconds.
And as for the worst bit? They linger in the air for ‘more than several minutes’.
Advert
This can result in pathogens such as E Coli, norovirus and adenovirus being ‘spewed’ into our bathrooms.
However, there is a silver lining.
Simply shutting the toilet lid when you flush can prevent this spread from happening.
Dr. Raj also says that Brits should be regularly cleaning their toilets to help with bacteria, as well as trying to keep towels and toothbrushes as far away from the toilet as possible.
Some viewers in the comments have already followed the advice, with one saying: “This is my number one rule for guests coming into my house.
Advert
“My family knows I will go mental if I see the toilet seat up.”
Plumbworld’s Elanor Potter agrees with the doctors recommendations, and talking to The Mirror, she said: “It's evident that this simple adjustment in our bathroom habits can have a profound impact on our overall hygiene and health safety.
“This practice, while seemingly minor, plays a crucial role in mitigating the spread of germs and infections within the household."
Researchers from the University College Cork conducted a study in 2019, which concluded that closing the toilet seat reduced the number of droplets released into the air by 30-60%.