People have strong opinions about all kinds of household habits. Some have a very particular way of loading the dishwasher, others swear there’s only one right way to hang a roll of toilet paper, and plenty of people have wondered whether the toilet lid should be left up or put down after use.
It may seem like a tiny detail, but closing the toilet lid before flushing can help limit the spread of droplets around the bathroom. It can also keep the toilet bowl covered between uses and slightly reduce the amount of water that evaporates into an already humid room.
So, if you’re wondering which position makes more sense, keeping the lid closed when the toilet isn’t being used is the better habit. Here’s why.
Flushing Can Send Tiny Droplets Into the Air
Flushing a toilet can create a spray of very small droplets that may become airborne. Some of those droplets can settle on nearby surfaces, including the sink, faucet, countertops, toothbrush holders, towels, and other items around the bathroom.
Closing the lid before flushing creates a barrier between the toilet bowl and the rest of the room. It doesn’t stop every airborne particle from escaping, and it isn’t a substitute for regular bathroom cleaning, but it can help reduce the amount of spray that reaches nearby surfaces.
Making a habit of putting the lid down before you flush takes almost no extra effort. It’s one of those small bathroom habits that can make sense for keeping the area a little cleaner.
Related: Why Smart Homeowners Keep Dental Floss Handy (Outside the Bathroom)
Bathroom Surfaces Can Pick Up Germs
A bathroom may look clean right after you’ve scrubbed it, but surfaces are exposed to plenty of moisture and germs throughout the day. The toilet handle, faucet, sink, light switches, countertops, and door handles all get touched frequently.
Keeping the toilet lid closed before flushing can help limit how much material from the bowl reaches the surrounding area. That doesn’t mean your bathroom will stay germ-free, but it gives you one less source of mess to worry about between cleanings.
Regularly wiping down high-touch surfaces and cleaning the toilet still matters. The closed lid is just one small part of keeping the bathroom cleaner.
An Open Toilet Can Add Moisture to the Bathroom
Bathrooms naturally hold a lot of moisture. Showers, baths, and running water can quickly raise humidity, especially in a room without good ventilation.
Leaving the toilet lid open also leaves the water in the bowl exposed to the room. Some of that water can evaporate and add a small amount of moisture to the air. Closing the lid limits that exposure.
The difference is unlikely to transform the humidity in your bathroom by itself, but every little bit can help in a poorly ventilated space. If your bathroom already struggles with condensation or mildew, a working exhaust fan and good airflow will make a much bigger difference.
Related: 10 Things Hiding in Your Bathroom Cabinets That You Should Throw Away
So, Should the Lid Stay Up or Down?
For a toilet that isn’t being used, keeping the lid closed is a sensible habit. More importantly, put the lid down before flushing if you have a toilet with a lid.
It won’t make your bathroom perfectly clean, and it doesn’t replace regular scrubbing or good ventilation. Still, it’s an easy habit that can help contain some of the droplets produced during flushing and keep the bowl covered between uses.
Sometimes the simplest household habits are the ones that are easiest to stick with.
