Does Bacteria Grow on Bathroom Walls when Flush w/ the Lid UP or DOWN? - Patreon Member Request!

[@jenm1]

You put so much effort into these videos. I wish you had as many subs as the popular science channels. It's the same quality imo

[@FieldOfFocus]

Thank you so much for the kind words!!! I appreciate your support!

[@bonniea8189]

My towel rod is directly opposite the toilet and the idea that toilet germs are spraying onto the towel I dry with after a shower grosses me out, so lid always down for me. Fortunately I think I have a suction toilet.

[@michellejoy6752]

The biggest takeaway for me here is that I can relax. I have had anxiety over company using my bathroom and possibly flushing with the lid up. If I were to walk in the bathroom only to see the toilet lid up, I was always horrified to think of the unseen filth lurking on every surface in my bathroom. I then had to scrub and clean like mad. Time for this ocd germaphobe to relax. Thank you for this.

[@carolcambray1112]

Reading this makes me glad I am not the only one ❤️ growing up with my family I was always called crazy 😭

[@michellejoy6752]

@@carolcambray1112 You don’t need the feel alone in this ever again. (LOL). By the way, I guess I was blessed growing up as I come from a long lineages of neurotic, OCD germaphobes. Blessings to you my clean freak sister.

[@FieldOfFocus]

I am glad this eases your mind. Whenever we had kids over the house, I would put all the toothbrushes in my bedroom off limits to kids... because the germaphobe in me was afraid toddlers/kids would touch them! 😬 I think if you see the lid up, a simple wiping walls or surfaces will do! Thanks for watching!

[@FieldOfFocus]

You are in good company!

[@FieldOfFocus]

You are in good company!!!!

[@GabrielKnightz]

Your dedication to these tests are absolutely admirable. Thank you for doing them.

[@FieldOfFocus]

You are welcome! I really enjoy testing products and ideas! I appreciate you watching and commenting!

[@lorettathanksjesus]

As I continue to re-watch many of your (very helpful) videos, I find myself so grateful for ALL the work you do. I was more confident when it came time to repurchase some of our household cleaning products. THANK YOU! 👍

[@FieldOfFocus]

Thank you very much for your kind words. I am so glad you find my videos helpful. I appreciate your time watching my videos! Thank you so much for watching and commenting! 🥰

[@nataskasykorova2549]

I am happy that I live in europe where bathroom and toilet are 2 separate rooms so I don't need to worry about my towels or toothbrush. And yeah I still close the lid. And I can enjoy having long baths without thinking about other people needing to pee. 😀

[@FieldOfFocus]

YES! When I lived in Miami, FL my apartment had the toilet and shower in a room, then you walked through the sink area to the bedroom. I liked the separation for my toothbrushes, but I HATED that after using the toilet you had to touch the doorknob to get out of the bathroom to get to the sink to wash hands.. I personally like having toothbrushes in a drawer!

[@Earthslittlesecrets]

I want the lid down every time. I don't like the door open to the rest of the house when not in use.

[@FieldOfFocus]

Agreed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@boots7859]

Not sure, however that looks very similar to some new toilets we put in last year. $250 units which we got on sale. I noticed they are much, much less 'sprayie' when flushed. Very little if any water/vapor seems to arise when flushed compared to 15-20 year old ones. These are low flow toilets which are advertised to resist clogging, so I expect some engineering went into them to maximize flushing effectiveness which probably bleeds over into less splash.

[@FieldOfFocus]

This toilet is an American Standard Champion 4, we installed it in early 2018! Great observation about the spray-ing-ness during the flush. It is possible that the older toilets would spray more. This is the only one I have in my home so the only one I could test. We are building a house and will have 3 toilets but they will all be the Champion 4. Thanks for commenting and watching! Happy Flushing!

[@scootermom1791]

Wow! I definitely expected the "flush with the toilet seat up" results to show a lot of bacteria everywhere on the walls. I've heard that toilet germs have been found on toothbrushes in other experiments (never really researched this, though), and after hearing that, I've been very OCD about people (including visitors) flushing with the lid down. Lol 🙂 I'm glad to know that most likely, the toothbrushes are not effected by the toilet flushes as much as I thought they were before.

[@FieldOfFocus]

One of my viewers made a great point and it could be that my toilet has less spray since it is a low gallon newer style toilet. So it is possible that older toilets might spray more. That just isn't something I can test because I have 1 bathroom with this 1 toilet. I think it is safer to flush with the lid down in case your toilet is more of a sprayer, and I think having toothbrushes upside down, or in a drawer is good too!!

[@scootermom1791]

@@FieldOfFocus that makes sense. Thanks for the info! 🙂

[@bigred9428]

Considering what so many people do with their mouths, I never thought that a slightly contaminated toothbrush is really a problem.

[@knotslip8862]

The type of toilet and how aggressively it flushes will make a huge difference here. Probably best to flush with the lid down, but especially if you have an aggressive flushing toilet. :)

[@FieldOfFocus]

Very true! I do have a newer low flush toilet, so that is what I tested.. but a more aggressive flusher might show different results!

[@saltandsriracha]

Always down but when people come over they never close the damn lid! Seems rude 🥴😆

[@FieldOfFocus]

RIGHT!!! I don't get the keep the lid up people.

[@ginay4662]

I didn’t know my husband came to visit! Jk, he’s actually pretty good at leaving the seat down.

[@marilynnorrell5065]

Thank you for making all your videos , they are very informative

[@FieldOfFocus]

Thank you for your support!

[@eugenetswong]

@@FieldOfFocus I also thank you. This video gives peace of mind.

[@bigred9428]

I'm always worried that the toilet will overflow, so I almost always flush with the lid up.

[@FieldOfFocus]

Interesting! Thanks for watching!

[@janh4975]

Thank you for this experiment-the results were surprising.

[@FieldOfFocus]

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was so ready for it to be gross and different! You never know! Thanks for watching!

[@ginay4662]

Do these tests make you more or less of a germ freak? lol!

[@FieldOfFocus]

ha! I am not sure.. I think less. I know where in my home the most bacteria is! 😬 And I know what products work!

[@AngelasJoys]

Down always. Toothbrushes inside the medicine cabinet.

[@FieldOfFocus]

YES! Down and toothbrushes in a drawer!

[@bigred9428]

But then how do the toothbrushes dry?

[@kaylamoore1695]

Love this so much! Makes me feel better about having my laundry in the bathroom 😆😆

[@FieldOfFocus]

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I feel way better about my bathroom/laundry room!

[@BVArmstrong]

Your yellow walls with the bright blue squares looks like the bathroom at a place that charges $20 for a Craft Cocktail.

[@FieldOfFocus]

🤣😂🤣😂 Too funny!

[@ozarkmoons]

Thanks for having such an educational and enlightening scientific channel. 🔬 Also, I just joined your patreon! ~Micah A. Harkins

[@FieldOfFocus]

Thank you for the kinds words, the super thanks, and for joining Patreon! I appreciate your support. I love testing products and KZbin is a great platform for sharing my findings!! 😊 I have some new results on patreon, enjoy!!!!

[@karenboyd6293]

Normally, how often to you or the average person wash your bathroom walls? It would have been interesting to do that first. The wall surface might make a difference as well. We flush with the lid up. It is because I have a bad habit of waiting until the last minute meaning not enough time pick up the lid.

[@FieldOfFocus]

I am not sure how often walls should be washed. Personally I only do walls once in a long while for a deep clean.

[@kikizozu]

Did we say if this was a high flush or a regular toilet flush or another one that uses more water or suction toilet

[@FieldOfFocus]

This toilet it an American Standard Champion 4, we installed it in early 2018. I think it is considered a low water flush toilet.

[@bigred9428]

Yeah, I've been in Restrooms that give me a shower when I flush.

[@kikizozu]

@@bigred9428 I have the old toilet and it doesn’t splash that I know of but the new ones are crazy with splash. I can’t say for everyone, but that’s been my experience.

[@Oskigal]

Thank you for this experiment! It's good to know the walls don't attract much bacteria, whether the toilet lid is up or down. However, I wonder, since water droplets are heavy and settle pretty rapidly, maybe horizontal surfaces like the floor around the toilet or the wall nearest the rim of the bowl might catch more germs. I also wonder if steam from taking a shower can deposit bacteria. Thanks again; I'm new to your channel and have been binge watching your videos!

[@FieldOfFocus]

Thanks for watching!

[@goldfinch102]

I worked in lab you are good🎉

[@FieldOfFocus]

Thanks for watching!

[@rockjockchick]

This is a fantastic test! Thank you!

[@FieldOfFocus]

This was interesting to see.. I was expecting bacteria to be all over the place with the lid up!!

[@HH42]

Great test! It is always lid down for me. I think now I might have less anxiety if a guest in my house doesn't put the lid down.

[@FieldOfFocus]

YES! Always down for me too. But at least if someone oops leaves it up, it should be ok!

[@scootermom1791]

Same! 🙂

[@rockjockchick]

Me too!

[@ccelms6581]

I always flush with it down, but my kiddos ALWAYS flush with it up soooooo… I’m glad there was no significant difference or I’d be screwed!😂

[@FieldOfFocus]

YES! You never know what other people will be doing!! ha!!

[@rockjockchick]

Hahaha I hear you!

[@pusheencat7722]

Down for me. No particular reason, just seems to be the order of things.

[@FieldOfFocus]

Yes. I agree.. Always down.. Just because. :)

[@truthserum9157]

I always use other peoples toilets, like this I don’t worry about it.

[@FieldOfFocus]

Thanks for your thoughts

[@sorellla]

I'm curious if an horizontal surface would have had more bacteria on it since the bacteria cants just fall down with gravity

[@FieldOfFocus]

I am not sure! Haven't tested that!

[@eugenetswong]

I am confident that a horizontal surface will, because Myth Busters tested for germs from toilet flushing. They put a toothbrush in another room, and it had germs, too. I'd have to watch the video to be confident in it, but it's reasonable to believe that toilet germs go all over.

[@Avacado721]

Exact thought!! Those who enjoy leaning back on the toilet lid while seated……. 😖 then come back to sit on my sofa my dining chair and lie down on their bed on the same shirt 😫😫😫😫😫

[@crystal8306]

Oh no! I never even thought about that cuz I never sit back. It's disgusting. 😭😭​@@Avacado721

[@bigred9428]

@@Avacado721 , Large people, people who feel ill, kids, accidentally ...

[@lorrieseith2078]

Great test!

[@FieldOfFocus]

Thank you! I love testing all sorts of things!!!

[@mariannetracy4248]

Same family member, haha

[@FieldOfFocus]

😃 thanks for watching!!!!!

[@nancyr45]

Thank you your videos are so help ful

[@FieldOfFocus]

Thank you so much for watching! I appreciate your support!

[@johncarter4411]

Good to know

[@FieldOfFocus]

Thanks for watching!