this post was submitted on 31 Aug 2026
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You Should Know

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It's called toilet plume.

A toilet plume is the invisible to the naked eye, cloud-like dispersal of raw, infectious sewage particles as a result of flushing a toilet. Flush particles rapidly rise out of the bowl and several feet into the air after flushing. Aerosolized droplets can remain suspended in the air for tens of minutes between users, posing an inhalation risk. These invisible particles go on to coat and spread onto surfaces like floors and counters or objects like hand towels, bathmats, or even toothbrushes.

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[–] GreenKnight23@lemmy.world 1 points 6 minutes ago

should I leave my face in the facehole before closing to ensure I'm in the splashzone?

[–] solidheron@sh.itjust.works 2 points 35 minutes ago

Been doing it for years

[–] Wren@lemmy.today 5 points 1 hour ago

I've been inhaling the shit plume for thirty years and I'm not about to stop because of Wikipedia.

[–] huquad@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 hours ago

I just recycle it instead. You get used to the taste after a few cycles.

[–] NotASharkInAManSuit@lemmy.world 21 points 7 hours ago (2 children)

Mythbusters.

Do whatever you want, indoor plumbing means there is shit everywhere, closing the lid has little to no effect. This is just life, get over it.

[–] BeardededSquidward@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 49 minutes ago (1 children)

Different is between a fart of poo water and a small geyser.

[–] NotASharkInAManSuit@lemmy.world 2 points 32 minutes ago

One goes upwards, one goes outwards, it’s the same mass and it travels the same distance, closing the lid is a placebo, but if it makes you feel better then go for it.

[–] honesthenery@thelemmy.club 1 points 6 hours ago

Thats what I am saying.

[–] Creddit@lemmy.world 13 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago) (4 children)

The invisible particles that spread by air are not generally able to transmit disease because of their size, low concentration, and the short lifespan of pathogens surviving the airborne journey.

However, when you flush under a closed lid a MUCH higher concentration and long-lived pathogenic layer is deposited on the underside of the lid.

When you then sit down to shit, your shirt brushes against that moist underside of the lid behind you and THAT is much more dangerous as it moistens your garments and follows you back to your couch or bed.

[–] Buddahriffic@lemmy.world 2 points 20 minutes ago

I'm appalled that you just assume it's normal for your clothes to rub up against the toilet lid at all or that its position when you flush can make that not gross.

[–] grahamja@reddthat.com 1 points 2 hours ago

Tight seal brass seat cover?

[–] INHALE_VEGETABLES@aussie.zone 7 points 6 hours ago

You shit and then pull your pants up by your belt.

You have never once washed your belt - anyone who says they have is coping.

[–] Rooster326@programming.dev 3 points 8 hours ago

Can't tell if sarcasm or...

[–] Bytemeister@lemmy.world 28 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

YSK that your toilet lid isn't a gasketed seal.

https://www.ajicjournal.org/article/S0196-6553(25)00630-3/abstract

Putting the lid down does reduce the amount of shit mist, but it does not even get close to eliminating it.

[–] _haha_oh_wow_@sh.itjust.works 12 points 11 hours ago (4 children)

I'd much rather have something fall onto the toilet lid than into the toilet. That alone makes closing it worthwhile.

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[–] Tower@lemmy.zip 16 points 12 hours ago (4 children)

Along with this... Normalize dudes sitting down to piss.

[–] OozingPositron@feddit.cl 1 points 3 hours ago

I'm not a fan of urinary tract infections

[–] Surp@lemmy.world 3 points 4 hours ago (2 children)

No thanks. Balls and dick touching toilet waters a thing for some of us. Having to sit in a tiny ass toilet and somehow maneuver your junk with your hands also getting in there..nah.

[–] bluesheep@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

I'm sorry but are you 120 y/o and are your balls sagging to your ankles? I have at some time experienced the head of my dick touching the bowl but I have never, and considering the designs of toilets will never, experienced my balls touching the toilet water. And I am not ashamed to say that I sit down to piss pretty much every time

[–] Surp@lemmy.world 2 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago)

No but I've spoken to older people and been told by them stories of these things happening. Guess you never speak to old people? Things happen when you get old. Buckle up! At least you admit the tip part so we can be water tip bros.

[–] socsa@piefed.social 1 points 6 hours ago

I'll sit to pee once elongated toilet bowls are mandated by law.

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[–] Cytobit@piefed.social 16 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago) (1 children)

How about we quantify how dangerous the farticles are first, before we decide how useful closing the seat is? Who cares how many invisible particles it stops if they turn out to be harmless?

[–] TBi@lemmy.world 12 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

Also it’s good for your immune system to get exercise.

Houses are too sterile these days.

[–] bridgeenjoyer@sh.itjust.works 17 points 12 hours ago (3 children)

Dont even get me started on how coddled the modern anus is.

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[–] _haha_oh_wow_@sh.itjust.works 9 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

It also stops things from falling into your toilet, pets from getting to the water, etc.

Closing the lid is the only sensible thing to do.

[–] INHALE_VEGETABLES@aussie.zone 3 points 6 hours ago
[–] Zoldyck@lemmy.world 64 points 17 hours ago (10 children)

YSK to not be scared of every little mundane thing in life. It will paralyze you

[–] r3g3n3x@lemmy.zip 11 points 13 hours ago

Agreed. Obviously there are some things that, as we acquire new knowledge that may change daily behavior, need to be reconsidered, but this is not one of them. People will look for the dirty hypodermic in the haystack of swords.

There’s so many other things to care about more. In the age of information, our mental health depends on conscious gate keeping of what we allow to concern us and modify our behavior. Everyone needs to decide their own path but if you don’t and just scroll the feed you’ll go mad.

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[–] MurrayL@lemmy.world 77 points 18 hours ago (4 children)

You close the lid to avoid a plume of fecal particles. I close the lid because otherwise my dumb cat jumps directly into the bowl. We are not the same.

[–] postcapitalism@lemmy.today 1 points 1 hour ago

I keep the lid open to watch the poop circle the drain, very satisfying

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[–] SocialMediaRefugee@lemmy.world 9 points 13 hours ago (2 children)

It is how I build my immune system.

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