Public loo germs

[germhater]

Everyone says you can get germs off the seat but what about the water that splashes you when doing number twos.Surely it's infested with viruses?

[boognish76]

Don't drink it and you'll be alright.

[Miss Zippy]

I read somewhere that you shouldn't store things like toothbrushes within 5ft of your loo as micro particles of bacteria-laden water can splash out when the loo is flushed. Yuck!

[Gef]

Only if you are germhater! The water in the loo (if properly flushed) would be fairly clean - any viruses would come from your "number twos".

[Cactus]

If you're really worried about the splashback, put a couple of sheets of toilet paper on the surface of the water before you "go". I can't believe i just posted that.

[couchy]

Tartinwizard - tell me you don't do number twos in an urinal?.

[nykkieberry]

poo particles are EVERYWHERE! On the door handles, the loo handles, in the hand dryer air, the bombay mix - don't worry, all good clean fun!

[knowall]

We're just getting too obsessed with 'germs'! Just witness the number of adverts on television for disinfectants etc. Just get on with life and don't worry - your body has natural defences (acid in stomach for instance) and it also relies on small 'doses' of bacteria to build up resistance.

[docklands77]

It may be brimming with bacteria but probably not viruses as viruses can't survive outside the human body for long. Although theoretically it might be possible for you to catch some infection from any water in the loo, its highly unlikely as long as you don't have any open wounds(!). If you're worried about catching something in this way, you should start to worry about people sneezing on trains, touching door handles, eating in restaurants etc etc. Modern life is generally very clean, perhaps too clean.

[kirstykitten]

Hello Folks. Far too much toilet talk! I heard that the germs from poo can permeate through at least 10 sheets of our favourite paper! I am one of those peeps that washes my hands 'bout 20 times a day. Mum says theres something wrong with me. Am a clean girl but yes, sometimes splashbacks from you know what can cause infection - particularly of the urinary kind. Be careful out there - its a tough world!

[kirstykitten]

I meant to add that 'they' did tests on bowls of nuts in bars (on bars) and 'they' found over 100 different samples of 'p' in there. Yummy! Please wash your hands! (I won't even exit a pub loo without pulling my sleeve down to grab the door handle - am I sad?) Nice to see regulars are paying attention to their hygeine - we care about you!

[Gef]

Kirstykitten, you re not sad - just realistic. The loo door handles are probably covered in germs form others who didn't. However, like knowall, we have to be realistic, as there are now fears that an over emphasis on hygene can actually reduce the effect of our immune systems. I't's probably more effective to wash hands just before eating/ handling foods and also to wash raw food such as fruit etc.

[JohnPPotts]

I agree that there's way too much disinfecting today. If advertisers are to be believed, leaving a single bacterium in your house alive is bordering on child abuse - makes you wonder how mankind ever survived the several thousand years before we developed disinfectants, really. That's not to say that you shouldn't obey sensible hygiene rules - just don't go overboard.

[cbrown1980]

Disinfecting only reduces the number of bacteria, you would need to sterilize the loo to kill off all the bacteria. When you enter a crowded place, everyone is shedding skin particles which are coming into contact with you (gross or what) but dont worry, you wont catch anything from their skin. Lol