# Do you close the lid on your toilet when it is not in use? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 19, 2011, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-lid-on-your-toilet-when-it-is-not-in-use/603418 "2011-11-19T04:07:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2011, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-lid-on-your-toilet-when-it-is-not-in-use/603418/61 "2011-11-19T23:25:56Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I was well-trained by a former gf. In fact, I didn’t realize until later in life that most women were only complaining about the leaving the seat up, not the lid! My experience is that they’re complaining about the seat alone and not the lid. In fact, I believe this is the first I’ve ever heard that leaving the lid up is controversial. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2011, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-lid-on-your-toilet-when-it-is-not-in-use/603418/62 "2011-11-20T00:59:11Z")
Yes, because my cat likes to sit there, and it amuses me to see him sitting on the toilet like a person. Joe ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2011, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-lid-on-your-toilet-when-it-is-not-in-use/603418/63 "2011-11-20T02:41:05Z")
> [@Jaledin](#): > > No. I think it’s disgusting to have to touch any part of the toilet except the flushing handle, and I am displeased when guests close the lid. Yes, I know all about toilet plume. I don’t care about that. I don’t either for this reason, and I hate it when other people close it. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2011, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-lid-on-your-toilet-when-it-is-not-in-use/603418/64 "2011-11-20T02:48:06Z")
Don’t most people flush when they’re still on the toilet anyway? Seems like it would be pretty hard for stuff to get up. If I’m taking a dump, I like to flush before I wipe anyway so getting up and putting the lid down would be a pretty big inconvenience… ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2011, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-lid-on-your-toilet-when-it-is-not-in-use/603418/65 "2011-11-20T03:04:38Z")
> [@Antigen](#): > > They tend to barf more if they get at the toilet water. > > I did not know this existed! I want a heated seat! Mine is about 20 degrees above the ambient temperature. It’s wonderful! [This is the model I have.](http://www.heatedtoiletseat.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=15) I got mine as a factory second from ebay for about $30, although it looks perfect. They don’t seem to sell there anymore. StG ---
**Author:** ![SweetLucy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@SweetLucy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SweetLucy)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2011, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-lid-on-your-toilet-when-it-is-not-in-use/603418/66 "2011-11-20T04:20:28Z")
I have pretty toilet lid covers, so I like to show them off. Also, I just don’t like looking at toilet bowls 😃 ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2011, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-lid-on-your-toilet-when-it-is-not-in-use/603418/67 "2011-11-20T05:29:40Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Don’t most people flush when they’re still on the toilet anyway? No…? Doesn’t your butt get wet if you do? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2011, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-lid-on-your-toilet-when-it-is-not-in-use/603418/68 "2011-11-20T05:53:38Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > Mine is about 20 degrees above the ambient temperature. It’s wonderful! > > [This is the model I have.](http://www.heatedtoiletseat.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=15) I got mine as a factory second from ebay for about $30, although it looks perfect. They don’t seem to sell there anymore. > > StG I need an air-conditioned one. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2011, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-lid-on-your-toilet-when-it-is-not-in-use/603418/69 "2011-11-20T05:53:47Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > No…? Doesn’t your butt get wet if you do? No…What kind of crazy ass spewing toilets are the rest of you dealing with?! ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2011, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-lid-on-your-toilet-when-it-is-not-in-use/603418/70 "2011-11-20T05:58:42Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > No…What kind of crazy ass spewing toilets are the rest of you dealing with?! Maybe she has a bidet and doesn’t realize it. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2011, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-lid-on-your-toilet-when-it-is-not-in-use/603418/71 "2011-11-20T06:04:28Z")
Weird. Out of all the friends and family I’ve visited, and all the places I’ve rented, I’ve never known anybody who closes their toilet lid regularly. I suppose it was foolish of me to rely on my immune system to handle microscopic urine and fecal matter. The only time I close it is when I’m using the shower. I hate when drips get on the seat. ---
**Author:** ![Uzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/91b2a8/32.png) [@Uzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uzi)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2011, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-lid-on-your-toilet-when-it-is-not-in-use/603418/72 "2011-11-20T06:51:13Z")
> [@rinni](#): > > “Gee, I’m glad the toilet lid was closed, or else I’d be fishing that makeup brush/ **toothbrush** /entire roll of toilet paper/severed head out of the bowl right now!” This. I’m pretty coordinated, but once in a while things go horribly, terribly wrong. The tooth brush for some reason one morning tries to go up my nose instead of into my mouth. The natural reaction to having a toothbrush covered in toothpaste inserted into a nostril was to jerk it back which launched the brush into the air. I see it spinning slowly through tear filled eyes and grab for it only to have it bounce off my hand higher. I turn into some uncoordinated clown as my fingers graze it for the second time only to push it over the bowl which I now realize I hadn’t flushed earlier. I know disaster is close, so I just try to swat it any place but other than towards the toilet. I know it is futile, but one last swat bounces it off my fingers only to spike it straight into the bowl. Now I’m pissed. So, I flush the offending brush from sight. Why isn’t the water in the bowl it swirling like it should? NO, it is backing up and going to overflow. I grab the lid to stop the tank completely draining…Too late. \ It only takes one time to never leave the lid up again.:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2011, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-lid-on-your-toilet-when-it-is-not-in-use/603418/73 "2011-11-20T08:14:35Z")
> [@The\_Lovely\_Margo\_Lane](#): > > (bolding mine) > > I may regret asking this, but how on earth does this work? Are you hovering in your own home??? Are you kidding? I’m a guy, therefore I neither sit to piss nor hover. My ass can sit on the sit – but who wants to touch the underside of the seat _or_ the lid? In fact, I never raise nor lower the seat itself – I have pretty good aim and drink a lot of tea and water. Way too much trouble to bother every time I have to take a squirt. So there’s often, you can infer, piss on the seat as well, but I’m fine sitting on it. Yeah, I live alone, and no, I don’t care who comes over to use the toilet and is shocked and dismayed. No pets, though – I catsit occasionally and the rule there is keep the lid down or else the big one will fall in, because he’s kind of dumb, I guess., ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2011, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-lid-on-your-toilet-when-it-is-not-in-use/603418/74 "2011-11-20T11:00:29Z")
Closed. DEFINITELY closed. As far as I’m concerned, 'though it has the joy of flushing, a toilet is like a bin. And I keep the lid on that, too. ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2011, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-lid-on-your-toilet-when-it-is-not-in-use/603418/75 "2011-11-20T12:37:14Z")
Mine is up, because my roommate’s dog insists on drinking out of the toilet. ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2011, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-lid-on-your-toilet-when-it-is-not-in-use/603418/76 "2011-11-20T12:48:24Z")
…that doesn’t make you much of a **dogbutler** , does it… It’s not enough to just wander around in morning dress. There’s the tray thing as well you know… ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2011, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-lid-on-your-toilet-when-it-is-not-in-use/603418/77 "2011-11-20T13:11:47Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > Weird. Out of all the friends and family I’ve visited, and all the places I’ve rented, I’ve never known anybody who closes their toilet lid regularly. I suppose it was foolish of me to rely on my immune system to handle microscopic urine and fecal matter. > > The only time I close it is when I’m using the shower. I hate when drips get on the seat. Other than that last part, I could have written that post. I’ve even had to stay in other people’s homes during choir trips, and even then they didn’t leave the lid down. And, of course, public toilets rarely even have lids. I was surprised that closing is winning. I knew some Dopers close the lid while flushing, but I had no idea it would be a majority.\* \*Assuming the poll is representative, and people aren’t not voting due to the commentary. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2011, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-lid-on-your-toilet-when-it-is-not-in-use/603418/78 "2011-11-20T15:28:07Z")
Sometimes I do, sometimes I forget to. ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2011, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-lid-on-your-toilet-when-it-is-not-in-use/603418/79 "2011-11-20T17:35:39Z")
> [@Martian Bigfoot](#): > > It’s all pipes! Alright, can we just drop all the pee-pipe stuff here? ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2011, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-lid-on-your-toilet-when-it-is-not-in-use/603418/80 "2011-11-20T17:43:12Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > WARNING: This may seem nasty. > > I keep it down mostly cause I don’t flush after every pee. It just seems so water wasteful. After every second or third pee seems enough. > . Same here though I always flush the first pee of the day cause it’s usually pretty yellow and thus stinkier. Later in the day after I’m properly hydrated and my piss is clear as glass I will let it sit. Waste of water to flush every time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-lid-on-your-toilet-when-it-is-not-in-use/603418.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-lid-on-your-toilet-when-it-is-not-in-use/603418.md?page=5)