# The toilet seat cover question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 21, 2005, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-toilet-seat-cover-question/291154 "2005-02-21T11:46:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Emma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/57b2e6/32.png) [@Emma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emma)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2005, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-toilet-seat-cover-question/291154/1 "2005-02-21T11:46:50Z")
Without sounding too embarrassed, I think the question may be pretty valid. I’ve always wondered about those paper toilet seat covers now offered at many public restrooms. Is the fabrication of each sheet dense enough to separate the bare bottom from the … whatever it is supposed to stop anyway? Bacteria and viruses are very small organisms, I know this much. Please let me know if I need to triple-layer. Or squat. Ok, now I’m embarrassed. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2005, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-toilet-seat-cover-question/291154/2 "2005-02-21T11:52:06Z")
I watched a fascinating documentry last week. The general point is that “our” obsession with hygiene is making us sick. We have more allergies then our forefathers because our immune systems are over protected and are not allowed to develop to protect us. I will continue to park my bum on a loo seat without paper paranoia. ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2005, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-toilet-seat-cover-question/291154/3 "2005-02-21T12:05:18Z")
> [@calm kiwi](#): > > I watched a fascinating documentry last week. The general point is that “our” obsession with hygiene is making us sick. > > We have more allergies then our forefathers because our immune systems are over protected and are not allowed to develop to protect us. > > I will continue to park my bum on a loo seat without paper paranoia. Good for you, **Calmers**. I reckon part of the reason the All Blacks came last in the Tri Nations was because they’ve gone soft. Did you know that footballers now wear gloves and gold football boots? Giggs even appeared in lingerie the other day. (Don’t tell **Kaitlyn** - she’ll sign him up for her pillow fight.) ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2005, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-toilet-seat-cover-question/291154/4 "2005-02-21T12:09:45Z")
What is worse is that Beige is back in cricket! Dirty makes ya healthy. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2005, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-toilet-seat-cover-question/291154/5 "2005-02-21T12:14:14Z")
That Beige Brigade can give the Barmy Army a serious run for their money. And would you guys stop giving the Aussies such a hard time? ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2005, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-toilet-seat-cover-question/291154/6 "2005-02-21T12:20:29Z")
Hey some Kiwis spit at them…thus improving their immune systems 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2005, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-toilet-seat-cover-question/291154/7 "2005-02-21T12:26:44Z")
You guys are too altruistic for your own good. BTW, Juff Wulson’s my hero… ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2005, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-toilet-seat-cover-question/291154/8 "2005-02-21T12:40:47Z")
Awwwwwww…Mine too but only cause he’s pretty and I’m a dirty old woman. And to think he thinks his strongest sport is basketball. Damn sporty freak. ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2005, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-toilet-seat-cover-question/291154/9 "2005-02-21T12:47:19Z")
> [@calm kiwi](#): > > Awwwwwww…Mine too but only cause he’s pretty and I’m a dirty old woman. Tell us something we didn’t know. > [@calm kiwi](#): > > And to think he thinks his strongest sport is basketball. Damn sporty freak. But he’s a bit of a titch, isn’t he? Not 6 foot something, anyway. One man shouldn’t be allowed to have so much talent. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2005, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-toilet-seat-cover-question/291154/10 "2005-02-21T12:58:00Z")
But he’s purdy!! How did you know I was a dirty old woman!! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2005, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-toilet-seat-cover-question/291154/11 "2005-02-21T13:00:36Z")
Well, it was when you said that obsession with hygiene makes you sick that I began to get suspicious. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2005, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-toilet-seat-cover-question/291154/12 "2005-02-21T13:01:16Z")
Oh and just for the record I think over 6 foot is just “ohhhhhhhhh look it’s a giant”. I prefer my young friends to be shorter 😃 Mr Wilson is talented and purdy. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2005, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-toilet-seat-cover-question/291154/13 "2005-02-21T13:03:05Z")
> [@roger thornhill](#): > > Well, it was when you said that obsession with hygiene makes you sick that I began to get suspicious. Well all that hygiene stuff just makes you allergic to stupid things! Like All Black jock straps! ---
**Author:** ![scm1001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2005, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-toilet-seat-cover-question/291154/14 "2005-02-21T13:31:40Z")
to get back to the OP, I dont think bacteria/viruses travel far without some means of transport, and a thin piece of paper is probably OK to stop almost all bugs travelling from seat to bum - not that they would do much damage even if they did ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2005, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-toilet-seat-cover-question/291154/15 "2005-02-21T13:37:52Z")
At the feet of the Master [What diseases can you catch from toilet seats?](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mtoilet.html) ---
**Author:** ![InvidiousCourgette](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47c2d/32.png) [@InvidiousCourgette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InvidiousCourgette)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2005, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-toilet-seat-cover-question/291154/16 "2005-02-21T14:01:37Z")
> [@PatriotX](#): > > At the feet of the Master > > [What diseases can you catch from toilet seats?](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mtoilet.html) In this case should that not have been “At the feet of the Mistress”?