# Toilet lid down - why? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 25, 2003, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-lid-down-why/197489 "2003-08-25T10:59:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-lid-down-why/197489/1 "2003-08-25T10:59:40Z")
No, not the seat, the lid. I understand why people do it in their houses if they have small children or cats or something. I also _kind of_ understand why you’d do it if you left a big stinky mess in a public toilet that wouldn’t flush away. But why, when a public toilet is functioning perfectly, do so many people (well, so many women I suppose, I don’t know what goes on in men’s toilets) put the lid down anyway when they’re finished? They must know that the next person who comes along will have to lift it right back up again. Can anyone explain this, I see it all the time and it makes no sense whatsoever to me 😕 ---
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-lid-down-why/197489/2 "2003-08-25T11:13:42Z")
That’s wierd. I’ve hardly ever found the toilet seat down in public toilets. ---
**Author:** ![Fish\_Cheer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fish_cheer/32/17179_2.png) [@Fish\_Cheer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish_Cheer)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-lid-down-why/197489/3 "2003-08-25T11:22:35Z")
Maybe it’s for more hygienic [flushing](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a990416.html). ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-lid-down-why/197489/4 "2003-08-25T14:09:33Z")
I’ve never seen a lid on a public toilet. Maybe it keeps things from falling in, like (for whatever reason) wallets, cell phones, purse contents, etc? ---
**Author:** ![tanookie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/48db29/32.png) [@tanookie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanookie)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-lid-down-why/197489/5 "2003-08-25T14:11:49Z")
Habit? If there is a lid I close it when I’m done. I don’t even notice I’ve done it most of the time even at home. It is an automatic pilot kind of thing. ---
**Author:** ![troub](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troub/32/14802_2.png) [@troub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/troub)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-lid-down-why/197489/6 "2003-08-25T14:12:05Z")
I’m a guy. . .the only thing I can think of is what **fishcheer** said. Many public toilets, to make _sure_ that stinky messes aren’t left that “wouldn’t flush away,” have very sudden and violent flushes. I have seen at least a couple splash water out of the bowl and onto the walls, floor, door, etc. during a flush. Also, I don’t know about you ladies’ restrooms, but most I’ve been in don’t even have a lid. ---
**Author:** ![Archergal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Archergal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archergal)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-lid-down-why/197489/7 "2003-08-25T14:55:12Z")
Hmm, at home we leave the lids down to keep the dogs from drinking out of the toilets. When I go elsewhere though, I’ll usually leave the toilet the way I found it before I used it. And I also have rarely seen lids on public toilets! ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-lid-down-why/197489/8 "2003-08-25T16:44:03Z")
To keep the pythons and alligators that crawl up through the pipes from getting out? ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-lid-down-why/197489/9 "2003-08-25T16:55:10Z")
Fear of having made smells? ---
**Author:** ![Horseflesh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horseflesh/32/7502_2.png) [@Horseflesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horseflesh)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-lid-down-why/197489/10 "2003-08-25T17:11:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Thudlow Boink \* > \*\*To keep the pythons and alligators that crawl up through the pipes from getting out? \*\* And [rats](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_029.html). ---
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-lid-down-why/197489/11 "2003-08-25T17:29:09Z")
Well, to me the natural state of anything with a door or lid, is closed. ---
**Author:** ![saramamalana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/74df32/32.png) [@saramamalana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saramamalana)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-lid-down-why/197489/12 "2003-08-25T19:32:25Z")
I tend to put the lid down when I’m in the bathroom (whether I’ve used the toilet or not) for fear of whatever I’m using falling into the water. Like makeup, a toothbrush, etc. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-lid-down-why/197489/13 "2003-08-25T20:31:02Z")
Two reasons- I haven’t had a dog for years. But, I did in my formative years. Putting the lid down becomes a habit just like saying please and thank you. Things may indeed fall in. Especially if anything is generally placed on top of the tank or on wall shelving above the toilet. ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-lid-down-why/197489/14 "2003-08-25T20:42:19Z")
Most toilets in public and semi-public locations have a split front seat and NO lid. Many patron insist on covering the seat with much toilet paper or the raise the seat and squat over the bowl At home the lid is kept down except when in use to prevent the dogs from drinking therefrom and the biscuit sanatcher from playing and or drowning in the bowl. My grannie moved to town into a newly built modern. She use the lid for a dough board to make pies, cakes, bread, and biscuits. She framed grandpa’s picture with the seat! ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-lid-down-why/197489/15 "2003-08-25T20:48:27Z")
Most toilets in public and semi-public locations have a split front seat and NO lid. Many patron insist on covering the seat with much toilet paper or the raise the seat and squat over the bowl In most homes the lid is kept down except when in use to prevent the dogs from drinking therefrom and the biscuit sanatchers from playing and/or drowning in the bowl. If it’s just the two of you who cares? Whatever suits your fancy and is OK with your spouse. My granny moved to town into a newly built modern home when grandpa died. She used the lid for a dough board to make pies, cakes, bread, and biscuits. She framed grandpa’s picture with the seat! She used the outhouse with a splintery seat cut out in warm weather but preferred the “White Owl” beside the bed even if the porcelain or china was colder than whiz in the wintertime. The kitchen being the only room with heat! ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-lid-down-why/197489/16 "2003-08-25T21:04:31Z")
OOPS Disregard first post --error. ---
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-lid-down-why/197489/17 "2003-08-25T21:10:31Z")
In homes, some folks choose to all always close the lid as an alternative to endless “Why do I have to put the seat down – why don’t YOU put the seat UP?” debates. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Griffin)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-lid-down-why/197489/18 "2003-08-25T21:16:07Z")
I couldnt give a stuff. A little germs is good for you - everything in moderation. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-lid-down-why/197489/19 "2003-08-26T05:22:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by spingears \* > **Most toilets in public and semi-public locations have a split front seat and NO lid.** Not in Ireland. And note, I specifically said I was NOT asking about toilets at homes. ---
**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-lid-down-why/197489/20 "2003-08-26T13:38:07Z")
I know you aren’t asking about toilets in homes but I have to add this anecdote: A friend was telling me about how in Zimbabwe (where he’s from) everyone’s toilet lids have crocheted (is that how you spell that word?) toilet-lid covers, with a ball or a head or something on top, whose design seems to be _intended_ to knock the lid back down when bidness is finished. Women make them and sell them at church bazaars. On the theme of those barbie-dress toilet roll covers that everyone’s grandmother has where I come from. The thought of a crocheted head perpetually sitting on the top of a toilet seat lid kept me laughing for hours, I tell you. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-lid-down-why/197489.md?page=2)