This has bugged me for a long time, but I decided not to put it in the Pit because I realized that it might be me who is the odd one. So instead, I figured a bit of research would be a good starting point.
Here’s the question: Toilet lid up or down? I was raised always to put the lid down after I use the toilet. No one wants to have to look at the inside of your bowl, no matter how clean you think it is. But I was surprised as an adult to see that, almost without exception, my guests, and people I visit, leave the lid up after use.
So this poll is to see who prefers which lid position, and ideally, some explanation of why. I should add that we keep our bathroom very clean, so there shouldn’t be any issue of our guests not wanting to touch our lid. Let’s limit the poll to private toilets (your own and the people you visit). Public loos are a different matter….
Oh, and tell me your gender if you feel like. I am a guy.
I always close the lid when I’m done, partially for aesthetics and partially for practicality- so nothing that is accidentally dropped will end up in there.
[Anecdote]I have used a Sonicare toothbrush for about ten years now. Every new brush head comes with its own little plastic cover that snaps on and off, and I always use it. One night a long time ago, I pulled the cover off so I could use the brush, and the cover slipped out of my hand- bounce on the vanity, bounce on the floor, and plunk! in the bowl, which someone had left up. And that was the end of that.[/a]
This. Most of my bathroom toilets have shelving over them or a spare roll of TP on top of the water tank behind the seat. In my 40+ years of life I have more than once accidentally knocked or dropped something into the toilet. I like to think I can learn from experience.
I want our lids closed. Apart from the chance of things falling in as mentioned already, we have 2 cats. The last thing I need is a soaking wet cat who fell into the toilet or a wet seat from a cat who was playing in the water.
I used to leave the lid up. A toilet is a normal thing so who cares if you see inside?
BUT recently, after seeing some health type TV programs, I now put it down when I flush. It seems that flushing causes a big flume of “stuff” to rise up in your bathroom. Think germs settling on your exposed toothbrush, your towels, etc. Yuck!
When I first read the OP, I was thinking the question was the perennial one about the toilet seat being left up or down, and my answer to that is, it depends on whether I use the toilet in a standing or sitting position. Of course the lid gets left up. I just looks unnatural the other way.
At home, I always put it down, because one of the cats likes to jump up on the seat, and he’s awfully stupid. Perhaps stupid enough to just leap up and into the toilet if the lid were up.
I’m a guy. I adjust the toilet each time I use it, sometimes the seat needs to be up, sometimes it needs to be down. I assume others adjust the seat and lid before use. When I’m done I flush and leave. Perhaps the next person will want things the way I left them and that would save a step for them. If the lid automatically reset itself I wouldn’t mind, just don’t want to bother myself.
Lid down. I don’t want stuff to fall in, I don’t want the dogs drinking from the bowls, and I prefer that the lid be closed when I flush. Plus, this way I never get the “Surprise, honey! I left the seat up so you could fall in when you’re not fully awake! You’re welcome!” in case Mr. M forgets, because I’m programmed to raise the lid before I go.
I’ve gotten into the habit of closing the lid before flushing, because I read somewhere about what is kicked into the air when the thing flushes and the lid is open.
After a brief but thoughtful discussion with my partner, we agreed that the position of both seat and lid would be Down when not in use; neatly avoiding cats drinking from it and anything/one falling in… including me at 3 am
My plumbing is old, so it does look nicer closed - I did not think of that aspect before this thread. :thoughtful smiley:
oh yeah - I am female, partner’s not >^.^< ~
FCM: ever seen kitty mistake the open toilet for a landing zone? She went three feet straight up…
I said I “never think about it,” so in practice that means I actually leave it up, since closing it would require some thought. Our toilet is not near our toothbrushes or towels, so I don’t care about that (I don’t think I would anyway). The dog likes to have a drink now and then. Plus, it’s just easier if it’s up the next time someone needs to use it. Male
