# What would happen if I don't put the toilet paper on the seat? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 1, 2003, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681 "2003-04-01T10:40:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DrLiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90ced4/32.png) [@DrLiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrLiver)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681/1 "2003-04-01T10:40:46Z")
I’m used to protect my ass by putting toilet paper on the toilet seat (when in public restrooms) before going for a #2. So, what horrible disease could I catch if I decided not to? Would wiping the seat be resonable protection? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![cstamets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/958977/32.png) [@cstamets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cstamets)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681/2 "2003-04-01T11:40:29Z")
From Dr. Dean Edell: [What About The Germs On Toilet Seats?](http://www.healthcentral.com/drdean/deanfulltexttopics.cfm?ID=40298&storytype=DeanQuestions) ---
**Author:** ![minega](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@minega](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minega)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681/3 "2003-04-01T11:49:06Z")
Nobody puts TP on the seat in Africa and we are all fine…no, wait a minute…not really. ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681/4 "2003-04-01T12:47:26Z")
Jill’s mailbag article: [What diseases can you catch from toilet seats?](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mtoilet.html) My father’s take on this matter: Only _officers_ catch diseases from toilet seats. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681/5 "2003-04-01T13:48:37Z")
Hawthorne, that’s pretty funny. I never put toilet paper on the seat, and so far, I’m OK. I think its silly. ---
**Author:** ![hammerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/73ab20/32.png) [@hammerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hammerbach)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681/6 "2003-04-01T14:38:10Z")
I guess this explains why I never see ass gaskets in public restrooms anymore… ---
**Author:** ![DreadCthulhu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DreadCthulhu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DreadCthulhu)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681/7 "2003-04-01T15:52:03Z")
Well, I remember swapping a toilet seat and growing bacteria cultures from the swab in my senior year of high school. The germ count and type was basically identical to the swab taken from the door handle. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681/8 "2003-04-01T16:15:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by minega \* > \*\*Nobody puts TP on the seat in Africa and we are all fine…no, wait a minute…not really. \*\* On the other hand, spewing coffee on a keyboard can stir up some really [nasty cooties](http://abcnews.go.com/sections/scitech/TechTV/techtv_KeyboardCooties030326.html)! Thanks a **lot** , minega. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681/9 "2003-04-01T17:12:11Z")
Oh, come on: isn’t anyone going to post a response that refers to the “bottom line?” (Set me up for the cheap laugh line, and…) ---
**Author:** ![mmm.forbidden\_doughnut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e68b1a/32.png) [@mmm.forbidden\_doughnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmm.forbidden_doughnut)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681/10 "2003-04-01T17:27:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DreadCthulhu \* > \*\*Well, I remember swapping a toilet seat and growing bacteria cultures from the swab in my senior year of high school. The germ count and type was basically identical to the swab taken from the door handle. \*\* With whom did you swap toilet seats? mmm… ---
**Author:** ![mrsface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a9adbd/32.png) [@mrsface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrsface)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681/11 "2003-04-01T17:39:04Z")
The most germ-laden thing in the bathroom is not the toilet seat or the door handle, but the toilet-flush handle - think about it. Unless I’ve been doing it wrong all these years and most of you wash your hands BEFORE flushing? ---
**Author:** ![InTransit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47774/32.png) [@InTransit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InTransit)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681/12 "2003-04-01T17:45:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mrsface \* > \*\*The most germ-laden thing in the bathroom is not the toilet seat or the door handle, but the toilet-flush handle - think about it. Unless I’ve been doing it wrong all these years and most of you wash your hands BEFORE flushing? \*\* I use my feet (if possible) or buffer my fingers with toilet paper when flushing. Sorry to the next gal coming in. The faucet is another germy place I fear. I’ve read many reports that the door handle is the most germ-infested part in a bathroom. Apparently people don’t wash their hands after using the bathroom. Ew! ---
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681/13 "2003-04-01T18:07:21Z")
I think it’s really more of a principle thing… I’d rather touch something that other people’s hands have touched rather than other people’s asses. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681/14 "2003-04-01T18:12:58Z")
[This.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=170072&highlight=Broomstick) ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681/15 "2003-04-01T21:45:04Z")
According to an old joke, you can get syphilis on a toilet seat, but why would you _want_ to have sex on a toilet seat? ---
**Author:** ![Fuel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Fuel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuel)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681/16 "2003-04-01T23:50:50Z")
[thinking out loud] I’ve wondered even more what would happen if you had some open skin near your ass and you splashed a terd into the water which contained traces of someone else’s excretion??? [/] carry on. ---
**Author:** ![samboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@samboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samboy)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681/17 "2003-04-02T01:52:39Z")
Just an aside. I was talking to a friend about toilets and washing your hands and he mentioned that in all honesty it’s probably better to wash your hands _before_ you touch you peice than after. Think about it. ---
**Author:** ![samboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@samboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samboy)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681/18 "2003-04-02T01:55:51Z")
By ‘peice’ I of course mean ‘piece’, by which I mean ‘penis’. ha ---
**Author:** ![viking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@viking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/viking)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681/19 "2003-04-02T02:48:18Z")
You’d use less toilet paper. ---
**Author:** ![Jervoise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681/20 "2003-04-02T02:49:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by samboy \* > \*\*Just an aside. > > I was talking to a friend about toilets and washing your hands and he mentioned that in all honesty it’s probably better to wash your hands _before_ you touch you peice than after. > > Think about it. \*\* [Nah.](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4_220.html) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681.md?page=2)