# 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:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![AntaresJB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c2a13f/32.png) [@AntaresJB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AntaresJB)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681/21 "2003-04-02T03:17:40Z")
I honestly have never understood why people are so scared of sitting on toilet seats. Unless you’ve got a gaping wound on your ass or something, the chances are millions to one that you’ll catch anything. And I don’t understand the whole flushing with your foot thing, either. Who cares if it’s got germs on it because people don’t wash their hands pre-flushing (and why would they?). You’re going to walk straight out of the stall and wash _your_ hands, so why does it matter if you touch a germy flush handle? Personally, I open all the doors with my bare hands, I sit my ass down on the non-paper-covered toilet seat, and I hit the flusher with my hand. I really don’t understand the germophobic people who go through all these weird precautions. And no, I have never ever caught anything from a toilet seat. ---
**Author:** ![megsmom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3be4f8/32.png) [@megsmom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/megsmom)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681/22 "2003-04-02T03:27:43Z")
I remember when I was a child, I would go to work with my father. My aunt used to work with him, and every time I needed to use the bathroom, she would yell out “Remember to put paper down!”. My father pointed out to her that she was the only woman who used that restroom, and it was clean. She replied “Oh, I’m not worried about germs, it’s just that the toilet seat is cold.” I never sit all the way down, unless it is totally unavoidable, and when I have to sit down, I never cover the seat. As far as I know, I’ve never gotten anything from sitting on an unprotected toilet seat. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681/23 "2003-04-02T04:49:55Z")
If you want to avoid germs, the thing to avoid is the dishcloth. Culturing swabs from them is truly frightening. Forget toilet seats. ---
**Author:** ![Kjetil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc8723/32.png) [@Kjetil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kjetil)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681/24 "2003-04-02T08:29:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fuel \* > \*\*[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. \*\* Drop a sheet into the bowl. No splashback. I don’t like cold water potentially splashing my butt no matter how clean it is. ---
**Author:** ![zia\_nova](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/bc79bd/32.png) [@zia\_nova](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zia_nova)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681/25 "2003-04-02T11:47:24Z")
My german grandmother was always big on the paper covered seat thing. And when you went out in the cold you had to put two pairs of underwear on to protect your kidneys when you sat down. And if you think that’s bad try being a wee nipper and being yanked out of your bed in the dead of night, plonked on the toilet before you even realise you’re not in bed anymore, and have someone stare you down whilst saying “PEE PEE MACHEN!” …I still have nightmares… ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681/26 "2003-04-02T13:40:41Z")
Toilet covers are not generally used or available in Canada. I don’t think it would make an iota of difference. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681/27 "2003-04-02T14:55:36Z")
for those who sit - does it not bother you to go around the whole day not washing your bum after it had sat on the toilet seat that might have been peeed(sp?) on, pooped on or generally sat on by other sweating bums? ---
**Author:** ![zia\_nova](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/bc79bd/32.png) [@zia\_nova](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zia_nova)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681/28 "2003-04-02T15:00:54Z")
eeek, now there’s a mental image! ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681/29 "2003-04-02T15:09:54Z")
A pnysician warned me to use those covers in public, although I never did before I was, like, 25. ---
**Author:** ![zia\_nova](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/bc79bd/32.png) [@zia\_nova](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zia_nova)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681/30 "2003-04-02T15:15:35Z")
I’ve just been discussing this with my sister (who also recalls the disturbing “PEE PEE MACHEN!” memories). And we just remembered another quirk from dear ol’ granny. When we were little (and deffinatly if there was no loo roll) she’d make us stand on the basin and kind of ‘hover’ in order to pee. For the love of God and the sake of my sanity, PLEASE don’t tell me I’m the only one who had to do this! Call me strange but don’t you think that’s taking the toilet seat phobia thingy a tad too far?! ---
**Author:** ![zwaldd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a9adbd/32.png) [@zwaldd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zwaldd)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681/31 "2003-04-02T15:26:19Z")
What’s funny is the care you take to protect from germs in a public stall that gets limited usage (restaurant men’s room for instance), compared to what you’ll put up with under battle conditions - say…wee hours visit to a campground port-a-potty that has been used by twenty or thirty people and hasn’t been cleaned since the previous morning. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681/32 "2003-04-02T15:30:58Z")
zia\_nova, hovering is quite common & I don’t know why it’s not mentioned here more as it’s been mentioned on the board before. You’re the only one I know who stands on the seat. Doesn’t that take more balance than standing on the floor & hovering? ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681/33 "2003-04-02T15:44:56Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by \*\* handy \*\* > You’re the only one I know who stands on the seat. Doesn’t that take more balance than standing on the floor & hovering? i assume **zia\_nova** means squatting? wouldn’t ‘hovering’ be awkward? (trying to picture hovering…) what’s hovering? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![zia\_nova](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/bc79bd/32.png) [@zia\_nova](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zia_nova)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681/34 "2003-04-03T12:51:25Z")
_sigh_ yes I was a squatter. Forced, mind. Never did it voluntarily. …who would?! Hmm, now that you mention it I can see why my ‘hovering’ remark would have raised a few eyebrows. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681/35 "2003-04-03T16:06:05Z")
don’t see anything wrong with squatting. i get the impression that hovering is sorta standing and ‘hover’ your bum over the toilet seat, is that correct? why would anyone do that? never thought i would question other people’s ‘toilet’ habits… :o ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681/36 "2003-04-03T16:25:57Z")
“why would anyone do that?” So the butt doesn’t come in contact with the seat. Monterey Airport has toilets that automatically bring out some fresh plastic to cover the seat & when you flush, pulls it back in. Cool. ---
**Author:** ![zia\_nova](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/bc79bd/32.png) [@zia\_nova](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zia_nova)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681/37 "2003-04-04T07:41:05Z")
There’s some fancy new loos in our local supermarket. No handle to flush, you just swipe your hand in front of a sensor and it flushes. No need to worry about germs on the flush handle. …and it’s way more fun than the boring old ones. The lil’ kids love those things and run from cubicle to cubicle flusheing to their little heart’s content and then back to the first cubicle… not that I showd any of them that game…a’hem… ---
**Author:** ![DrLiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90ced4/32.png) [@DrLiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrLiver)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681/38 "2003-04-04T10:15:25Z")
cool, thanks for the replies! So I guess the toilet seat is not that dangerous…now, what would happen if my err…manhood touched the rim while I’m sitting down on the crapper? (I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one to which this happens and I’m always worried when it does…) thanks ---
**Author:** ![yo\_han\_go](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yo_han_go/32/130_2.png) [@yo\_han\_go](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yo_han_go)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681/39 "2003-04-04T12:54:20Z")
It would fell off, for sure. My did. But it grew back. Phewww… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-dont-put-the-toilet-paper-on-the-seat/165681.md?page=1)