# Why flush the toilet BEFORE using it? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 17, 2003, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-flush-the-toilet-before-using-it/169364 "2003-04-17T17:34:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-flush-the-toilet-before-using-it/169364/21 "2003-04-18T10:32:04Z")
I dunno, maybe he uses it to wipe up splatters? Or he blows his nose or something afterwards? ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21825_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-flush-the-toilet-before-using-it/169364/22 "2003-04-18T10:52:06Z")
The commodes in the ladies room at my work are notoriously unreliable. Sometimes one flush will do it, sometimes it takes three - especially if someone else flushes at the same time. I’ve gotten into the habit of waiting to be sure the bowl is empty before I leave, but obviously not everyone does that. ---
**Author:** ![NardoPolo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecae2f/32.png) [@NardoPolo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NardoPolo)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-flush-the-toilet-before-using-it/169364/23 "2003-04-18T12:49:32Z")
[ul][_]To let the sound or running water hide the sound of bodily excretions.[_]To let the sound of running water “prompt” the flow of urine.[/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-flush-the-toilet-before-using-it/169364/24 "2003-04-18T13:29:54Z")
> [@](#): > > butt gasket AHHHH-HAHAHAHAHAHA! ---
**Author:** ![prisoner6655321](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f8ce5/32.png) [@prisoner6655321](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/prisoner6655321)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2003, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-flush-the-toilet-before-using-it/169364/25 "2003-04-19T22:38:28Z")
You might hear me flush the toilet more than once because before I sit down I meticulously clean the seat with toilet paper then flush that nasty urine and feces soaked TP. Also, the low flow toilets never flush enough. (These better-for-the-environment toilets are actually WORSE for the environment. I make sure of that by flushing as many times as possible to get it clean +one extra for good measure.) ---
**Author:** ![d\_redguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5fc32e/32.png) [@d\_redguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/d_redguy)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2003, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-flush-the-toilet-before-using-it/169364/26 "2003-04-19T23:25:50Z")
[John Cage] I like a fresh bowl. [/John Cage] ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-flush-the-toilet-before-using-it/169364/27 "2003-04-20T00:03:03Z")
When you have to sit on the toilet, it is a good idea to wipe it off w/ some t-paper first, dispose of that \and then sit. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-flush-the-toilet-before-using-it/169364/28 "2003-04-20T06:33:10Z")
To flush back any rats climbing up through the sewer pipes, of course. ---
**Author:** ![kree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ac8455/32.png) [@kree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kree)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-flush-the-toilet-before-using-it/169364/29 "2003-04-20T07:08:14Z")
I flush in the middle of the process. We have a “low flow” toilet now and if you don’t flush after #2 and before adding the toilet paper, it will overflow every time. It’s not the amount of water, we decided, but the sharp snake bend within the toilet itself. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-flush-the-toilet-before-using-it/169364.md?page=1)