Why You Should Stop Using Toilet Paper to Cover Public Toilet Seats: The Surprising Truth

 We’ve all been there before-standing in a public restroom, eying the toilet seat with suspicion, and wondering how many germs or bacteria are lurking on its surface. And if you're like many people, you may have reached for the toilet paper roll and carefully layered the seat before sitting down. But did you know that this common practice may be unnecessary and even harmful to your health? Here's why:

✰ Using Toilet Paper To Cover The Seat Is Wasteful And Harmful To The Environment:

This is one of the most crucial reasons to skip the toilet paper on the seat. It's wasteful and harmful to the environment. Worldwide, 42 million tons of toilet paper is used every year. That's about 184 billion rolls or 22 billion kilometers of toilet paper that if spread out would cover an area of 2.2 million square kilometers. By using toilet paper to cover the seat, you're contributing to this waste, which hurts the environment. Toilet paper production requires a significant amount of water, energy, and other resources, and the chemicals used in the process can be harmful to the environment. So, if you're environmentally conscious, skipping the toilet paper on the seat is a small but meaningful way to reduce your carbon footprint.

✰  It's Not Effective

Even if you cover the seat with toilet paper, it's still possible for germs to transfer to your skin. Plus, the toilet paper can easily shift or fall off the seat, leaving you in direct contact with the surface anyway. Using toilet paper to cover public toilet seats may provide a temporary barrier between you and the seat, but it is not an effective method for protecting yourself from germs and bacteria. Toilet paper is porous and can trap germs and bacteria against your skin, increasing your risk of infection.

✰ Public Toilet Seats Are Often Cleaner Than Other Surfaces In The Restroom

Public toilet seats are often cleaner than other surfaces in the restroom.Believe it or not, studies have shown that toilet seats are not the germ-ridden breeding grounds that many people believe them to be. Public restroom surfaces like door handles, sink faucets, and paper towel dispensers are often much dirtier than the toilet seat itself. This is because toilet seats are regularly cleaned and disinfected by restroom attendants, who take hygiene and cleanliness seriously. So, the next time you're tempted to cover the toilet seat with a layer of toilet paper, remember that it's probably cleaner than the doorknob you just touched on the way in.

✰ Layering The Toilet Seat With Papers Can Create A Breeding Ground For Bacteria 

While it may seem like covering the seat with toilet paper would create a barrier between you and any germs on the surface, the opposite is true. When you layer the seat with toilet paper, you're creating a warm, moist environment that is ideal for bacteria to grow and multiply. Toilet paper is not sterile, and it can easily tear or shift, which means that you could still come into contact with the surface. Additionally, when you dispose of toilet paper, it can spread bacteria and germs to other surfaces in the restroom. So, instead of protecting yourself, you could be putting yourself at greater risk of infection.

✰ There are Better Alternatives To Protect Yourself In A Public Toilet 

If you're still feeling uneasy about sitting on a public toilet seat without any protection, don't worry - there are better alternatives than toilet paper. Many public restrooms now offer disposable seat covers, which are designed to fit over the seat and create a barrier between you and any germs or bacteria. If your restroom doesn't offer these covers, you can also use disinfectant wipes to clean the seat before sitting down. This will not only remove any germs or bacteria that may be present, but it will also create a barrier between you and the surface.

In conclusion, covering the public toilet seat with paper may seem like a good idea, but it's unnecessary and potentially harmful to your health. By understanding the facts and using better alternatives, you can protect yourself from germs and bacteria in a public restroom without contributing to waste or harming the environment. Remember, restroom attendants take hygiene and cleanliness seriously, so trust in their efforts to keep the facilities safe and clean. And if you're still feeling a little uneasy