3 ms·

But what’s the harm in closing it?

by Hnrobert42 4y ago

ouid 4y ago
It takes 2 seconds. Why spend 2 seconds doing something useless?
- mulmen 4y ago
  As established, it is not useless.
  - ouid 4y ago
    That is not, in fact, established. And the question was "what's the harm?"
    - deleted 4y ago
      [deleted]
    - taeric 4y ago
      https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31828469 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31828469 indicates that there was a "mythbusters" that looked at whether germs would reach things like tooth brushes in the bathroom. So... maybe it is more plausible than you seem to be allowing? (I'm planning on watching that full episode later. Seems to be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pFww_EaLiY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pFww_EaLiY.) Edit: That must be the wrong episode. Will keep looking for it.
whizzter 4y ago
Depending on the toilet (and esp with "water saving toilets"), floating remains left behind for the next person to discover? The problem is that many toilets seems to be designed so that the flowing water is supposed to create a vacuum pull effect in the piping dragging with it water and the heavier materials from a toilet. However with a closed lid the lower air pressure within the bowl is going to create a suction effect in the other direction thus lowering the flushing effect, leaving heavier brown materials still within the toilet ready for the next customer to discover.
- dtgriscom 4y ago
  I've never seen a toilet lid that seals well enough to affect the flushing action.
  - whizzter 4y ago
    Like I mentioned, I do suspect that "modern" low-water toilets are half the blame here (less water->less suction). Also cheap "soft-plastic" lids seem pretty sealing compared to older/more expensive hard lids that were usually load bearing with spacers holding them up slightly (probably to let in air?). Actually tested this a bit after open/close lid arguments with my ex and this does happen, hospital toilets do usually seem sturdier than those you find in homes here though.
    - taeric 4y ago
      For what its worth, look into actual modern toilets. The first batch of low water use ones were somewhat lacking. Modern ones are typically better than the old high water use of a decade ago. Is kind of like LED lights. First batches were garbage. Nowadays, they are better in basically every way compared to what they replaced.

But what’s the harm in closing it?

ouid 4y ago

It takes 2 seconds. Why spend 2 seconds doing something useless?

mulmen 4y ago
As established, it is not useless.
- ouid 4y ago
  That is not, in fact, established. And the question was "what's the harm?"
  - deleted 4y ago
    [deleted]
  - taeric 4y ago
    https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31828469 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31828469 indicates that there was a "mythbusters" that looked at whether germs would reach things like tooth brushes in the bathroom. So... maybe it is more plausible than you seem to be allowing? (I'm planning on watching that full episode later. Seems to be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pFww_EaLiY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pFww_EaLiY.) Edit: That must be the wrong episode. Will keep looking for it.

whizzter 4y ago

Depending on the toilet (and esp with "water saving toilets"), floating remains left behind for the next person to discover? The problem is that many toilets seems to be designed so that the flowing water is supposed to create a vacuum pull effect in the piping dragging with it water and the heavier materials from a toilet. However with a closed lid the lower air pressure within the bowl is going to create a suction effect in the other direction thus lowering the flushing effect, leaving heavier brown materials still within the toilet ready for the next customer to discover.

dtgriscom 4y ago
I've never seen a toilet lid that seals well enough to affect the flushing action.
- whizzter 4y ago
  Like I mentioned, I do suspect that "modern" low-water toilets are half the blame here (less water->less suction). Also cheap "soft-plastic" lids seem pretty sealing compared to older/more expensive hard lids that were usually load bearing with spacers holding them up slightly (probably to let in air?). Actually tested this a bit after open/close lid arguments with my ex and this does happen, hospital toilets do usually seem sturdier than those you find in homes here though.
  - taeric 4y ago
    For what its worth, look into actual modern toilets. The first batch of low water use ones were somewhat lacking. Modern ones are typically better than the old high water use of a decade ago. Is kind of like LED lights. First batches were garbage. Nowadays, they are better in basically every way compared to what they replaced.