You should NEVER cover the toilet seat in a public bathroom with loo roll – because you risk exposing yourself to more germs

VISITING a public bathroom can be a pretty traumatic experience. While many of us probably try to avoid it at all costs sometimes it’s a needs must situation – if you’ve got to go, you’ve got to go. If you’re super hygiene-conscious you may think you’re doing your bottom a favour by coating the seat […]

VISITING a public bathroom can be a pretty traumatic experience.

While many of us probably try to avoid it at all costs sometimes it’s a needs must situation – if you’ve got to go, you’ve got to go.

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If you’re super hygiene-conscious you may think you’re doing your bottom a favour by coating the seat with a protective layer of toilet paper.

We can see the logic – you’re creating a barrier between you and the lavatory.

But the thing is by doing so you’re actually exposing yourself to MORE bacteria.

You see, toilet seats are specially designed to repel such nasties as their shape and the smooth surface make it extremely difficult for germs to latch onto them.

But research by the University of Arizona found the average public toilet seat is actually cleaner than most people’s kitchen sinks, chopping boards and washing up sponges.

Dr Charles Gerba – who has been studying how bacteria lurks in unexpected places in the home since 1973 – told Food & Wine: “In most cases, it’s safer to make a salad on a toilet seat than it is to make one on a cutting board.

“People disinfect their toilet seats all the time, but they don’t realise that they really need to pay attention to the kitchen too.”

But going back to the public toilet thing – bog roll has a rough texture and is designed to be absorbent, making it a perfect material for bacteria to stick to and hang around on.

Plus, most toilet cubicles – and your own at home – have the toilet paper conveniently positioned next to the lav, making it easy to reach over and grab a handful.

Given its close proximity, every time the toilet is flushed tons of horrible germs are launched into the air and are scattered across the room.

In most cases, it’s safer to make a salad on a toilet seat than it is to make one on a cutting board…

Dr Charles Gerba

And a whole load of these end up on the toilet paper roll – so when you layer it up on the seat you’re sitting down right on top of them. Nice.

Also, our skin acts as our personal natural barrier and protects us from nasty micro-organisms or whatever else may be lurking in and around the lav.

Besides, much of the bacteria found on seats is already present on our bodies anyway.

If you’re still squeamish about sitting down on the seat, squatting above it is probably your best option – and a great way to work on those thigh muscles.

But the number one thing you can do to avoid germs and bacteria lingering on your skin is to wash your hands thoroughly after going to the toilet.

While we’re at it, this is the gross reason you should never flush with the seat up.

In other toilet news, here is why we’ve been going to the loo all wrong – and why we should bin the toilet paper.

A mum recently asked how much toilet paper she should allow her house guests – and people mocked her.