Disturbing video shows what happens if you don't close your toilet lid before flushing

You've probably been told to close the toilet lid before flushing in the past but thought nothing of it - that is until now.

A video of a science experiment involving half a toilet has gone viral on social media, including TikTok and X, and let's just say you won't feel the same way about your toothbrush.

The recording, from TikToker DIYMAN_PRO, shows just how many germs escape from the loo after flushing it.

The researcher behind it places a green laser on the toilet seat and records the moment the toilet is flushed and the thousands of germs from the water breaking through the laser.

Germs from the toilet are seen flying out of the loo when it is flushed. (TikTok/DIYMAN_PRO)

In a second experiment he then pours a neon liquid directly into the toilet tank, waits for it to mix and then again presses the flusher which shows just how far the 'poo particles' can reach by using a black light to uncover this.

The ultraviolet light showed that germs manage to escape from the toilet and onto almost everything around it - including toothbrushes!

But it isn't the only experiment of its kind.

John Crimaldi, who in 2022 was a professor of engineering at the University of Colorado, undertook a similar study.

He told Business Insider the team’s ‘jaw dropped’ when they first saw the experiment as he had ‘no idea and no reason to believe’ they would carry as high and as wide as they did.

What could be described as 'poo particles' from the toilet landed on a nearby toothbrush in the experiment. (TikTok/DIYMAN_PRO)

Writing in the study, which was published here, the researchers noted: “Our results demonstrate the surprisingly energetic and rapid growth of aerosol plumes from a commercial toilet and highlight the chaotic nature of the fluid kinematics that transport the particles.”

Crimaldi said his footage could change people’s perceptions of traditional toilets, and says he’s already started looking at them ‘suspiciously now’.

He told the publication: "You go to the bathroom, you flush the handle, the stuff disappears, you're like: 'boom, works great!'

"Then you look at the videos that we took and you're like: 'oh, maybe not so great!'

"I can tell you this has fundamentally changed my relationship with toilets. I look at them suspiciously now."

Adding: "I can sort of see in my mind's eye these aerosol clouds that are filling that whole room."

But by flushing the toilet with the lid down you can reduce airborne particles from flying out your toilet by as much as 50 percent, according to research undertaken by University College Cork.

So, well, I'm sorry that I've had to share this footage with you but at least you won't be brushing your teeth with toilet juice on anymore!

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