Is it safe to sit on a public toilet seat? Experts say hygiene fears may be overblown — but precautions still matter

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For 66-year-old Choi, who lives in Seoul’s Gangnam District, using a public restroom is almost unthinkable.

“I’ve avoided them since childhood because I think they’re filthy,” she said.

Even when she does use public restrooms, she refuses to sit down — instead hovering awkwardly above the toilet. “I have friends who lay toilet paper on the seat first because squatting is too difficult as you get older,” she added.

According to The Conversation, a nonprofit Australian media outlet, public toilets — including the seat and surrounding surfaces — can harbor a variety of microorganisms. These include gut bacteria such as E. coli that can cause gastroenteritis, norovirus and rotavirus, as well as antibiotic-resistant bacteria like MRSA, parasite eggs and protozoa.

Lotti Tajouri, an associate professor of genomics and molecular biology and biomedical sciences at Bond University, said that poorly maintained public restrooms used by many people can become a “microbial soup.” The toilet rim and undersides are often coated with biofilms — clumps of bacteria that build up over time, according to the professor.

Healthy adults excrete over a liter of urine and more than 100 grams of feces daily, both of which can contain viruses and bacteria. People with diarrhea shed particularly high concentrations of harmful microorganisms, which then end up in toilets and on surrounding surfaces.

Not the seat, but the handle: Where germs really lurk

Tajouri said that contrary to popular belief, the toilet seat is often not the dirtiest part of a public restroom. Door handles, faucets and flush levers — all of which are frequently touched by unwashed hands — can harbor far more microbes, according to the professor. Large public facilities tend to be cleaned more regularly, but smaller bathrooms in parks or bus stops are often neglected, creating an ideal breeding ground for bacteria and viruses.

There are also warning signs of poor hygiene. If there’s a strong smell of urine, if the floor is filthy or if contamination is visible, that’s a red flag. Another major concern is toilet plume — the microscopic droplets released into the air when flushing with the lid open. These droplets, teeming with pathogens, can travel up to 2 meters.

How to protect yourself in public restrooms

Experts recommend several steps to reduce infection risk. Use a disposable toilet seat cover when available or place tissue on the seat before sitting. Wipe the seat with an alcohol wipe and always flush with the lid closed to limit the spread of aerosolized droplets.

After using the toilet, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap is unavailable, use hand sanitizer or antibacterial wipes. Avoid hand dryers, which can disperse bacteria into the air, and instead dry your hands with paper towels. Regularly disinfect your phone and avoid using it inside public restrooms where bacteria are abundant.

Tajouri also cautioned against “hovering” above the seat, as standing in a half-squat position is neither healthy nor hygienic. “This tenses your pelvic floor, making it difficult to completely empty the bladder.” It also increases the chance of splashing bodily fluids, he added.

This article from Kormedi.com, Korea’s top health care and medical portal, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.