Why do toilet seats have lids? (paint, convert, shower, building codes)

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by Hopes

I'm buying a new toilet seat and started wondering why they have lids since most people don't use the lids.

So you can lay your blowdryer on it. Unless you want to lay it on your wet vanity?

[Ghostly1]

Why? To give women something else to complain about regarding men!

[tudorjason]

I close lids all the time. It's because I don't want to be reminded what that porcelain thing is for every time I walk in to the restroom, even if I'm not going to ever use that toilet again. Closing the lid means you are done, that's it, and now you can forget what you were doing and move on with your life. Personally, I think only people who enjoy bathroom humor wouldn't care if the lid was up.

[mainebrokerman]

the reason for lids is....what if the toilet got backed up?? plugged, doesnt work?? who wants to see whats floating??

in a public restroom,,, i always use my shoe to push up the lid, and to flush,,

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by tudorjason

I close lids all the time. It's because I don't want to be reminded what that porcelain thing is for every time I walk in to the restroom, even if I'm not going to ever use that toilet again. Closing the lid means you are done, that's it, and now you can forget what you were doing and move on with your life. Personally, I think only people who enjoy bathroom humor wouldn't care if the lid was up.

I don't like bathroom humor, but I'm not that sensitive about what I "do" with a toilet.

Originally Posted by mainebrokerman

the reason for lids is....what if the toilet got backed up?? plugged, doesnt work?? who wants to see whats floating??

I'd never leave something floating in my toilet. If it gets backed up, plugged or doesn't work, I fix it. Fixing it often requires having the lid up.

[Ohiogirl81]

Originally Posted by Hopes

See how it's Bobbles' fault?

Poor Bobbles! Has she shown any interest or curiosity in the toilet at all? If not, the caution may not be necessary.

For instance, my cats are interested in the toilet only when I'm using it. But I got into the habit of closing the lid because of my childhood cat, who wouldn't drink water out of a clean dish, but would happily lean into the toilet for a drink.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl81

Poor Bobbles! Has she shown any interest or curiosity in the toilet at all? If not, the caution may not be necessary.

For instance, my cats are interested in the toilet only when I'm using it. But I got into the habit of closing the lid because of my childhood cat, who wouldn't drink water out of a clean dish, but would happily lean into the toilet for a drink.

Bobbles is FASCINATED with the toilet. It's one of her favorite things. When we're using it, she's standing up looking behind where we're sitting. When we flush it, she's intrigued. If she's not in the room, she'll come running from anywhere in the house as soon as she hears it. Even when nobody is in the bathroom, she'll stand up and just stare down in there for eternity. She can just barely peer in there. Since she was feral, she's not afraid of water. She loves everything about water. But I still think the caution is unnecessary because our toilets don't have high water levels. She's too big to drown in there. The worst that can happen is she might end up not as interested in the toilet.

[Littlelu]

They have lids so you can sit on it if the need arises. Also to keep any foreign objects from falling in. Also to keep pets out of it. It seems more hygienic to keep the lid down. I've learned to put it down before flushing #2, keeps contaminates from going into the air. Enough reasons? It looks better with a lid and a nice cover on said lid! I'm sure there are more but this should suffice!

[armory]

Originally Posted by ABQ2015

I've read that you should always close the lid before flushing as the fecal material aerosolizes to some extent when you flush and adheres to tooth brushes, etc.

I know a woman who obsesses over this very matter. She is the GF of my best friend who lives in an old house his family has owned for over a century. Back then houses were designed and built more efficiently than today. The bathroom was built near the kitchen because that is where the sewage main was. People didn't run water supply and sewage drains all over back then because it wasn't necessary nor practical. His GF is going on forever how crap particles can be floating around and into everything in the kitchen. Nope, the door is auto closing so that is next to impossible.
We get a kick out of it. Why didn't people die from it a century ago?

[Ultrarunner]

Originally Posted by MrWillys

I thought it was to contain sewer snakes and rats.

Exactly... I've gone into vacant homes and found large dead rats in toilet bowls...