Why You Should Always Shut the Toilet Lid on a Plane

While airplane passenger etiquette may always spark a debate, when it comes to the lavatory, flight attendants have some no-brainer rules that they swear by. Specifically, the crew members we spoke to were very particular about one thing: don’t leave the toilet seat up. 

“This is a surefire way to spread germs in such a small space,” an American Airlines flight attendant told Travel + Leisure. “Closing the lid also mutes the loud flush and leaves the lavatory looking tidier for the next passenger.” 

“I also recommend a courtesy flush during use to ensure nothing lingers,” he added. He also emphasized that wearing shoes is a lavatory essential, though often (and shockingly) overlooked by many weary-eyed travelers on long-haul flights. 

Another flight attendant for Southwest Airlines echoed these sentiments. “Germs and particles of whatever you just deposited into that hole are now shooting up into the air at near Mach speeds,” he said. “The brutal truth, though, is that planes are filthy and there’s really not too much you can do about it.”

Or can you? While any prohygiene advice is worth considering, family and lifestyle medicine physician Cynthia Odogwu of Kambili Health, said there’s no definitive answer on the issue of the toilet seat. 

“The current science shows us that while there might be some benefits to closing the toilet lid before flushing, it does not 100 percent stop the spread of germs,” she said. “This is because there is often a gap between the lid and the toilet seat, through which tiny germ particles can escape. However, compared to traditional toilets that use a water-based flushing system, airplane toilets use a vacuum-based system, which leads to a different pattern of spread of germs into the air.”

That said, it is still sage advice to proactively put the lid down for extra protection. 

“When you consider [this pattern of] germ spread, the fact that the space is small, and the air is recirculated on the plane, it is still important to reduce the spread of germs through the air on an airplane. That might include closing the toilet lid before flushing,” Odogwu suggested. 

At the very least, think about it as one less thing to worry about after a visit to the proverbial oval office. 

As for additional tips that may satisfy any lingering sanitation nerves, Odogwu’s recommendations for travelers include lining the toilet seat with toilet paper, keeping your hands clean as much as possible with either soap and water or hand sanitizer, and wiping down surfaces with antibacterial wipes.