Let’s all try to be mature about this story, even though it makes actual scientific use of the term “poop spraying.”  Thank you.

We’ve got a FILTHY new study out of Leeds Teaching Hospitals in the U.K.  And the results just might lead to an immediate, permanent change in your behavior. Researchers found that when you flush the toilet after you do your dirty business, and you leave the toilet seat up, you’re literally spraying your bathroom with tiny bits of feces.  Yes, poop spraying is a very real thing. And those bits get everywhere, on every surface you touch.  On your toothbrush.  On your clothes.  On anything you brought in.

Naturally, that can potentially lead to spreading some pretty nasty bacteria.  Researchers found that the poop spraying could spread C. difficile bacteria . . . which, fittingly, causes diarrhea.  And the cycle continues.

They found that when people with C. difficile used the toilet and flushed, the air was FILLED with the flying bacteria.  Sixty minutes after the flush, the amount of C. difficile in the air had decreased eight-fold, and after 90 minutes it decreased another three-fold.

So . . . the conclusion here is that you should REALLY think about putting the toilet lid down when you flush, to keep everything more contained inside the bowl.