Personal hygiene does not just involve bathing and brushing your teeth. It also entails being aware of possible germs and bacteria in our surroundings and knowing how to avoid them. For instance, have you ever gone to the bathroom and found inner thigh dirt on the toilet seat?
The toilet seat is a vital component in a home since most, if not all, of the toilet business, is done while seated. The toilet seat will always be in contact with your skin every time you’re in the toilet, so it’s vital to always keep it clean.
The problem comes with other toilet users within your home or in public restrooms who are not very careful and leave marks on toilet seats. So, from time to time, you might find obese residue on the toilet seat and wonder who left it there and how you can get rid of them. Keep reading to find answers.
What Is Thigh Dirt and What Causes It?
Thigh dirt is simply a dirt stain from the thigh area. Someone with thigh dirt can transfer it onto a toilet seat, where another person would pick it up when they use the toilet.
Thigh dirt can result from many things that end up on the thighs and get transferred to the toilet seat. It could be urine droplets, menstrual blood, or skin peeling from different skin conditions.
The problem is made worse when no proper bathroom hygiene is observed because this means there will be a buildup over time. As a result, people who will sit on the dirty toilet seat might develop itchy, irritated skin.
The Best Ways to Prevent Inner Thigh Dirt on Toilet Seats
While it’s very rare to contract a serious disease by using a toilet seat, the germs on the seat can cause persistently irritated skin which is susceptible to bacteria and can cause more severe infections that might require you to take antibiotics.
There are several ways to avoid having dead skin on the toilet seat:
1. Regularly Cleaning Your Toilet
Most of the time, you’ll find inner thigh dirt on the toilet seat because it has been building up there for some time. So, regularly cleaning the toilet seat is your best bet if you want it to remain germ-free.
After you’re done with your business, ensure you check the toilet seat for any residue that may have remained behind and clean it. This way, the toilet will always stay clean for the next user.
2. Avoid Using Harsh Toilet Cleaners
Most household cleaning products contain harsh chemicals like chlorine bleach that cause skin irritation that may lead to peeling. This shedding may end up on your toilet seat and be picked up by the next user.
Therefore, it is important to go for milder disinfectants that will get the job done and not cause irritation to those with sensitive skin.
3. Use Hand Sanitizer
A hand sanitizer is a must, especially if you frequently use public restrooms. Sanitize the toilet seat by spraying it with hand sanitizer and waiting 2 to 3 minutes for it to work before using the toilet. You can also sanitize the seat for the next user after you’re done with your business.
4. Invest in Disposable Toilet Seat Covers
You cannot avoid public toilets; once you feel the urge to relieve yourself when out there, you’ll have to look for one. Since you cannot wash the public toilet seat, a disposable toilet seat cover will offer a safe space to sit and finish your business. These disposable products are available online and at local stores at affordable prices.
They offer a layer of protection to your skin since you cannot trust the cleanliness and safety of public toilet seats.
5. Use Plastic Toilet Seats Instead of the Wooden Ones
Wooden toilet seats are known to be more dirt-attracting compared to their plastic counterparts. Also, you’ll need to be careful when cleaning wooden toilet seats, as any harsh cleaners can damage them, leaving small cracks that hold dirt.
Plastic toilet seats are easy to clean and work well with any cleaning agents. So, using a plastic toilet seat instead of a wooden one may solve the dead skin on a toilet seat problem.
6. Exfoliate
Exfoliation helps get rid of dead skin cells that usually end up on the toilet seat. Regular exfoliation will help you avoid leaving marks on the toilet seat. You can exfoliate using an exfoliating scrub, sponge, glove, or brush.
7. Using a Squatty Potty Stool
People in Asian countries like China, Japan, India, North Korea, Bangladesh, and South Korea are used to squatting when using the toilet. Unlike modern sitting toilets, the Indian toilet doesn’t require sitting down. This toilet has various advantages; squatting ensures there will be no contact between you and the toilet seat, so you’re unlikely to pick up germs.
A squatty potty stool acts like a squat toilet by raising your feet up, hence bending your hips above 90°. Using this equipment will help you not to pick up or leave residue on the toilet seat.
How to Clean Dirty Toilet Seat
Here is a procedure for cleaning your dirty toilet seat:
- Arm yourself with mild soap, a paper towel, cleaning gloves, and a scrub bucket with warm water.
- Mix the soap with water to form a solution. Other products you can use include multi-purpose cleaners and Lysol disinfectants.
- Pour the mixture onto the toilet seat and wait 2 to 3 minutes; scrub it using a non-abrasive pad.
- Dip the paper towel in clean, non-soapy water and squeeze out the excess before wiping both sides of the ring and cover
- Use more paper towels to wipe dry the toilet seat
FAQs
What Can You Catch from Toilet Seat?
There are various bugs you can catch by sitting on a dirty toilet seat, especially in public restrooms. They include Streptococcus, E. coli, hepatitis A virus, staphylococcus, shigella bacteria, and the common cold virus.
You also risk getting toilet seat dermatitis which is caused by harmful chemical cleaners and exposure to allergies from wooden toilet seats.
Can You Get Jock Itch from a Toilet Seat
There hasn’t been enough research to show that you can catch jock itch sitting on the toilet seat. However, there is a possibility of transmitting the fungus from one person to the next after being in contact with a dirty toilet seat. You can avoid this problem by using a disposable toilet seat cover whenever you’re visiting a public restroom.
Wrapping Up on Inner Thigh Dirt on Toilet Seat
As a toilet user, finding inner thigh dirt on the toilet seat can be unsightly and also pose some serious health risks. To avoid this problem, try as much as possible to keep your toilet seat clean at all times. We understand this is only possible when dealing with your toilet at home.
In the case of a public restroom, we have mentioned some of the ways you can deal with this issue, like using hand sanitizer and investing in disposable toilet covers. Above all, always use your best judgment. If you feel a particular toilet is completely unsanitary, then it’s better to look for another one in the case of a public restroom.
