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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flushing the toilet after every wee.

262 replies

Squirrelchops1 · 08/02/2026 20:24

10 litres per flush is a huge amount of water per wee (that's what I believe our cistern holds).
I don't think it's necessary to flush after every wee. My friend thinks I'm tight and unhygienic.
What's your view...
Are you a 'if it's yellow let it mellow'...I am reasonable
Or...'eww you filthy sod'..I am unreasonable

OP posts:
Brandyb · 08/02/2026 22:23

Alwaysontherun · 08/02/2026 20:29

I’m sorry but I have to agree with your friend. Who wants to use a toilet that has pee in it from the last person who used it!

Like, me? I got bigger fish to fry. Not gonna get upset at yellow toilet water.

LazySusannes · 08/02/2026 22:21

Balloonhearts · 08/02/2026 22:18

That is absolutely rank. Your house must smell of piss. Can always smell when the kids haven't flushed.

You put the lid down and close the door.

Any smell comes from splashes on the floor - as in men's loos.

LazySusannes · 08/02/2026 22:21

waitinginwonderland · 08/02/2026 22:19

Sorry but I think not flushing is dirty, we are 100% flush and spray/wipe down bowl if needed after every use.

What, after a wee?

Honestly, there seems to be so much fear or stigma attached to a simple pee!

It's not that long ago that bedrooms had chamber pots under the bed and outside toilets, and no one came to any harm.

waitinginwonderland · 08/02/2026 22:19

Sorry but I think not flushing is dirty, we are 100% flush and spray/wipe down bowl if needed after every use.

Balloonhearts · 08/02/2026 22:18

That is absolutely rank. Your house must smell of piss. Can always smell when the kids haven't flushed.

Deadringer · 08/02/2026 22:15

I think the toilet gets stinky if its not flushed every time. If you want to save water put something into the tank so it fills up with less water. My mum used to put an old plastic milk carton full of water in, or a plastic bag full of water will do the job.

FunnyOrca · 08/02/2026 22:14

NoArmaniNoPunani · 08/02/2026 20:31

Isn't that why the buttons now have 2 sides to them, the big part for poo and the small part for wee?

My small button doesn’t get rid of anything!

We always flush except during the night. It’s usually only me that goes in the night. I’ll always be first in morning so I flush then.

LazySusannes · 08/02/2026 22:12

Ninerainbows · 08/02/2026 22:11

For those asking how to get rid of the brown-stained limescale under the waterline - pumice stone on a stick is the only way.

But won't that take the glaze off the ceramic?

I think it will and you will be down to the brown, unglazed pan.

I've scrubbed our brown line with everything known to man (except harsh pumice) and nothing removes it.

Where on earth does one buy a pumice on a stick?

UnhappyHobbit · 08/02/2026 22:12

Ninerainbows · 08/02/2026 20:29

If I don't flush it clings to the limescale and we get a lovely grey cementy coating forming under the waterline so yes, we flush!

Yes this! It might be great at saving water but becomes a nightmare trying to remove uric acid in the loo!

Bepo77 · 08/02/2026 22:12

Wow you really just never know what's going on in peoples homes

LazySusannes · 08/02/2026 22:12

If it's just you at home during the day I think you can do whatever you feel is right.

No one else knows or sees it.

It isn't unhygienic although you might get a bit more staining in the loo if it's there for a long time.

Ninerainbows · 08/02/2026 22:11

For those asking how to get rid of the brown-stained limescale under the waterline - pumice stone on a stick is the only way.

YorkshirePuddingsGreatestFan · 08/02/2026 22:10

You could pee in the shower to save a flush

havingoneofthosedays · 08/02/2026 22:09

Does the toilet roll not build up? Surely that's not great?

Booboobagins · 08/02/2026 22:07

It's a toughie. I hate it at work, I think it's disgusting. Happens most in mixed sex toilets.

At home no flush at night, but I find it causes scum to form if you don't flush frequently.

If toilets were coated so they stay clean longer, then we would not need to flush so much. Until then, sadly we are pretty much flush every time 😔

Hillarious · 08/02/2026 22:04

Spent some time in Bermuda, where they harvest rainwater as there’s no fresh water on the islands. They cope well enough there not flushing after every use and not having a running tap whilst cleaning teeth. A masterclass in water conservation.

geminicancerean · 08/02/2026 22:01

TheDenimPoet · 08/02/2026 21:58

It's quite unlikely anyone would die from a smell, but that doesn't mean it's nice, and something most people are willing to live with. We don't live in Tudor times, we have an excellent toilet system.

We should go back to just throwing it all out of our upstairs windows (onto the heads of plague doctors walking the streets).

geminicancerean · 08/02/2026 21:59

XenoBitch · 08/02/2026 21:56

No, it is because some of us are on water meters and like to save money.

I will happily forego items in order to free up the 10p a day that I spend on flushing my bodily waste away. But hey, I’m clearly cavalier with money.

TheDenimPoet · 08/02/2026 21:58

Nincompoo · 08/02/2026 20:33

We never flush as night and only about 30% of the time during the day.

Non of us have died from the smell of hour old wee.

It's quite unlikely anyone would die from a smell, but that doesn't mean it's nice, and something most people are willing to live with. We don't live in Tudor times, we have an excellent toilet system.

WorriedMillie · 08/02/2026 21:58

We too don’t flush overnight but the first person to use the loo after about 5am flushes. It’s usually only me using the loo overnight anyhow and I’m always first up

I don’t flush every time for wees during the day, as I WFH and drink a fair bit.
The loo visitors use is flushed every time

LovesToMunchPlants · 08/02/2026 21:57

No I don't flush every time when I'm at home with the kids - I drink a LOT and wee all the time so would be very wasteful of water. Surprised so many people think it's awful not to! I mean obviously if guests were round or I was out in public of course I would because its gross not to. But at home with the family... does anyone care??? I would defo flush after a few wees tho to avoid the smell of stale wee as that would be gross.

XenoBitch · 08/02/2026 21:56

geminicancerean · 08/02/2026 21:43

This thread is starting to remind me of those episodes of Hoarders where people shuffle around in unsanitary hovels and genuinely believe that in doing so they are saving the planet by keeping items from landfill.

No, it is because some of us are on water meters and like to save money.

TheChosenTwo · 08/02/2026 21:53

Flush every time, day or night, regardless of what’s been done.

geminicancerean · 08/02/2026 21:50

whynotwhatknot · 08/02/2026 21:50

no only me and dh here so we dont flush every wee unless we have guests

Thank you for saving the planet for the rest of us.

whynotwhatknot · 08/02/2026 21:50

no only me and dh here so we dont flush every wee unless we have guests