Forcing guests to close toilet lid before flushing

[MerryBlimminXmas]

In our house, we close the toilet lid before flushing. Reason being is that the poo/wee water spray will go absolutely everywhere if the lid is left open (lots of videos available online if anyone is interested).

The issue we have is that pretty much ALL guests don’t do this. Now, I don’t mind what people choose to do in their own homes and appreciate that the majority of the population are happy for everything in the vicinity of their loo to be covered in urine and faeces don’t bother to close the lid. However, I would much prefer it if they closed the lid before flushing in our house.

How can we make it happen? In a previous home, the flush button was literally behind the toilet lid, so it should have been easy to close the lid just to get to the button and people STILL left the lid up every time.

Don’t really want to put a sign up (would be annoying the majority of the time when we don’t have guests), nor to speak to people about it (cringe). Any ingenious ideas that could work? Surely we’re not the only people who prefer the lid closed - how have others made it work with guests?

Forcing them?! What, at gunpoint?

If it's important to you then you really need to use your voice and tell them. Or stop inviting them. Or make them use a bucket in the garden. You can't expect people to guess without even a clue or a hint!

I think you need to get some perspective. 90% of banknotes have poo on them and I'm sure you use money. Toilets are meant to be used so just chill out. It's not like you can give them a bucket and tell them to go outside.

(Maybe it's drugs on the money, I can't remember)

Put up a sign saying "Please close lid before flushing as flush is like Niagra".

I don't sweat this stuff and just give the loo and surrounding area a wipe with disinfectant when I can be arsed. Nobody has died yet.

If you don't want to put a sign up or simply ask them the only option left is telepathy.

Well, unless you put up one of those horrifying

IF YOU SPRINKLE WHEN YOU TINKLE
PLEASE BE SWEET AND DROP THE SEAT

type signs, or as a pp suggests, make guests use a bucket in the shrubbery, I think you’re just going to have to move your toothbrushes when you have guests.

Is it drugs on the money and poo in peanuts on bars? Or perhaps that's pubic hair.

There is nothing you can do about this. Not worth giving it headspace.

I think you need to learn to relax a little. The way you talk about people being happy for everything to be covered in urine and faeces really is dramatic. Perhaps you are not cut out for hosting guests if the level of control you need over them extends quite so far?

Surely the clue is the fact that the lid is always down when they enter the bathroom. Every time they visit. You’d think leaving the bathroom as you found it is pretty standard? Some of these guests are family who have been going to our toilets/bathrooms for ~10 years!

Thinking now there could be a market in signs about this.

Keep Calm and Close the Lid.
Live. Laugh. Put the loo seat down.
Love like you've never been hurt. Dance like nobody is watching. Put the seat down because I have CCTV on you.

You can’t force anyone to do anything.

Most people don’t care about such things and never will.

Some of these guests are family who have been going to our toilets/bathrooms for ~10 years!

Have you had any ill effects from their muck spreading so far?

Same dilemma here!

I don't even have an above averagely clean home (although I'd love to!), but the loo flushing thing just bothers me.

I'm wondering about putting a little sign on the cistern by the flush but making it look like a reminder to my children, and hoping that visitors then see my preference but aren't offended!

Cringe sign is definitely something we want to avoid!

How do you know they're not closing the lid? I always close the lid for this reason, and then lift it again when the flush has finished for the next person to use. Also don't keep toothbrush in the bathroom in case other people aren't closing the lid.

Amazed you're still alive with all the shit flying round your bathroom for the last 10 years. Seriously you can't force people.

They probably leave it up to annoy you 😂

Put your toothbrushes away and forget it, your other choices are to either tell them/put a sign up and have them think you are bonkers or stew about it forever. There are bacteria everywhere and I am pretty sure a few flying out of the loo won't do anyone any harm.

No idea! Maybe, maybe not and there’s really no way of telling. But I would prefer not to have FIL’s wee fine sprayed over the entire loo if it can be avoided, surely that’s not unreasonable?

We’re doing up the downstairs loo and looking for ideas to address this issue.

Put your toothbrushes away before guests arrive and wipe over after they leave.
Or remind them every time they leave the room -- your number of guests will then reduce over time and you won’t have the problem.
You can’t both wish for them to follow specific instructions and not want to be the people with the cringe sign.

I was hoping for an engineering solution, like a button that can’t be pressed unless the lid is down. Or something we haven’t thought of yet…

Have you ever come across those loos that won't flush until the lid is clipped down? You could track down one of those to replace yours.

Your only other options are to say something, or to let it go. I do agree with you of course, lids should be down to flush. Most people do I find, but those who don't haven't killed me yet, which allows me to maintain some perspective.

Surely the simpler solution is just to put the toothbrushes away?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/294643208756#:~:text=The%20Sensori%20self%2Dclosing%20smart,automatically%20after%20a%20few%20moments!

Personally I try to make sure things like toothbrushes and flannels arent left out on display.