Experts settle the most common arguments from toilet seat etiquette to kitchen hygiene
Claire Isaac
From dishwasher wars to toilet seat fights, Australians have no shortage of family disputes. While some are minor inconveniences in most homes, others are arguments that have gone unresolved for years.
Should your tomato sauce be stored in the refrigerator or cupboard? Is it really necessary to sort the laundry? How alarming is it really to go a week without washing your towel? Everyone has opinions.
That’s why we asked experts to help sort out some of the most hotly debated debates in the country.
Toilet seat up or down?
Rule: Down (with lid closed)
According to Associate Professor Julian Cox, a microbiologist at UNSW and scientific director of the Food Safety Information Council, it’s not about the seat, it’s about the cover.
When you flush, tiny droplets known as toilet plume can be shot into the air. While this may be less of a concern if there’s only urine in the toilet, things change when number two is involved.
“Urine is basically sterile,” he says. “Unless you have a urinary tract infection or kidney infection, there are little to no bugs in these parts of the body.”
The situation is different when it comes to fecal matter, which contains large numbers of bacteria. Most are harmless, but some can cause illness in particularly vulnerable people. And if you have an upset stomach, for example, that smoke can spread bacteria to a sensitive area like the kitchen.
“The cap is the most important part in terms of this feather,” says Cox. “Closing the lid while flushing just involves that.”
But make no mistake, Cox is definitely in the bottom group when it comes to the seat. “Even as a man, I’ve always found the toilet seat left open a bit annoying,” he says. “I think a closed toilet means it’s ready for the next person.”
Whatever your position on restroom etiquette, Cox says the most important habit is washing your hands. “Even if it’s a trick, you still have the potential to pick up bugs that could be unsafe on your hands,” he says.
Are there condiments in the fridge or cupboard?
Verdict: Refrigerator wins
According to Cox, the instructions on the bottle are there for a reason: “If the label says refrigerate after opening, please, please, please follow the instructions.”
Unopened condiments are designed to sit safely on supermarket shelves, but opening them introduces oxygen and the possibility of contamination.
“Once you open them, all bets are off,” Cox says. “You’ve removed something, you’ve allowed oxygen in; you’ve potentially contaminated the product with spoilage-causing insects or actually some type of pathogen.”
Rachel Meryment, HACCP Australia’s food scientist and global certification manager, agrees. “My rule of thumb is simple: When in doubt, refrigerate. Cold storage slows microbial growth, helps preserve flavor, and reduces the chance of mold or spoilage,” he says.
“The pantry is good for unopened, long-stable condiments, but once opened, the fridge wins.”
The best way to stack the dishwasher?
Verdict: Don’t overload
“The best way to stack the dishwasher is to ensure that water, detergent, and heat reach every food-contact surface,” says Meryment. “The dishwasher is not a magical thing. If items are stacked together, overloaded, or clogged with spray arms, it may appear clean despite carrying food residue or moisture.”
Simple rule? Stack for water flow, not maximum capacity.
“Don’t clog the water,” says Bree Uebergang, founder of Filthy Clean. “The dirtiest and heaviest items are placed on the bottom rack, facing inward toward the spray arms. Plates, bowls, pots and pans need to be angled so water can hit the dirty side.
“If a pot of detergent is blocking the lid or spray arm, the entire load is already having problems.”
Meryment also warns against putting items away while they are still wet: “Moisture can support microbial growth, so proper drying is also important.”
Are your shoes open or closed at home?
Verdict: Closed
Bad news for those who routinely walk from the front door to the kitchen. Cox says there’s more to the soles of our shoes than just a little bit of dirt: Contaminants can range from road grime to tire particles to bacteria and parasites from animal waste.
“There are chemicals in the outdoor environment that you can bring into your home,” he says. “There are debris that may contain bugs. You drag them into your home, the dirt dries and turns into dust, and suddenly you have aerosols that may contain bad bugs, and they end up in your kitchen, flying onto surfaces where you prepare food, for example.”
His advice is simple: keep separate shoes for indoor use if possible.
Do lights and darks need to be separated?
Verdict: Yes
“I know everyone wants the ‘put everything aside and hope for the best’ answer, but laundry isn’t always that kind of thing,” says Uebergang. “The problem isn’t that every color product bleeds dramatically; it’s that your whites are gradually dulling, which you barely notice until they look tired, gray, or vaguely sad.”
Koh’s founder, Adam Lindsay, says white laundry (usually sheets, socks and towels) benefit from being washed on a warmer temperature, away from dark or colored items. “Hot washes are where dye bleeding becomes an issue from dark-colored clothes, so run them on hot or cold wash settings.”
So how often should you wash towels?
Verdict: More than you think
Lindsay says the first thing to do after using bath towels is to hang them to dry.
“Assuming you manage to hang them after use, changing them every three to four days should work.”
Hand towels and tea towels should also be changed every few days; This can cause more bacteria to grow from food residue.
“If you’re dealing with raw meat, play it safe and then put them in the wash immediately,” he says. What about gym towels? These are disposable.
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