At first glance, it makes sense. Public toilets are used by a lot of people throughout the day, so it’s natural to assume the seat is covered in bacteria. And adding a layer of toilet paper feels like an easy fix. But the surface of most toilet seats is designed to be smooth and non-porous. That means there’s very little for bacteria to cling to or grow on.
In contrast, toilet paper is soft, fibrous, and much more likely to trap and hold onto particles. It’s also something that’s constantly exposed — handled, pulled, and left hanging in open air. Because of that, it may carry more bacteria than people expect. So instead of acting as a protective layer…
It might actually introduce more contact with what you were trying to avoid in the first place.
