Dropping something in the toilet is the second worst thing that could happen to you (the first being running out of toilet paper)! You helplessly watched the item floating in the toilet water while you figure out how to get it out. Are you going to stick your hand into the toilet bowl? We can understand the disgust you may feel at the prospect of sticking your hand into the germ-filled toilet bowl, but the sad news is that you really don’t have any other option. So, all you have to do is to grab a pair of rubber gloves and retrieve the item as quickly as possible.
Now that the item is retrieved, there is another important thing to worry about. How are you going to disinfect it? In this article, we’ll tackle this question and discuss a few ways to disinfect items after retrieving them from your toilet.
How to Disinfect Something that Fell in the Toilet
How to Disinfect Non-Electronic Items That Fell into the Toilet
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Last update on 2023-06-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
After an item has taken a dip in a toilet bowl, the first thing that needs to be done is to disinfect it. As mentioned above, wear rubber gloves while taking out the dropped item to avoid contact with harmful bacteria. Once the item is retrieved, wash it with hot water and soap solution.
If you are still not convinced that the item is thoroughly cleaned, you can use a potent chemical disinfectant. For items with a solid surface, all you have to do is to scrub them with a disinfectant wipe. On the other hand, porous items should be sprayed so that the disinfectant is evenly distributed.
You can use Clorox Disinfecting Bathroom Spray as a safe disinfectant because it is not too harsh and won’t damage your item. Besides, you can use disinfecting wipes to clean smaller items like sunglasses, jewelry, or even toys.
Onceyou have applied the disinfectant, let the item sit for a while. Later, rinse the item and wipe it with a dry towel to ensure that all traces of the chemical have been removed.
How to Disinfect the Phone That Fell into the Toilet
Rinsing a non-electronic item that falls into the toilet is easy. But the real question question is how to disinfect a smartphone or any remote control that fell into the toilet? Obviously, rinsing an electronic item is completely out of question. Does this mean that the only option you have is to discard your phone? No. According to medical professionals and phone manufacturers, you can easily disinfect a phone that fell into the toilet. All you need is a bottle of rubbing alcohol and some cotton balls. Easily available at a local pharmacy or supermarket, rubbing alcohol or isopropyl alcohol is a wonderful item to clean electronic items including remote controls and smartphones.
Choose alcohol with 70% concentration and which is free of fragrances or additives. On a cotton ball, pour down the alcohol until it is thoroughly saturated. However, make sure that the cotton ball is not too wet.Otherwise, the alcohol would leak out and permeate into the smartphone through its sensitive openings. This will negatively impact the operating system of your device. To remove excess alcohol, press the cotton ball against your hand or a clean cloth and then use it to swab the item that was dropped into the toilet bowl.
Using an alcohol-soaked cotton ball to disinfect the electronic item is a good way toeliminate bacteria without damaging the delicate parts of the phone or exposing them to unnecessary moisture. Once you’re done wiping down the dropped item, use a clean towel to remove any residues.
How to Disinfect Sturdy Items That Fell into the Toilet
The process of disinfecting sturdy items is quite simple. Here is what you need to do: In a large pot, fill some water and bring it to a boil. Drop the tainted object into the water as soon as it begins to boil. Let the item stay in the water for up to 20 minutes. However, do make sure that the item is not left for long, or else the heat would damage it. Boiling water instantly kills the bacteria lingering on the surface of the item.
Remove the item out of the pot. Don’t forget to remove the excess water from the surface to avoid damaging it. Then, clean it with a dry towel and leave it to dry. If the object has a lid or a cover, remove it. This is a good way to make sure that mildew doesn’t develop inside the item.
FAQs
Q: What should I do if I dropped a book in the toilet?
Books are porous and can easily soak in the water. This means that the bacteria that were present in the water have already permeated inside the book. This makes it virtually impossible to disinfect the book. The only option you have is to throw away the book and buy a new copy.
Q: I dropped my gold ring in the toilet. How should I disinfect it?
Any gold or leather item can easily be cleaned by rubbing alcohol as it not only kill bacteria, but it also prevents the surface of the ring from any kind of damage.
Q: How should I clean my hands after I have reached into the toilet?
It is possible that you weren’t wearing rubber gloves when you tried to retrieve the dropped item from the depths of the toilet bowl. To disinfect your hands, you should wash them with hot water and an antibacterial soap. Gently scrub between your fingers and beneath the fingernails to kill any bacteria. Repeat the process several times to ensure that your hands are thoroughly cleaned.
The Final Word
You might have had a mini heart-attack when you saw your valuable item lying in the toilet bowl. But now that you know how to disinfect something that fell in the toilet, you will be relieved to know that retrieving a dropped item and disinfecting it is an easy process. Follow the above-mentioned steps to clean your precious belongings without breaking a sweat.
