From the optimum pieces of loo paper to the best technique – how wiping your backside wrong can put your health at risk
HAVE you ever given deep thought to the way you wipe your backside?
Do you sit or stand to go about your business? How much loo roll do you use? And do you scrunch or fold it?
We all go through these motions daily without paying much attention to them - but it turns out that your wiping technique could be putting your health at risk.
Here are a few parameters to follow...
1. Always wipe from front to back
Were you ever told off as a kid for wiping in the wrong direction?
Well, it looks like your parents weren't just saying it for the sake of it.
Read more on toilet habits
Wiping from front to back - so from the direction of your urethra towards your bottom - is really important to ensure you don't get an infection.
That's because your bum harbours lots of bacteria, according to gynaecologist Alyssa Dweck.
She told : "There are far more bacteria in the rectal area; that's why you want to avoid dragging the toilet paper in the other direction toward your urethra.
"Bringing this bacteria up [towards the] front can contribute to a urinary tract infection (UTI)."
This is especially the case for women who have a shorter urethra - the tube that lets out pee from your bladder - than men. This makes it easier for bacteria to get into the bladder.
said wiping and washing the vaginal area incorrectly from back to front is one of the leading personal hygiene factors behind recurrent UTIs.
It also suggested you wash your hands BEFORE handling toilet paper to wipe yourself.
2. Choose the right loo roll
When it comes to toilet paper, many of us will go for the cheap option. Or the padded, scented kind if you want to treat yourself.
Martin Richards, Director of Hygienic Technology Experts at , set his estimate a little higher.
He previously revealed: "If you’re using toilet roll efficiently, the average person should only need 10 sheets per visit to the loo.
4. Sit or stand - it doesn't matter
Whether you like to sit or stand to wipe, there are pros and cons to both techniques.
As Cushionelle put it: "For sitters, the main pro is cheeks stay spread, preventing any cheek-on-cheek smearing. That means easy cleaning access.
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"For standers, they like that their hands don’t come near the toilet bowl (especially important for public toilets), and they won’t accidentally touch bare cheek or thigh with soiled toilet paper when they’re coming around for a visual inspection."
Whatever position gives you the best access is the one you should go for.
Symptoms of a UTI
Symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI) may include:
- pain or a burning sensation when peeing
- needing to pee more often than usual
- needing to pee more often than usual during the night
- needing to pee suddenly or more urgently than usual
- pee that looks cloudy
- blood in your pee
- lower tummy pain or pain in your back, just under the ribs
- a high temperature, or feeling hot and shivery
- a very low temperature below 36C
You might also notice that your wee is darker or smellier than usual.
You should see a GP if you have symptoms of a UTI.