The toilet is designed to remove faecal waste safely from our homes.

Harmful microbes can survive in damp cloths etc and other microbes can grow that cause unpleasant odours.

Using the toilet is one of the key moments for hygiene if someone has a gut infection, when potentially harmful organisms can spread to our hands and other surfaces.

Other waterborne organisms can persist and grow in toilet water, e.g. under the toilet rim. These microbes are not normally harmful to health but some can cause unpleasant odours.

If someone has recently had a gut infection, clean and disinfect the toilet once or even twice daily to protect others.

If you have a gut infection, potentially harmful organisms can be spread to hands and other surfaces (lid, handle) whilst using the toilet.

To clean the toilet brush, place it in the toilet bowl, pour toilet cleaner over it and rinse during the flush after half an hour.

Small numbers of faecal organisms, not removed by flushing, can persist in the toilet, particularly where there is a build-up of scale on the surface

Closing the lid of the toilet bowl before flushing helps prevent germs from spreading to nearby surfaces.

Cleaning utensils used for the toilet should only be used in the toilet area.

You can save water by selecting the water saver option on a dual-flush toilet.

Immediately after cleaning the toilet, clean and dry cloths and other cleaning utensils.