Red Cup Under Toilet Seat – 7+ Reasons [Explained]

We’ve all clicked some of these videos on basic life hacks that “will make your life easier.” They show us how to open a wine bottle with a shoe, fix a hole in our jeans, get gum out of our hair, and lots of other things in that line.

They are all things we end up thinking, “Why didn’t I think of that?” Even so, there’s one hack that’s been around for quite some time, and it’s still something we don’t think about – the red cup under the toilet seat at night.

Most people don’t know the reason for placing a red cup under a toilet seat. Even so, it’s an essential step that could save you a trip to the hospital among other benefits. In fact, you should consider joining the ranks of those who use it. But before you come aboard, know why it’s essential. So, why do you need a red cup under the toilet seat at night? Let’s find out!

Red Cup Under Toilet Seat at Night

A red cup under the toilet seat generally serves to warn, remind, and for hygienic purposes. You can use a red cup to warn of intruders, alert the next toilet user that there’s no more toilet paper left, or even remind yourself to measure your urine excretion if suffering from one of the conditions that call for such.

The red cup under the toilet seat isn’t one of those “not-so-important” life hacks we’ve all encountered in our online escapades. It’s actually a hack that could save your life or, at the very least, make your bathroom visits more pleasant and less hazardous.

But wait, does it have to be a RED cup? Well, you don’t have to use a red cup. You can use any other color, and it won’t change the effect it has. However, people prefer red because it’s more likely than any other color to attract attention , and that’s backed by this study.

But if you don’t have a red cup, don’t sweat it! You don’t need to go out and buy one just for this purpose. You can use any other color, but ensure that you choose a highly conspicuous color that’s easy to see from a distance. That way, whoever comes after you will know that there’s a message you’re trying to pass even before they draw closer to the toilet seat.

7+ Reasons Why To Put a Red Solo Cup Under the Toilet Seat

Some reasons are personal hygiene, some are for fun, and others are more serious. But regardless of the reason, there’s one thing that’s for sure – a red cup under the toilet seat is generally a good idea!

If you’re still not convinced, here are 7+ reasons why you should put a red cup under your toilet seat tonight:

1. Warn of Unwelcome Guests

In this article, we saw that snakes can find their way up through a toilet. Yes, the legless creatures – and some four-legged critters – can enter your home through the sewer system and come up through your toilet bowl! That’s especially true if you’re living in an area with a high snake population, for instance, Florida.

Imagine using the same toilet where a snake tries to make its way out! Well, it’s terrifying, dangerous, and definitely not something you want to experience. And yes, that’s one area where a red cup comes in handy.

By placing a red cup under the toilet, you’re essentially finding a way to know when these unwanted visitors come up. 

When a snake – or any critter – comes up from the toilet, they are likely to move the cup. So, if you come back and find the cup in a different position or toppled over, you’ll know that you could be having an unwelcome guest around!

2. No More Toilet Paper!

If you’ve ever sat on a toilet when going number two only to realize that there’s no toilet paper, you know how frustrating that can be. But by placing a red cup under the toilet seat, you can help the next person know that there’s no toilet paper left and that they should find one before they proceed to conduct their business.

When you place a red cup under a toilet seat, it means the next user has to remove it before they can sit on the toilet. So, seeing it will help associate the cup with the need to bring their own toilet paper.

3. To Wake Sleepwalkers

Sleepwalkers can do all sorts of things when they’re sleepwalking. They can even sleep-urinate and others sleep-poo when walking. However, that’s rare and shows up in only a tiny percentage of sleepwalkers. Unfortunately, they don’t have control over their bodily functions when sleepwalking.

That said, if you share a bathroom with a sleepwalker, it’s always a good idea to put a red cup under the toilet seat. Once they get to the toilet, they’ll likely dislodge the cup, forcing the seat to come down with a loud bang. The loud noise will definitely wake them up and help prevent any accidents.

4. Creative Way To Potty-Train Little Ones

Sometimes training kids isn’t the smoothest experience. It needs patience, consistency, and a little bit of creativity. At times, it can be a nightmare. But if you want, you can make it more fun than you think. Let’s take potty-training the juniors, for instance.

Usually, one thing you need to train the child is to lift the seat when they’re urinating. It may seem obvious, but don’t find it surprising if you see a little one leaving the seat down – even after being trained.

So, what can you do? Place a red solo cup under the toilet seat! When they see it, they’ll remember to lift the seat before they can use the toilet. And since it’s fun to lift and lower things, they’ll definitely enjoy the process!

5. Indicate That Toilet is Out of Order

Toilets eventually run into issues and may need some repairs from time to time. When that happens, you definitely don’t want it used before it’s fixed as usage may end up making things even worse, or even more, risking the users’ health.

Using a red cup under the toilet seat can indicate that the toilet is out of order and needs repair. That doesn’t only apply at home but also in public restrooms. It will help prevent people from using it and risk further damage or their health.

6. For Hygienic Reasons

Let’s face it – we all associate public toilets with germs and bacteria. So, when there’s an opportunity to raise and lower the toilet seat without touching it, many people would gladly take it.

That’s where a red cup comes in! By placing it under the toilet seat, people use red cups to dodge having to handle the toilet seat with bare hands. Most people believe that by doing so, they reduce the chances of coming into contact with bacteria.

Sure, it looks logical. However, most medical professionals will tell you that using a cup doesn’t really solve anything, as the cup will still be contaminated. In fact, instead of reducing the chances of contamination, you’re actually increasing it.

You see, the toilet seat isn’t as contaminated as you might think. In fact, it’s one of the cleanest areas in a public restroom. Some professionals will even tell you that a toilet seat is likely to be cleaner than a kitchen sink!

Unlike the cup, the construction of the toilet seat won’t allow it to keep bacteria for too long. In fact, if one user contaminated the seat, the chances of the next user getting infected are very low, simply because most bacteria don’t survive more than just a few seconds on the toilet seat. That’s unlike the cup, which can retain bacteria and germs for quite long.

7. Remind One To Measure Their Urine

Some conditions require people to monitor their urine output. For instance, people with heart failure should often measure their urine to know how much fluid their body is losing.

The same goes for pregnant women as well. They need to monitor their urine output as it can help indicate dehydration.

In both cases, a red cup under the toilet seat can help. Placing it there will help these people associate the need to measure urine with the cup. Of course, you’ll need to use the appropriate measuring cup, but the red cup will at least help you remember!

8. Fun Way To Decorate Your Toilet

This may not be the most logical reason, but a red cup under the toilet seat can also be a fun way to decorate your toilet! If you’re someone who loves to add a personal touch to everything in your house, then this may be the perfect way to do it.

Not only will it add a splash of color, but it can also be a conversation starter. After all, not everyone will expect to see a red cup under the toilet seat!

Is It Bad To Put a Red Cup Under the Toilet Seat?

Whether it’s bad to put a red cup under the toilet seat depends on what you’re using it for. If to indicate that the toilet is out of order, or for other essential purposes, it’s fine. However, if for hygiene reasons, you might want to rethink your strategy.

We have several uses for a red cup under the toilet. And for the most part, we can say that people use it with good intentions. However, as with anything else, there are always those who will misuse it. So, if you’re thinking of using a red cup under the toilet seat, ensure that using it doesn’t risk your health or that of the people using the toilet.

Reasons To Put Toilet Paper Roll Under Toilet Seat?

The top reason people put a toilet paper roll under the toilet seat is to pass a message that they just used the last bit of toilet paper. That informs the next user that they need to replace the roll before they sit on the toilet seat.

Other reasons people use toilet paper under their toilet seat are similar to those for using a red cup. For instance, they might be trying to avoid touching the toilet seat, or they might be trying to find a way of knowing when critters come into their space.

One thing, though, using a toilet paper roll can be more dangerous than using a cup since the porous surface of toilet paper makes it easier for bacteria to survive and transfer.

Is It Bad To Put Toilet Paper on the Toilet Seat?

Yes, putting toilet paper on the toilet seat to shield oneself from infection is bad. The toilet paper you’re using in a public toilet likely has more germs than the toilet seat. So, using them on the surface of the seat can only multiply your chances of picking up bacteria.

Every time you flush a toilet, you send bacteria flying all over the place. Some end up settling on nearby items, including a roll of toilet paper, where they survive for longer periods than those on the toilet seat. That’s why even though it looks safer, using toilet paper to cover the toilet seat can actually be more dangerous.

However, if the toilet paper roll you’re using is covered, that’s different. In this case, it won’t pose as much threat to spread it on the seat. The same goes when using your own tissue paper.

Final Verdict

People use a red cup under a toilet seat to pass various messages. It might look odd, but it’s actually one effective way to warn, remind, notify, and protect, to mention a few. One thing, though, experts discourage using it for hygienic purposes. It’s actually less hygienic to use it than not! So, the next time you see a red cup under the toilet seat, observe keenly to know why it’s there before you use the toilet.