How Dirty Are Toilet Seats Really? RFK Jr.'s Strange Health Brag Isn't The Slam Dunk He Might Think
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., has been open about how he turned his health around, including his 14-year battle with addiction. Data cited by a 2000 article in the Journal of the American Medical Association place relapse rates at up to 60%, indicating how tough long-term sobriety can be.
However, despite Kennedy's obvious commitment to sobriety, he made one rather odd comment while on The Weekend podcast with host (and Kennedy's decades-long friend) Theo Von. At the beginning of their extended conversation (via YouTube), Kennedy reminisced about attending recovery-based meetings during the height of Covid.
RFK Jr: I'm not scared of a germ. I used to snort cocaine off of toilet seats. pic.twitter.com/4yrT7W2Slh
— FactPost (@factpostnews) February 12, 2026
Kennedy noted that although their regular meetings were suspended due to the pandemic, he and Von were part of a group of "pirates" that continued to get together. He also explained that he wasn't "scared of a germ" (meaning the Covid virus) because he "used to snort cocaine off toilet seats."
While Kennedy's admission definitely made for instant buzz, it might not be as indicative of a hearty immune system as he presumes. According to recent evidence, the toilet seat (contrary to what most people believe) isn't quite as filthy as its proximity to people's backsides implies.
Where the greatest amount of household bacteria actually lurks
Microbiologist Dr. Charles Gerba has studied the dirtiest areas of bathrooms. In a Reader's Digest interview, he revealed that hard surfaces such as toilet seats aren't nearly as germ-ridden as porous textile surfaces. In other words, wet towels and (especially) damp bathmats harbor more gross microbes and particles than a toilet seat.
Most people walk on their bathmats while wearing shoes; as Dr. Gerba noted, "almost 90% of all shoes have fecal bacteria on them." That said, he admitted the toilet seat could become contaminated if the toilet were flushed with the lid closed, but still less contaminated than bathroom fabrics.
A 2011 study by NSF International looked for the germiest areas in the average house. In the bathroom, those hotspots proved to be toothbrush holders and faucet handles. Oh, and the toothbrush holder held more than five times the level of coliform than the toilet seat in the 22 homes that were examined.
Of course, Kennedy's point is still well understood — and no one's recommending getting nose-to-nose familiar with a toilet seat. (With that said, read about Kennedy's gross hygiene habit.)