Watching a padded toilet seat turn into another color is strange, especially when that color is blue.
Assuming you’re not a Smurf, this oddity will probably throw you for a loop, but it’s not entirely uncommon. There are several different potential causes.
Let’s dive into this slightly odd, somewhat funny, but potentially important issue as we look at the few most common causes that can explain why even the best padded toilet seats sometimes turn blue (and it probably isn’t your vision at issue!).
Why Do Padded Toilet Seats Turn Blue?
Toilet seats can turn blue because of a few different reasons. The first possibility is that the blue dye from the toilet seat is leaching into the padding.
Color leaching would be only possible if the toilet seat was decoratively colored at the start. This discoloration is usually not a cause for concern and will likely stop after a few washes.
New Blue Jeans Run
If someone who used the toilet wore a new pair of blue jeans, this could be the cause.
It takes a little time for all the dye to set in, and if there was someone outside doing yard work when it started raining and came in, that could leave the mark.
Denim dye discoloration isn’t common, but it is a possibility.
Have You Switched Cleaning Products Recently?
Many padded toilet seats are cleaned and sanitized, and they come with materials designed to be anti-microbial.
Another possibility is that you use cleaning products containing bleach or other harsh chemicals.
Chemical cleaners are good for health and cleanliness, but depending on the coat used, materials used, and the chemicals in the cleaner, this can cause a reaction.
These reactions aren’t harmful, but in certain circumstances, they can interact chemically, causing a weird side effect like the padding of a toilet seat changing into a noticeable blue color.
When the issue isn’t with changing bodily chemicals in a person, this is the reason for the color change.
Because most of the time, padded toilet seats that turn blue do so when either the materials making up your seat or cleaning chemicals are not wiped off thoroughly after a toilet cleaning.
They then react with the coating most padded toilet seats put on to fight germs and microbes.
This interaction then causes them to change color.
While this may seem like a big deal, it’s usually not harmful and is fixable. If you’re concerned about the blue color, try washing the seat or using a different cleaning product.
This Could Indicate Bodily Changes
While not necessarily a likely cause from elderly individuals, this could also indicate changes to a frequent guest, family member, or in-house caregiver.
Hormonal changes can cause the color to change to a bluish hue, as well.
While this is relatively rare, it is usually reported most often by individuals who fall under a few specific circumstances:
- Individuals who recently changed prescription medications
- Women who turned out to be pregnant
- Individuals on a hormone treatment
These individuals may experience the color change because the different hormones and chemicals in the human body make contact with the toilet seat through sweat and skin, which can then cause that interaction, resulting in the blue coloring of the padded toilet seat.
You Should Still Talk to a Health Professional
Methemoglobinemia occurs when there is too much methemoglobin in the blood.
Because that indicates a bodily change, and in some rare cases, blue toilet seats can signify a more serious condition called methemoglobinemia. In these situations, getting a checkup is essential to see what is causing this effect.
Methemoglobin contains ferric iron (Fe3+) instead of ferrous iron (Fe2+)and can cause symptoms like shortness of breath, headache, and fatigue. If you think you may have methemoglobinemia, see a doctor right away.
In Conclusion
Usually, a toilet seat changing color is just a bit funny or something that involves a chemical cleaner in the house.
However, sometimes it is a hormone change, and individuals must do their due diligence to ensure that this is just a minor hiccup versus a serious body or health issue causing the off-coloring.
