MythBusters · Video summary

Are Everyday Objects Dirtier Than A Toilet Seat? | MythBusters | S6 E05 | Full Episode

MythBusters tested myths about rat urine on soda cans and cars skipping across lakes. Everyday items are generally cleaner than assumed, and cars can skip water under specific conditions.

MythBusters · April 5, 2026 · 49-min episode · 6-min read

Are Everyday Objects Dirtier Than A Toilet Seat? | MythBusters | S6 E05 | Full Episode

Key takeaways

🎯The physics of skipping involve spin and speed, where the water's upward force counteracts the downward motion, requiring a specific angle of attack and sufficient velocity for an object to skim.11:41
🚀Rely on rigorous scientific testing (like mass spectrometry) rather than visual indicators (like blacklights) when assessing potential contamination.15:14
🎯The myth that everyday soda cans are contaminated with deadly rat urine is busted. Extensive lab testing found no trace of rat urine proteins on randomly collected cans.15:30
🎯A blacklight can falsely indicate contamination; it highlighted harmless dust on soda cans, not rat urine, demonstrating the importance of precise scientific analysis over visual cues.16:03
🎯The risk of contracting serious pathogens like leptospirosis or hantavirus from soda cans is negligible, as these pathogens are unlikely to survive ingestion or drying.16:40
🚀Maintain good hygiene practices, such as wiping down surfaces like cans and keyboards, as a general precaution against unseen germs, even if specific myths are busted.17:36

Chapters

0:01🎯 Introduction and Myth Overview
2:16🎯 Testing Rat Urine on Soda Cans
5:28🎯 Black Light Test for Rat Urine
13:53🎯 Sampling and Lab Analysis
16:34🎯 Pathogen Transfer Risks
18:09🎯 Conclusion on Rat Urine Myth
20:42🎯 Household Surface Contamination Myth
26:38🎯 Microbiological Identification
28:23🎯 Car Skimming Across Water Myth
28:48🎯 Small Scale Car Skip Tests
34:01🎯 Testing Results and Dirty List
43:57🎯 Full-Scale Car Skip Experiment
46:33🎯 Comparison and Conclusion on Car Skipping Myth
47:44🎯 Final Filthiness Ranking and Conclusion

The digest

This episode evaluates two popular myths: whether rat urine on soda cans poses a deadly threat, and if common household objects harbor more germs than a toilet seat. It also investigates a cinematic stunt myth about a sports car skipping across a lake like a stone. The findings reveal that rat urine on soda cans is not a realistic danger, everyday items can be significantly dirtier than toilet seats, and that a car can indeed skip across water under certain conditions—though Hollywood’s depiction is largely fabricated.

High-Level Overview

This episode explores myths about microbial contamination and physics-inspired movie stunts. First, it tackles the urban legend that rat urine contaminating soda cans can transmit deadly diseases. Second, it quantitatively compares germs on various household items, challenging the conventional belief that toilet seats are the dirtiest surfaces. Lastly, it examines a movie scene from The Cannonball Run that shows a Lamborghini skipping across a lake, testing the physical plausibility of such a stunt. The insights are relevant to health-conscious consumers, microbiology enthusiasts, stunt aficionados, and anyone interested in myth verification using scientific methods.