Problem: Article: If you're lucky enough to drop something into a toilet in your own home, be prepared and have some rubber gloves on hand. Pulling these on before you stick your hand into germ-filled toilet water will make the task a lot more bearable. If you're out somewhere and don't have the benefit of gloves, you'll have to decide whether it's worth taking the plunge. Don't flush anything that's too big to fit through the pipes of the toilet. Then you'll just have an additional mess to deal with. Assuming gloves are not an option, think on your feet and use some other object, such as a wad of paper towels or a plastic bag turned inside out, to protect your hand from the worst of the mess while you go after the dropped item. If you just can't stand the notion of getting your hands dirty, certain objects, like jewelry or house keys, may be retrievable using a coat hanger that's been bent into a hook. Whether you're wearing protective gloves or not, try to minimize the amount of time your hand spends in the toilet. In one quick motion, reach into the bowl, grab the item and pull it out, letting excess water drip into the bowl. Toilets are breeding grounds for all sorts of bacteria and viruses, so the less you're able to expose yourself, the better. Take a firm grip on the object so that you don't drop it. If it slides further down the drain opening, you might never get it back. Assuming the thing you dropped wasn't your smartphone or the remote control, you'll want to rinse off as much of the water from the toilet as you can. Turn the sink on as hot as it will go. If soap is available, lather the item up to start superficially cleaning it right away. Run the item under the hot water, turning it over so that the stream bathes every part of it. Electronics and objects that are easily damaged by water should be dealt with by other means. A strong antibacterial soap and hot water may be all you need to disinfect items that have fallen into a clean toilet, but you may still feel better employing other methods. Before deep-cleaning the object, take a few minutes to wash your hands with soap and warm water. After all, they've just been inside the potty. If you were lucky enough to have latex gloves or dish gloves nearby, peel them off and throw them in the garbage before washing up. Be sure to scrub between your fingers and beneath your fingernails, where bacteria is good at hiding. It's probably also a good idea to wipe down anything that the toilet water or salvaged item has touched with a disinfectant.
Summary: Grab a pair of rubber gloves. Be quick about it. Rinse non-electronic items under hot water. Wash your hands thoroughly.

Problem: Article: It's important to keep your STP device clean, and rinse it off after every use. If you don't, you will be carrying around an unpleasant smell that can transfer to your clothes. The plastic homemade STP devices are simple to quickly rinse off. The plastic means that the any urine will bead up on the surface and be washed off easily. You can rinse it with a little soap when you are washing your hands. When you are carrying the STP device around with you, it's best to try and keep it in a small zip-lock bag. This way any unpleasant aromas or drips will be contained in the bag. If you get a small zip-lock bag, such as a freezer or sandwich bag, you will still be able to keep the STP device in your back pocket. You can also use alcohol wipes or hand sanitizer to disinfect the device after each use. You need to take extra steps to ensure that your STP device is kept clean and you limit the risk of infection. Every night you should soak it in a solution that will thoroughly clean it, ready for the next day. Get a bowl and mix up half a cup of 2% or 3% hydrogen peroxide, and a teaspoon of antibacterial soap, in three cups of hot water. Place your device into the solution and leave it to soak for a few hours. Take it out and rinse it thoroughly. Put it on the side and let it air dry.
Summary: Rinse it after each use. Store it in a zip-lock bag. Soak it in a disinfectant solution.

Problem: Article: If your ears pop on a plane or while diving, the problem will usually right itself when you're back on land. Even if the pressure doesn't equalize right away, after an hour or two your ears should feel normal again. In the meantime, yawning and swallowing can help you feel better faster. Some people take a few days for pressure to equalize in their ears, during which time hearing can be muffled, although this is rather rare. Get medical attention if the discomfort is severe, or if it persists for more than a day. Severe barotrauma is rare, but can cause permanent ear damage and bring about hearing loss. In very severe cases, barotrauma can cause the inner ear to rupture. This injury usually heals on its own, but you should see a doctor just in case there's another problem complicating the injury. If you experience any of the following symptoms that might indicate your inner ear has ruptured, get medical attention immediately: Discomfort or pain that persists for several hours Severe pain Bleeding from the ears Hearing loss that doesn't go away In rare cases, surgery is required to restore equilibrium inside the ear. An incision is made in the eardrum to allow pressure and fluid to drain. If you experience severe pain that doesn't go away, see a doctor to determine whether surgery may be necessary. In the meantime, do not fly, dive, or perform any other activity that requires you to gain or lose significant altitude. If your ears pop again further injury could occur.
Summary:
Wait for equilibrium to be restored. Look out for severe symptoms. Get treatment if the barotrauma persists.