 Toilet seat covers don't do what you think. That thin layer of paper isn't protecting you. Research has shown that it's almost impossible to catch a disease while sitting on a public toilet. The liners are just there for comfort. It turns out that the skin on our behinds is already a protective barrier. Plus, public toilets don't actually contain any more bacteria than other things in the bathroom. The real danger is if you aren't washing your hands correctly. And please, don't make a makeshift cover with toilet paper. Anything involving touching the seat with your hands is just making things worse.