Theres a lot of websites claiming genital hpv (warts) survive outside the body for a long period of time and become an infection risk. is there any truth to this? recently found out i have the virus so im making sure of all the facts?

Yes it can- the exact duration is not known for sure- but at least a week

HPV probably does not survive a significant amount of time away from its human hosts. But really this is the wrong question anyway. It doesn't matter. Whatever the reason, people do not catch HPV except by sex: virtually nobody (maybe none at all) catch it from contaminated toilets, bedding, shared clothing, etc. No special precautions are necessary except in sexual choices plus normal hygiene.