4 ms·

Commercial toilets are designed or engineered, but evidently not very well. And they never have a lid you can close to avoid the spray.

eru 4y ago
Oh, that's just American weirdness. Toilets in most of the rest of the world are saner. They also typically have a proper seat, instead of the U shape required by law in many places in the US.
- thesuitonym 4y ago
  That's required by law? I thought it was just a cost saving measure (like everything else about US...Everything) What's the purpose?
  - Spooky23 4y ago
    It’s included by reference as part of the universal plumbing code. There isn’t a “toilet seat act of 1927” or something. The original intent was to make it easier for women to clean the perineal area without contacting a surface, and reduces genital contact with a surface. How do I know this? My wife was on a safety committee in a past job where there was a workplace injury claim related to this topic. In our case, there was an automated toilet cover dispenser, which made the round seat code compliant.
    - eru 4y ago
      > It’s included by reference as part of the universal plumbing code. There isn’t a “toilet seat act of 1927” or something. Yes. But that standard is being enforced by laws (and perhaps other legal mechanisms) in many places in the US. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniform_Plumbing_Code https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniform_Plumbing_Code
  - rumblefrog 4y ago
    I believe it's mostly a matter of hygiene, less contact area for your genitals.
- jliptzin 4y ago
  The rest of the world also has no problem with bidets, here in the US we prefer smearing it around with paper like peanut butter until it’s good enough
  - einherjae 4y ago
    That’s pretty much standard in all western countries I’ve visited.
  - xen2xen1 4y ago
    Speak for yourself, my family is buying bidets for 7 or 8 other families. We have two.
    - eru 4y ago
      They are very popular in Singapore, too. Though very different from what eg the Japanese have.
- vel0city 4y ago
  > Toilets in most of the rest of the world are saner. They also typically have a proper seat Rest of the world? What about the places with squat toilets? Those are common in many places in the "rest of the world", and they don't even have seats!
  - lotsofpulp 4y ago
    Pooping while squatting is healthier, so maybe that qualifies as saner too.
    - mrguyorama 4y ago
      It's also just, really damn effective. If you are ever having trouble squeezing one out on our antiquated and stupidly un-designed porcelain throne, get your legs higher so you are closer to squatting, and consider investing in a stool to put your feet on.
  - eru 4y ago
    If you read carefully, you will notice that I wrote 'most of the rest of the world' exactly because of those caveats. Here in Singapore we have both styles of toilets.
rootusrootus 4y ago
The last time I saw a serious study on the issue, which did include lid testing, the lid did little to stop the spray. It just blows out from the sides under the seat.
- bombcar 4y ago
  Clearly we need over engineered toilet lids that seal all around with double locks. Or perhaps even if they do spray in all directions it's not quite as horrible as it's made out to be.
  - rootusrootus 4y ago
    Probably with one way valves so they can flush despite the seal. I agree with the idea that it is probably not a big deal. Good for headlines grossing people out, but probably a non-issue for average humans with functioning immune systems.
SapporoChris 4y ago
Commercial toilets are amazing in Japan, they usually do have lids. "In Japan, these high-tech toilets are everywhere: hotels, restaurants, bus stations, rest stops and around 80% of homes." https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2020/02/25/808791622/why-america-is-losing-the-toilet-race https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2020/02/25/808791622/why-... The quote is somewhat exaggerated but mostly true. I've even found the public toilets to be incredibly clean. While it is possible to occasionally find older porcelain squat toilets they are becoming very rare. https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=public+toilets+in+japan https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=public+toilets+in+japan
- darrylb42 4y ago
  Or you get a squatter toilette. Also you need to bring your own paper for a lot of public toilettes. Though it has been almost 20 years since I last visited. At the time I wondered why they handed out so many advertising Kleenex travel size packs. It was for the train station bathroom.
  - jkepler 4y ago
    I think squat pots are anatomically better than simply sitting.

eru 4y ago

Oh, that's just American weirdness. Toilets in most of the rest of the world are saner. They also typically have a proper seat, instead of the U shape required by law in many places in the US.

thesuitonym 4y ago
That's required by law? I thought it was just a cost saving measure (like everything else about US...Everything) What's the purpose?
- Spooky23 4y ago
  It’s included by reference as part of the universal plumbing code. There isn’t a “toilet seat act of 1927” or something. The original intent was to make it easier for women to clean the perineal area without contacting a surface, and reduces genital contact with a surface. How do I know this? My wife was on a safety committee in a past job where there was a workplace injury claim related to this topic. In our case, there was an automated toilet cover dispenser, which made the round seat code compliant.
  - eru 4y ago
    > It’s included by reference as part of the universal plumbing code. There isn’t a “toilet seat act of 1927” or something. Yes. But that standard is being enforced by laws (and perhaps other legal mechanisms) in many places in the US. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniform_Plumbing_Code https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniform_Plumbing_Code
- rumblefrog 4y ago
  I believe it's mostly a matter of hygiene, less contact area for your genitals.
jliptzin 4y ago
The rest of the world also has no problem with bidets, here in the US we prefer smearing it around with paper like peanut butter until it’s good enough
- einherjae 4y ago
  That’s pretty much standard in all western countries I’ve visited.
- xen2xen1 4y ago
  Speak for yourself, my family is buying bidets for 7 or 8 other families. We have two.
  - eru 4y ago
    They are very popular in Singapore, too. Though very different from what eg the Japanese have.
vel0city 4y ago
> Toilets in most of the rest of the world are saner. They also typically have a proper seat Rest of the world? What about the places with squat toilets? Those are common in many places in the "rest of the world", and they don't even have seats!
- lotsofpulp 4y ago
  Pooping while squatting is healthier, so maybe that qualifies as saner too.
  - mrguyorama 4y ago
    It's also just, really damn effective. If you are ever having trouble squeezing one out on our antiquated and stupidly un-designed porcelain throne, get your legs higher so you are closer to squatting, and consider investing in a stool to put your feet on.
- eru 4y ago
  If you read carefully, you will notice that I wrote 'most of the rest of the world' exactly because of those caveats. Here in Singapore we have both styles of toilets.

rootusrootus 4y ago

The last time I saw a serious study on the issue, which did include lid testing, the lid did little to stop the spray. It just blows out from the sides under the seat.

bombcar 4y ago
Clearly we need over engineered toilet lids that seal all around with double locks. Or perhaps even if they do spray in all directions it's not quite as horrible as it's made out to be.
- rootusrootus 4y ago
  Probably with one way valves so they can flush despite the seal. I agree with the idea that it is probably not a big deal. Good for headlines grossing people out, but probably a non-issue for average humans with functioning immune systems.

SapporoChris 4y ago

Commercial toilets are amazing in Japan, they usually do have lids. "In Japan, these high-tech toilets are everywhere: hotels, restaurants, bus stations, rest stops and around 80% of homes." https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2020/02/25/808791622/why-america-is-losing-the-toilet-race https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2020/02/25/808791622/why-... The quote is somewhat exaggerated but mostly true. I've even found the public toilets to be incredibly clean. While it is possible to occasionally find older porcelain squat toilets they are becoming very rare. https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=public+toilets+in+japan https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=public+toilets+in+japan

darrylb42 4y ago
Or you get a squatter toilette. Also you need to bring your own paper for a lot of public toilettes. Though it has been almost 20 years since I last visited. At the time I wondered why they handed out so many advertising Kleenex travel size packs. It was for the train station bathroom.
- jkepler 4y ago
  I think squat pots are anatomically better than simply sitting.