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Why Japanese Toilets Are Failing in America (2013)

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Re: Why Japanese Toilets Are Failing in America (2013)

#41

Post by mhb »

Avshalom wrote: post #20
idlewords wrote: post #7

I brought one of these home from Japan and have been trying it out on unsuspecting houseguests. People usually yelp the first time (surprise heated seat!) and after the second time they're hooked. The water jet is unsettling the first time you use it, but you get used to it quickly. The feeling of having a genuinely clean butt gives you the confidence you need to go crush it in the boardroom.

> The feeling of having a genuinely clean butt gives you the confidence you need to go crush it in the boardroom. Can't speak to bidets, but a while back on a whim I bought some flushable moist wipes and started using just like one at the end. Yeah knowing you have a clean butt is totally a confidence booster. Side note: on the general toilet subject Niagra Conserveration's 1.25 gallon flaperless toilet is excellent…

There is some difference of opinion regarding whether wipes purported to be flushable should be:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/15/nyregion/the-wet-wipes-box...

Re: Why Japanese Toilets Are Failing in America (2013)

#42

Post by Avshalom »

ams6110 wrote: post #28
Avshalom wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The feeling of having a genuinely clean butt gives you the confidence you need to go crush it in the boardroom. Can't speak to bidets, but a while back on a whim I bought some flushable moist wipes and started using just like one at the end. Yeah knowing you have a clean butt is totally a confidence booster. Side note: on the general toilet subject Niagra Conserveration's 1.25 gallon flaperless toilet is excellent…

Was looking at the Niagra Conservation website, they seem to sell only through distributors and plumbing professionals. Are these sold for DIY installation?

You can buy them from Amazon I know, I just checked home depots website, they only have the .8 gpf toilet which is can't vouch for.

... Which is to say yes you can buy them for diy.

Re: Why Japanese Toilets Are Failing in America (2013)

#43

Post by cpncrunch »

sanmon3186 wrote: post #10
wtbob wrote: post #3

How do folks use bidets (or those spray-hoses they use in India) without getting water and feces everywhere? How do they dry off without using tons of toilet paper? The whole bidet thing just seems messy and unsanitary. I'm sure that there's a way to use it which isn't messy and unsanitary, but I'm not about to make a mess trying to learn!

I am sure your opinion would change once you start using it. It's definitely not as messy as you describe it. On the contrary it takes less paper and is more sanitary IMO.

How does it clean you properly with just water? Surely you would need to use soap and use your hand, which doesn't seem to be very sanitary...

EDIT: there's no need to downvote...I was simply asking a question, as I've never used a bidet. However in my experience, it's not possible to remove all the poop simply using a shower...soap and hand action is also required. I'm curious about how the spray can clean you properly.

Re: Why Japanese Toilets Are Failing in America (2013)

#44

Post by dheera »

ZanyProgrammer wrote: post #11
crimsonalucard wrote: post #6

Before smartphones became the rage, American consumer technology always lagged behind japan in terms of adoption. I think this is still the case for a lot of things, including toilets.

Even in more rural parts of Japan, how quickly is technology adopted? Or do we make the assumption that Tokyo and a few other cities == Japan?

In 2009 I went cycling around the Japanese countryside. I was enjoying the scenery of farmland when all of a sudden this drone came out of nowhere and started spraying all the crops.

Re: Why Japanese Toilets Are Failing in America (2013)

#46

Post by cpncrunch »

Avshalom wrote: post #20
idlewords wrote: post #7

I brought one of these home from Japan and have been trying it out on unsuspecting houseguests. People usually yelp the first time (surprise heated seat!) and after the second time they're hooked. The water jet is unsettling the first time you use it, but you get used to it quickly. The feeling of having a genuinely clean butt gives you the confidence you need to go crush it in the boardroom.

> The feeling of having a genuinely clean butt gives you the confidence you need to go crush it in the boardroom. Can't speak to bidets, but a while back on a whim I bought some flushable moist wipes and started using just like one at the end. Yeah knowing you have a clean butt is totally a confidence booster. Side note: on the general toilet subject Niagra Conserveration's 1.25 gallon flaperless toilet is excellent…

I used wipes for a while, but they always made me itchy (even the supposed hypoallergenic ones).

Re: Why Japanese Toilets Are Failing in America (2013)

#47

Post by bhayden »

steven2012 wrote: post #45

Stupid question, but doesn't the stream of water potentially spray fecal matter all over the nozzle itself, causing contamination?

I would recommend not drinking from your bidet, after which this is a moot point. Most things in bathrooms have small amounts of fecal matter on them.

To actually answer your question, this has never been a visible issue for me in the many years I've used one.

Re: Why Japanese Toilets Are Failing in America (2013)

#48

Post by stuaxo »

raarts wrote: post #37
jasonwen wrote: post #25

I experienced the japanese toilet the first time in 2006. I was curious to try but afraid it would get messy. It takes a bit getting used to. When i came back to the netherlands, i wanted to buy one too but, like the US, no power in the toilet. After i got my new apartment i had a power outlet built in the toilet. Now im so used to it, sometimes i even look for the remote in other peoples toilets, lol. They say using…

Just an FYI: The Dutch word 'toilet' means restroom or bathroom. So if a Dutch person would say: "I washed my hands in the toilet", that doesn't mean what you think it means..

Well, British (International) English too... it always seems weird the US thing of calling the toilet the bathroom.

Re: Why Japanese Toilets Are Failing in America (2013)

#49

Post by codeshaman »

wtbob wrote: post #3

How do folks use bidets (or those spray-hoses they use in India) without getting water and feces everywhere? How do they dry off without using tons of toilet paper? The whole bidet thing just seems messy and unsanitary. I'm sure that there's a way to use it which isn't messy and unsanitary, but I'm not about to make a mess trying to learn!

The bidet is not a replacement for toilet paper, it's an extra step after using the toilet paper.

In simpler language - after you wipe your ass, you sit down on the bidet, open the faucet and gently rinse your butt.

At this stage, your butt doesn't contain large pieces of shit, it's in the same state when you take a shower.

As a consequence of using a bidet, your underware stays clean, no more 'thin brown line' on white underpants, no shitty smell and no creamy feeling in the butt when you sweat.

Re: Why Japanese Toilets Are Failing in America (2013)

#50

Post by mixmastamyk »

I've already read several good reasons here. Another major problem is that the issues solved by these expensive toilets can be solved by much cheaper means.

Temperature: cold seats are not a problem in the Southern third of the country, and where they are, a padded vinyl seat is quite effective in mitigating the problem.

Cleanliness: Wet wipes work quite well. Our favorite after trying many brands with a new baby is the Target generic unscented wipes. They are about $2.50 a pack, or $20 for a metric-xxxxload.

Therefore I cite the KISS rule, "keep it simple stupid." Cost and maintenance issues heavily favor the simple toilet and why I've never been very interested in fancy ones despite the disbelief of others.

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