Toilets, why are they not better designed?

The u-bend on our bathroom loo is boxed-in which makes it easy to clean. The loo itself is square which I find is in awkward shape for cleaning as it has edges.
I used a self-cleaning loo in Belgium about 20 years ago. When you flushed, the seat trundled off round the base and passed through an area at the back of the pan that cleaned and disinfected it. I was so fascinated that I flushed about 3 times just to see the seat making it's journey round the pan! ( I'm quite easily amused)

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We’ve recently had this fitted. It’s rimless and so easy to keep clean!! No nooks & crannies!! ?

We have one toilet which has an old fashioned type rim round it where the water comes out through little holes to flush. I remember my family home had one of these. No idea how my mother kept it clean, I suspect just with a toilet brush but I use an old toothbrush once a week as I can see under the rim when lying in the bath and it upsets me.
I really need to update it.

One of the main problems with public toilets is the tiny cubicles, where sanitary bins have been squashed in as an afterthought, limiting the space further. I use a stick and struggle to squash myself in and close what is sometimes and inward opening door. I am normal build, but how a larger lady might cope I do not know - just getting in would be a challenge, let alone then turning round and sitting down.

And as for a parent with a child, and shopping bags etc. ........

At the risk of being accused of sexism - definitely designed by a man!

Yes im sure ive used a public loo cubicle somewhere (on hol prob) in uk that after so long it it flushes the whole of the cubicle with soap & water! I remember panicking, thinking i hope ive got time for a long wee & do my hands first.....??Cant remember where it was though, its been so long since we been anywhere...could have been down south i guess.

Met my friend today for our fortnightly breakfast at a well known chain pub. Since they refurbished the toilets (lovely) every loo I’ve used flushes intermittently whilst in use. I thought I must be accidentally catching the flush button but my friend admitted she’s experienced the same. Certainly wakes you up and stops you lingering

Whilst the cleanliness of public toilets is important, the lack of public toilets is an increasing issue. Many public toilets have closed since covid, including those in shops.

In sermione in Garda in 2002 we used a public loo like a TARDIS completely lined In. Stainless steel with integrated hand wash and dryer no lever /button/handle to flush, the door closed automatically behind me then we Heard a huge turbine and whooshing and the automatic cleaning began! The loo folded into drainage in wall and everything was sterilised! But footnote: after me a dodgy looking bloke slipped in behind my friend to try and dodge the one euro charge(about a £1.60 then) and we always wondered if he too hot scoured and sterilised or if safety feature stopped it?! A wonder of Italian design and Roman engineering!???

Door closed behind me automatically when I came out I may add?

The market loos on Chorley market are absolutely superb and always have been since I've known (1979) updated regularly and clean as a whistle no touch flush has been in operation for about 10+ years too well ahead of any other public facilities.chorley I was told by a local ,has always had awards for the excellent facilities and it's well deserved, the difference Being? There has ALWAYS been an attendant on site! A small price to finance to achieve such excellence!

I like self flushing toilets. I would also like to have toilets that put the seat down themselves, not only that, I would like the bathroom doors to close automatically.
No Explanation.

I can't understand that ladies don't pick up loo roll that dropped to the floor, can't comment on the gents, I have often gone into restaurant/pub toilets which are strewn with clean toilet paper all over the floor why? if it has dropped there pick it up and put it in the bowl and flush ? I also have small cubicles where you have to squeeze to one side to close and open the door yet there is plenty of room in outside area to have allowed another 6 inches . Much prefer the individual cubicle toilets that a lot of restaurants have these days .

I lived in Cambridge for many years. The public loos at the bus station had a full time attendant. I wouldn’t have called them clean.

That is what the housekeeper/cleaner is for according to my 89 year old mother who has never cleaned or hoovered in her entire married life.

I never ever use public toilets.
I would rather wait until I get home.
Luckily I have a strong bladder.

Have to agree about how difficult it is to clean modern day toilets. Had a new one installed two years ago but find it blocks much more easily because the u bend is so small.
Dreadful design fault there.

I had the downstairs loo refurbished about five years ago, and I honestly don’t think that the quality of the ceramics nowadays is as good as in the past. In order to avoid the blistering silver fitments the seat is sort of stuck on. This would be okay, if only it didn’t move every now and then! The bathroom will be re-done in a couple of months time, so I’m finding this thread extremely useful, but because I will be removing the bidet I had thought I might get one of those hoses. Now I’ve learned that the water is only cold I definitely won’t! I’m really going to miss that bidet, but it’s the only way I can squeeze in a stand-alone shower for guests.

I had to have a new toilet fitted and was sold one that had an unusual shaped seat which is no longer made. It’s a bit smelly even though I clean it all the time and I so want to replace it. It’s so annoying. No other company wanted to just fit a toilet and I reckon they just had a job lot of old toilets to use up. They did sell me a spare seat but it’s got a chip on it and they also charged me full price for it: plus the fittings are unusual as well.

Happysexagenarian

Willow I was just about to ask the same question.

Please do tell us the brand of your lovely loo Peasbottom

For those who are interested is made by RAK ceramics. The local bathroom fitter suggested it.

It doesn’t even have a handle that needs wiping?

You can get toilets which have a built-in 'hose' for washing your nether regions. They are the norm in Turkey, for instance, but there are more and more companies which will supply them in the UK too.

Thank you Peasblossom.
One of our loos is a RAK and definitely the best quality. When extending our house we discovered you definitely get what you pay for with regard to sanitaryware. We may have to replace one of ours soon so I will keep your RAK loo in mind.

jaylucy

There used to be what were called self clean toilets in some town centres in a sort of kiosk thing that used to stand usually in the middle of the street.
They were a bit strange as they looked like porta loos - you went into the compartment and after you had finished whatever, you had to step away from the pan and it sort of rotated under running water and was cleaned, then when you stepped out of the kiosk completely, the floor etc was showered , cleaned, then dried with hot air!
I don't think they were that successful as I think most have now been removed and if I remember you had to pay to use them anyway!

Two of these were installed in town. They weren’t used as people were wary that the door would fly open and you’d be caught unawares!

Due to an unfortunate health issue I am well acquainted with toilets of all kinds, and often have to spend longer in them than most people! I can usually rely on IKEA and John Lewis to have superclean facilities and most hotels, but not always restaurants and pubs. Public toilets and seaside toilets are the worst.

I have encountered several self-flushing toilets and found them to be very efficient. But one of my pet hates are the toilet paper dispensers which refuse to dispense, or worse still are left empty! And why are there never any coat hooks or bag hooks in cubicles?

I agree that most loos are probably designed by men who are ignorant of ladies toilet habits and needs. Perhaps we should educate them! Come on ladies, I'm sure between all of us we could come up with a better design - a revo-loo-tion perhaps!!

As a cleaner in a nursing home OP I have often pondered this. Faeces get in every nook and cranny of a toilet seat and the fixtures on the base. I was thinking only a week or so ago about a fully “flushing” room that cleans the toilet, walls, sink, taps etc when someone exits the room (because trust me dementia patients do not use the toilet or toilet paper). They would not be cheap obviously but should I be calling Dragons Den?

The cleanest toilets in town are the Ladies in a Betting Shop because hardly anybody uses them ?

JaneJudge, they're simply not designed by the people who have to clean them, that's the problem.

If I designed a kitchen, it would all dismantle into small pieces that fit in a dishwasher!