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Toilets, why are they not better designed?

(92 Posts)
JaneJudge Mon 03-Jan-22 14:48:32

Especially public toilets. Why are they not designed with easy cleaning in mind?

Why has no one come up with a design for a bathroom/toilet that self cleans and drains away?
I just don't understand it. The seats themselves have so many lips/bits/seams

Also does the You bend have to be so visible, couldn't it be elsewhere as that is difficult to clean too. As are the screws that screw the toilet bowl to the floor

janipans Tue 04-Jan-22 17:59:05

I think establishments with old fashioned toilets ought to familiarise themselves with the wonders of Viakal! So many have limescale which has turned brown and just looks disgusting!

Elegran Tue 04-Jan-22 18:20:38

The inward-closing door wouldn't be so bad if they'd stop fixing the toilet roll holder to the wrong wall. It seems the handyman stands with his back holding the opened door from closing, and fixes the holder to the opposite wall. If they would put it on the wall the door was opening against we would have somewhere to stand while closing the door, without encountering the holder at waist or hip height. Of course, if the cubicle was bigger there would be no problem.

A few years ago I went on a campaign of finding someone to tell (receptionist, cafe waitress barman) whenever I met one of these misplaced loo-roll holders. I had some success, but other places still had them on the wrong wall when I revisited them.

Aldom Tue 04-Jan-22 18:30:29

Happysexagenarian

Willow I was just about to ask the same question.

Please do tell us the brand of your lovely loo Peasbottom

OMG that's the best laugh I've had in ages!!!

Elegran Tue 04-Jan-22 19:25:17

I've just spent an interesting half-hour looking at smart toilets. You can get one for £499.95 or pay up to £6628.06, and they do everything you would want them to, and more - plus most of them heat the spray water!
The ones I looked at were at Victoria Plum, but other suppliers are available.
www.victorianplumbing.co.uk/toilets/japanese-toilets

kjmpde Tue 04-Jan-22 20:57:21

i would be interested to know where in Exeter - i live about 15 miles away and have never seen any well designed loos. please do tell

kjmpde Tue 04-Jan-22 21:02:47

i need a toilet about every few hours - how i envy your bladder control!

SpringyChicken Tue 04-Jan-22 22:15:40

Peasblossom, we have the same style RAK toilet as you, rimless and it is also comfort height which is about an inch higher than other toilets. I believe they also make the model in 'extra comfort' height, two inches taller.

Peasblossom Tue 04-Jan-22 22:23:22

Yes, OH was very taken with the “comfort” toilet because of his long legs.

BUT

when I had to go to the hospital recently, on the back of their toilet door was a very graphic diagram of innards, showing why the squat position is best for you and encouraging us all to get a little stool (sorry about the pun?) to put our feet on when using the toilet in order to get that squat position. Comfort toilets make that harder.

Then, talking about this to my daughter over coffee? she told me it’s well known and you can actually buy something called a Squatty Potty for adult use.

It’s all very interesting.
?

Teacheranne Wed 05-Jan-22 02:12:08

Marmight

Most of the motorway loos I use on my travels are kept clean. Pub ones are the worst.
Most public WCs have doors which open inwards almost touching the loo which involves squeezing against the wall then pirouetting round the door once it is closed. A bit more space or outward opening doors, which I’ve seen in Oz, would help. Heaven knows I’m not exactly slim but how larger ladies manage I have no idea ?

With great difficulty I can assure you! Made worse when there is also a sanitary towel receptacle wedged up against the toilet!

Teacheranne Wed 05-Jan-22 02:20:43

I once went to a toilet museum in Austria, near to Salzburg, which was full of all kinds of toilet!

JackyB Wed 05-Jan-22 08:35:40

My mother could never figure out how to flush many public loos, especially in foreign countries. There's often a button hidden somewhere, or the sensors that you have to wave your hands about to operate. Most sensible IMO is for operated.

f77ms Wed 05-Jan-22 10:32:16

Having just cleaned my bathroom and toilet i agree, there are so many hard to reach areas. I do have a hand held steamer which helps. I have become very squeamish in my older years, strange because i have been both a nurse and a domestic cleaner at different times! I also used to clean the local pub and regularly cleaned up sick from the toilets ?. I cant remember it bothering me that much but now i would need one of those all over suits that the forensic teams use!

JackyB Wed 05-Jan-22 11:02:00

(I meant to say "foot" operated in the last post but one.)

Willow73 Wed 05-Jan-22 12:36:24

Thank you for sharing the maker.

OmaLoocie Thu 06-Jan-22 23:12:18

I'm so glad I'm not the only person who rants on about the sheer impracticalities of cleaning toilets! Husband and I nearly had a row in B&Q once because I refused to even consider any toilet that was designed with grooves, useless nooks and crannies and totally impractical screws! Told him in no uncertain terms that if he insisted on one of those then HE can clean it. Needless to say, we left without purchasing a new toilet... I will tell him about that RAK one, thank-you! ?

Chewbacca Thu 06-Jan-22 23:42:47

Another vote for RAK bathroom fittings here. I had the whole bathroom redesigned and replaced 2 years ago and was recommended RAK as having rimless, easy clean loos and wash hand basins that have no dips and grooves for slimy bars of soap to sit in. Very streamlined and well designed, although not the cheapest.