Why do Hungarian toilets have a shelf?

The simple design consists of a bowl that contains standing water. You probably haven't stopped to appreciate the mechanics of that toilet design, but the benefit of standing pool of water is that it immediately isolates anything that should fall into the pool from the breathable air around it.

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Why do European toilets have shelves?

Instead of excretions making the plunge straight into the water, this toilet has a prominent shelf midway to catch everything. The natural question is why, oh why!, would Germans create this? And Germans have a practical, disgusting answer. I m told that the shelf is indeed to catch one's leavings for examination.

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What is the purpose of a shelf toilet?

Well, we can thank the Germans. The purpose of the shelf is inspection. You're meant to look at the consistency, shape, color, abnormalities, etc. before flushing, and then hope that the rush of water cleans the shelf enough – otherwise, that's what the brush is for.

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Why do German toilets have shelves?

Advantages: Energy costs in Germany are much higher than in the United States, which includes the cost of water. Therefore, the shelf toilets were designed to use much less water than their American counterparts - hence the shelf.

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Why do European toilets have a hole in the front?

Why do European toilets have a hole in the front? They were also designed with women in mind, according to Lynne Simick, the senior director of code development at IAPMO. The gap in the seat is designed to “allow women to wipe the perineal area after using the toilet without contacting the seat,” she tells Slate.

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POOP SHELVES?! German vs. American Bathroom Differences | Feli from Germany

42 related questions found

Why do toilets in Italy have no seats?

Most Italian public toilets don't have a toilet seat.

This has to do with maintenance. Since public toilets are often less than spotless, people often climb with their shoes on top of them, not to sit on a potentially dirty seat.

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Why do American toilets have no doors?

The gap provides visibility in case a person inside is in some kind of distress. It also helps first responders, who could pull the occupant out without having to break down the door.

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Why don't Americans use a bidet?

Well, bathrooms in the US aren't really built for bidets. There's no space or additional plumbing setup for bidet fixtures. But the biggest reason it hasn't caught on comes down to habit. Most Americans grew up using toilet paper.

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Why does Japan have squat toilets?

Unlike their sitting counterparts, squat toilets allow for quick and easy bowel movements, as leaning forward in a squat with the legs apart exerts minimal pressure on the intestines and rectum. The difference in posture also shortens the time spent in the stall, speeding up the turnover rate in public restrooms.

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Why are Australian toilets different?

Toilets In Australia

y, Australian toilets have a similar shape to American toilets but they have a different way of flushing. When an Australian toilet is flushed, the water swirls down the opposite direction as it would in America.

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Why do European toilets have two buttons?

The toilet has two buttons on the cistern rather than the single-flush one; one button delivers a lesser amount of water (eg. 3 litres) and the other a greater amount (eg. 6 litres). It also uses a larger 10 cm trapway in the bowl, allowing for water to come out faster and clear the bowl efficiently.

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Why do squat toilets still exist?

Squat toilets are used in public toilets, rather than household toilets, because they are perceived by some as easier to clean and more hygienic, therefore potentially more appropriate for general public use.

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Why are Japanese toilets transparent?

For one thing, they are brightly lit and colorful. For another, they are transparent. This way, the logic goes, those who need to use them can check out the cleanliness and safety of the stalls without having to walk inside or touch a thing.

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What is a ghost toilet?

Ghost flushing, also known as phantom flushing, occurs when the toilet tank flapper is no longer creating a watertight seal with the flush valve, causing water to unnecessarily leak into the toilet bowl.

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What is the toilet looking thing in European bathrooms?

Bidets are bathroom fixtures that use a stream of water to clean you off after using the bathroom. Bidets have been popular in Asia, South America, and Europe for many years, and are standard plumbing appliances in many household bathrooms.

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Why do Japanese people sit when showering?

It is common for people to sit down while showering before entering the public bath or hot spring, so the chairs are free to use. The most important part here is an obvious one: keeping everything clean and tidy.

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What country does not use toilet paper?

France, Portugal, Italy, Japan, Argentina, Venezuela, and Spain: Instead of toilet paper, people from these countries (most of them from Europe) usually have a bidet in their washrooms. A bidet like a toilet, but also includes a spout that streams water like a water fountain to rinse you clean.

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Why are there no chairs in Japan?

Without chairs or bedding, the Japanese generally used the floor to sit and sleep on. This is because the Japanese believe in the concept of ma, or negative space, and a desire for simplicity. Objects would be placed very far apart, as the traditional Japanese believed that this space encouraged creativity.

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How does your bum dry with a bidet?

Most Bidets have a built in air dryer for you to use. If the one you are facing does not, use toilet paper or other paper towels to dry yourself off. Do not throw any toilet paper into the Bidet.

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Which country uses bidets the most?

While households in the U.S favor dry toilet paper to this day, bidets are the dominant cleaning method in places like France, Japan, Italy, and Portugal. In many Asian countries, you will find bidet attachments fixed to the toilet bowl in public restrooms and the same can be said in Western Europe.

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Do people wipe if they use a bidet?

If you are using the bidet properly, and if your bidet is of high quality, you should not have to use toilet paper to wipe yourself clean. A high-quality bidet will clean your backside more thoroughly than any amount of wiping. However, you may want to use a small amount of toilet paper to dry yourself.

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Why do Canadian toilets have gaps?

They were also designed with women in mind, according to Lynne Simick, the senior director of code development at IAPMO. The gap in the seat is designed to “allow women to wipe the perineal area after using the toilet without contacting the seat,” she tells Slate. Simick notes that the design also benefits men.

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Why do Italian homes have 2 toilets?

That's not a second toilet – it's a bidet, a place to clean yourself 'down there. ' Bathtubs aren't common.

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Why are black toilets a thing?

In the 1920s, black toilets were inspired by art deco; in the 1980s, they had a resurgence because of the popularity of Italian modern design and black lacquer. Today, fashion-forward designers are showing them in dramatic ways and in different finishes and textures.

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