Why are American toilets different?

American toilets are all about suction, they pull the waste down when the toilet is flushed, and then out into the “trap way”. The amount of suction required for this process means that the “trap way” needs to be narrow, and it's usually around five centimetres wide.
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Why do American toilets flush different?

For the American toilets, there is a long and narrow reverse 'S' or 'P' trap with two ends. One end is connected to the toilet bowl and the other end is connected to the drain pipe which is underneath the toilet bowl. The aim of the technical design is to create a siphoning action when flushing.
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Why are European toilets different than American?

European toilets use less water (and may have the "dual-flush" option that lets users choose a lighter flush for liquid waste), and there's less splashback and less noise involved.
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Why do American toilet seats have gaps?

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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Why don t toilets have seats in Europe?

Why are all the toilet seats missing in Italian public bathrooms? Seat-free toilets are seen as more hygienic because strangers aren't sharing the same toilet seat. Toilet seats are also often broken by patrons and are expensive and difficult to replace.
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British vs American Toilets



Why do toilets in Germany have a shelf?

Therefore, the shelf toilets were designed to use much less water than their American counterparts - hence the shelf. If you are sick, you can look at your prized matter before flushing it or even take a stool sample for your doctor. Not that you will need this often, but it is an advantage, even though a strange one.
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Why are American bathroom gaps so big?

In order to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), public restrooms need to provide enough space for wheelchairs – least 9 inches of space between the floor and door is required.
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Why don t hospital toilets have lids?

Hospitals often do not have lidded loos because it's believed they are too difficult for patients with mobility problems to utilize.
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Should toilet seats be up or down while pooping?

It's more hygienic. The most obvious reason to leave the toilet lid down is because it's more hygienic. Toilet water contains microbes of… well, everything that goes down it, to put it politely. Many bugs and infections have also been found in toilets, including the common cold, flu, E.
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Why do Europeans use toilet paper and not water?

One of the reasons some countries have always favoured toilet paper, it appears, is the climate. Most countries in Northern Europe are cold for a good part of the year, and although we live in the 21st century and water heating is available today, it's just a habit that's been passed down the ages.
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Why do so many countries use bidets but the US doesn t?

World War II: Some people suppose that Americans don't use bidets because of their experience in World War II. During World War II, American soldiers would have visited brothels while stationed in France. Upon return home, they would have associated bidets with brothels, creating an association with immorality.
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What is a Japanese toilet?

A Japanese toilet or smart toilet, as it's often referred to, is a toilet built with smart technology. Put simply, this means smart toilets can interact with their user via remote control access. With a press of the button, you can flush, spray and dry. As the name suggests, Japanese toilets originated in Japan.
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Why do I have to flush my toilet 2 or 3 times?

You have a poor quality, low-flush toilet.

Some low-flush toilets just don't create enough suction to properly do what they should. In these cases, you may have to flush twice or hold down the handle to get the proper suction you need. Consider replacing your toilet if this is the problem.
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Why don t American toilets have bidets?

Part of the reason is that bidets got a bad reputation. Americans first saw them in World War II in European brothels, so, many associated them with sex work. By the time Arnold Cohen tried to introduce them to America in the 1960s, it was too late.
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Do people in Europe use toilet paper?

In Europe, toilet paper is certainly an option for sanitation, but most occupants overseas prefer to use the bidet for cleaning themselves post toilet use. Bidets feature a mounted spout that sprays water when the occupant is in place and able to press a button.
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Why do toilets have 2 seats?

This seat was designed with the intention of preventing genitalia from coming into touch with the seat itself. They are intended to be used when seated. The hinged seat is the part of the toilet that sits on while really using it (in the case of a woman) ...
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Should you flush the toilet with the lid open or closed?

But there's one thing that not everyone may be on the same page about—whether you should close the lid before flushing the toilet. As it turns out, research suggests that we definitely should be closing the lid before every flush, no matter how clean your toilet is. After all, toilets have lids for a reason.
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Is it more sanitary to close the toilet lid?

That lid is there for a reason!

Because if you don't close that toilet lid when you flush, a lot of unfriendly bacteria is going to spray all over your bathroom. And no, this is not a joke. Pro tip: Leaking toilets aren't sanitary as well, so here's how to fix it.
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Why do public bathroom doors not touch the floor?

The stall doors enable you to see if someone is on the floor and in need of medical attention. Additionally, that extra height allows for someone to unlock the door from the outside if needed, like when a child accidentally locks themselves in the stall and cannot find their way out.
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Why public toilets don t reach the floor?

For starters, bathroom stalls with walls and doors that don't go all the way to the floor are easier to clean. While janitors would have to clean each stall individually if their stall walls went from floor to ceiling, the open layout that most public bathrooms observe leads to an orderly cleaning environment.
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What do the British call the toilet?

Loo. Despite being a very British word for toilet, 'loo' is actually derived from the French phrase 'guardez l'eau', which means 'watch out for the water'.
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Why do German toilets have two buttons?

To further facilitate saving water, there are usually two buttons to start the flow – one smaller embedded button for less water for number one and a larger push button for more water for number two.
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