Not
affiliated with any manufacture...... Just an
Evangelist for great toilet seats!
History of the Washlet.
The modern toilet in Japan, in English sometimes called Super Toilet,
and commonly known in Japanese as Washlet (ウォシュレット,
Washlet?) or as
warm-water cleaning toilet seat (温水洗浄便座, onsui senjō benza?) is likely
the most advanced type of toilet worldwide, showing a dazzling array of
features. The TOTO product Washlet Zoe is listed in the Guinness Book
of Records as the world's most sophisticated toilet with seven
functions. However, as the model was introduced in 1997, it is now
likely to be inferior to the latest model by Toto Neorest. The idea for
the washlet came from abroad, and the first toilet seat with integrated
bidet was produced outside of Japan in 1964. The age of the high-tech
toilet in Japan started in 1980 with the introduction of the Washlet G
Series by TOTO, and since then the product name washlet has been used
to refer to all types of Japanese high-tech toilets. As of 2002, almost
half of all private homes in Japan have such a toilet, exceeding the
number of households with a personal computer.While the toilet looks
like a Western-style toilet at first glance, there are a number of
additional features, such as blow dryer, seat heating, massage options,
water jet adjustments, automatic lid opening, flushing after use,
wireless control panels, heating and air conditioning for the room, et
cetera, included either as part of the toilet or in the seat. These
features can be accessed by a control panel that is either attached to
one side of the seat or on a wall nearby, often transmitting the
commands wirelessly to the toilet seat.
Basic features
The most basic feature is the integrated bidet, a nozzle the size of a
pencil that comes out from underneath the toilet seat and squirts
water. It has two settings: one for the anus and one for the vulva. The
former is called posterior wash, general use, or family cleaning, and
the latter is known as feminine cleaning or feminine wash. At no point
does the nozzle actually touch the body of the user. The nozzle is also
self-cleaning and cleans itself before and after operation. The user
can select to wash the anus or vulva by pressing the corresponding
button on the control panel. Usually the same nozzle is used for both
operations, but at a different position of the nozzle head, and using
different openings in the nozzle to squirt water at a different angle
to aim for the correct spot. Occasionally, two nozzles are used, each
dedicated for one area. The control logic is also attached to a
pressure switch in the toilet seat, and operates only if there is
pressure on the seat, indicating that the seat is occupied. The very
first models did not include this automatic switch-off. A number of
curious users pressed the button while watching the toilet to see its
mode of operation, and promptly received a jet of warm water in their
face.
Customization
Here is an advertisment in Japan for the Washlet.
The Apricot washer, an advertising by TOTO for their apricot model
lineMost high-tech toilets also provide the option to select the water
pressure to adjust to the preferences of the user. By default, the
vulva receives less pressure than the anus. Usually, the temperature of
the water can also be adjusted. Researchers in Japan have found that a
water temperature slightly higher than the body temperature is
preferred by most customers, and 38°C is considered best. The
exact nozzle position can also often be adjusted forward or aft
manually. High-end washlets also provide options for a vibrating and
pulsating jet of water. The manufacturers claim that this helps with
constipation or hemorrhoids, and a Dr. Hiroshi Ojima indeed claims that
such toilets are popular due to the low fiber intake and the high
constipation rates in Japan. The most advanced washlets can even mix
the water jet with soap for an improved cleaning process.
The washlet can replace toilet paper completely, but many users opt to
improve the hygiene in combination with the mechanical action of the
toilet paper. This also depends on the cleaned region, and the cleaning
of the vulva may not need toilet paper. Some people use toilet paper
before washing, some after washing, some use only the bidet and others
do not use the bidet at all and prefer to use toilet paper. A second
commonly found feature is a blow drier, often adjustable between
40°C and 60°C to dry the private regions after cleaning
with the integrated bidet.
Advanced features
Other features may include a heated seat, which may be adjustable from
30°C to 40°C; an automatic lid equipped with a
proximity sensor, which opens and closes based on the location of the
user.Some even play music to relax the user . Other features
are automatic flushing, automatic air deodorizing, and a germ-resistant
surface. Some models specially designed for the elderly may include arm
rests and devices that help the user to stand up after use. A soft
close feature slows the toilet lid down while closing so the lid does
not slam onto the seat, or in some models, the toilet lid will close
automatically a certain time after flushing. The most recent
introduction is the ozone deodorant system that can quickly eliminate
the smell of waste. Also, the latest models store the times of the use
of the toilet, and have a power saving mode that heats up the toilet
seat only during times when the toilet is likely to be used based on
the collected usage data. Some toilets also glow in the dark or may
even have air conditioning for hot summer days. Another recent
innovation are intelligent sensors that detect someone standing before
the toilet and automatically raise the lid (if the person is facing
away from the toilet) or the lid and seat together (if someone is
facing the toilet).
