Toilet Replacement Lids and Seats - Here's why you should always close the toilet lid when you flush - This Old Toilet 800-658-4521

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You really should put the toilet seat down.

And while it may also put some household arguments to rest, the real reason to close the toilet lid is a phenomenon known as a "toilet plume."

When you flush a toilet, the swirling water that removes your waste from the bowl also mixes with small particles of that waste, shooting aerosolized feces into the air.

Low-flow toilets have decreased this risk — they don't gush or blast as much as other types of johns — but countless old toilets are still in use today and can really spew.

Philip Tierno, a microbiologist at New York University, says that aerosol plumes can reach as high as 15 feet.

"It is a good idea to lower the seat, especially if the bathroom is used by multiple people," Tierno told Tech Insider.

A study published in the journal Applied Microbiology in 1975 (before the adoption of low-flow toilets) found that whatever you put in your toilet can stay there long after you flush. After seeding a toilet bowl with potentially infectious bacteria and viruses, the researchers found that the toilet dispersed the microbes far enough to settle on other bathroom surfaces, like the floor, the sink, and even your toothbrush.

The microbes also remained on the toilet bowl's porcelain surface after multiple flushes, and while the number of microbes decreased after the first few flushes, the population leveled out and remained until it was scrubbed off (with or without a detergent).

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A more recent scientific review article found similar dispersion results, although it didn't find any evidence supporting or denying that disease could be transferred through a toilet plume. More disgusting research is needed to truly gauge the danger of these aerosolized fecal particles.

So don't worry — too much — if you come into contact with the contents of a toilet plume.

"If you have [unbroken] skin, you're likely to be okay," says Tierno. He notes, however, that bacteria like salmonella and shigella and viruses like norovirus and hepatitis A, are transmitted when fecal particles enter the mouth. But it's best to be wary even if you plan on keeping your mouth away from your toilet.

Even with your seat down, Tierno says, it's probably a good idea to store your mouth related items in the cabinet. "Make sure your cups and toothbrushes are tucked away."

And what about the public toilets, which rarely have lids? Tierno suggests that you "exit at the time of the flush."

Yet as gnarly as toilet plumes may be, Tierno insists that proper hygiene is more crucial than any toilet-plume prevention. "It's most important to wash your hands before you exit the toilet," he says.

source: http://www.techinsider.io/flushing-toilet-seat-up-sprays-water-germs-2016-3

by Sean Kane

http://www.thisoldtoilet.com

Toilet Replacement Lids and Seats - Track a toilet through this app, keep city roads clean - This Old Toilet 800-658-4521

On his way home from his office in New Motibagh, Ishan Anand, 26, saw a man urinating on the street near Africa Avenue Road. This surprised him as less than 50 metres away from the spot there was a public toilet built by New Delhi Municipal Corporation. And, around a kilometre’s distance from the place is another block of five toilets.

“I was surprised as this is among the very few stretches in Delhi that has well maintained public toilets,” said Ishan. The sight made Ishan realise that several people urinate on the streets because they don’t know the location of the toilets. “Many people would avoid urinating in public if they knew the location of the nearest toilet,” he said. This gave Ishan and idea to develop a mobile application to track all toilets maintained by Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Delhi Development Authority and the ones in toilets in malls and petrol pumps.

It took Ishan, an engineer by profession, 10 months to link a total of 1,100 toilets in his application which not only helps one to locate the nearest toilet but also asks users feedback on how well it is maintained.

Being the son of former DDA vice-chairman helped Ishan get an access to the toilets’ locations from municipal corporations and DDA. Initially, he used to visit the sites and see the condition of the toilets. Later, when it became difficult to cope up with the work pressure as well as visiting the sites, he hired a person to do the site visits, take pictures and give feedback.

“I have rated all the toilets that would help one know about its cleanliness aspect. If the toilet has received five stars it is in very good condition while one star means very poor. The application was launched by Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung last week. During the launch, the L-G had urged municipal corporations and DDA to use the app to upgrade the existing conditions of public toilets and also help in updating the locations of all the public toilets which do not figure in the list at present.

During his research, Ishan found that several toilets are not well-maintained. He said, “The app can be used by the civic bodies to keep a check on the maintenance of the toilets.”

The mobile app uses the phone’s GPS to help find toilets within a 3km radius. Once the nearest toilet is located/selected then the app will provide the shortest route to its exact location. Any user can write a review on existing facilities available and also add toilets that are not listed.

“We are trying to crowd source as it is very difficult for an individual to locate all the toilets. Any user can click a picture of a toilet which would be later verified by me and if details found correct, it would be uploaded,” said Ishan. The application can be downloaded on android and iPhones.

Next, Ishan wants to cover NCR region after which he will focus on other Metro cities

source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/track-a-toilet-through-this-app-keep-city-roads-clean/story-0yaBYLBQ3yKapUOVTjotaM.html

by Abhinav Rajput

http://www.thisoldtoilet.com

Toilet Replacement Lids and Seats - Install water-saving toilets to save money - This Old Toilet 800-658-4521

It is not difficult to repair a leaky toilet with a repair kit from any hardware store. Since you are remodeling and want the best decor, you might as well install a new water-saving model. Flushing old standard water-usage toilets accounts for the greatest water usage for a typical family.

Your older toilets probably use either 5.0 or 3.5 gpf (gallons per flush). With ever increasing water rates, a family can save more than $120 per year by installing new toilets. If you can find a low-cost two-piece (tank and bowl separate) toilet, the savings can pay back its cost in one year. Be sure to measure the setback from the wall so it matches the existing plumbing.

It has not been possible to buy a toilet with a gpf above 1.6 for many years. This is a federal standard. There are many toilets now that use 1.28 gpf and some expensive ones use only 1.1 gpf. They utilize newer designs of internal water flow passages to create an effective flushing action. The water flowing into the bowl cleans it, but does not actually "flush" out the bowl. A suction action inside the internal passages sucks the wastes out and down the drain.

Most economical design is a 1.6- or 1.28-gpf gravity-type toilet. These provide an effective flush and are quiet which is ideal for a master bathroom. Stylish one-piece designs are more expensive, but they do not flush better than cheaper two-piece ones. Another advantage of a two-piece design is it's easier to carry and handle during installation.

Another water-saving option is a dual-flush toilet. It uses about 1.0 gpf for liquids and 1.6 gpf for solids. Since most flushes are for liquids, the savings can be substantial. Some designs use a dual-action flush handle on top of the tank. Others use a standard flush handle and you move it either up or down to select the type of flush.

If one of your bathrooms is not in a location where noise is a problem, install a pressure-assist model. These are often used in public restrooms and flush forcefully with low water usage. The incoming water compresses air in a small chamber hidden inside the tank. When flushed, this air creates a louder, very rapid effective flush.

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Also consider installing a urinal if there are men in your family. A urinal uses less than 1.0 gpf. Residential models are not as large as ones in public restrooms. Some residential urinals collapse and are hidden in the wall.

When adding a new bathroom or moving the plumbing in a house on a slab, installing the drain can be a problem. A macerating toilet will grind up the waste when flushed and then pump it up to an existing drain. This also is effective for basements.

source: http://journalstar.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/james-dulley-install-water-saving-toilets-to-save-money/article_ac8c8ec3-de53-54b8-b5aa-196cf2a786a8.html

by James Dulley

http://www.thisoldtoiltet.com

Toilet Replacement Lids and Seats - Boeing's New Self-Cleaning Toilet Is a Germophobe's Delight - This Old Toilet 800-658-4521

Boeing's New Self-Cleaning Toilet Is a Germophobe's Delight

The trash can’s overflowing, the floor’s a mess and raising the toilet lid is a source of dread. Even the hardiest frequent fliers turn into germophobes hours into a long-range trip.

Boeing Co. is readying a solution: a self-cleaning toilet. The U.S. planemaker says it’s found a way to use ultraviolet light to kill 99.99 percent of germs in jetliner lavatories, disinfect all surfaces after every use in three seconds and keep the restroom from becoming a petri dish.

Lavatories that constantly tidy themselves at 30,000 feet (9,100 meters) could help slow the spread of infectious diseases borne by passengers jetting between continents, said George Hamlin, an aviation consultant. The invention could also reduce airlines’ maintenance bills if it doesn’t involve many moving parts, he said. Airbus Group SE is working on a similar concept.

“If it’s a reasonable cost, I could see this becoming widespread,” Hamlin said of Boeing’s new product.

The concept offers a new twist on the old aviator saying, “If it ain’t Boeing, I ain’t going,” aviation consultant Robert Mann said by e-mail. “Boeing should ground-test these in big-city public facilities to develop some street cred,” he said.

Ultraviolet Light

Boeing’s lavatory prototype uses a type of ultraviolet light, different from the rays in tanning beds, that doesn’t harm humans. Activated only when the airliner toilet isn’t in use, the lights flood touch surfaces such as the toilet seat, sink and counter top.

“We’re trying to alleviate the anxiety we all face when using a restroom that gets a workout during a flight,” Jeanne Yu, director of environmental performance for Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, said in a statement.

Airbus is working on its own improvements for jetliner bathrooms, according to Ingo Wuggetzer, the European company’s vice president of marketing.

“Airbus is developing ‘touchless’ technologies for our future lavs, and we will also include ‘anti-bacterial’ surfaces as an upcoming lav feature,” Wuggetzer said. “Moreover, as well as improving lav hygiene, the ambiance and overall freshness will be noticeably enhanced. So, overall, Airbus is set to significantly raise the bar on the passengers’ experience of using an in-flight lav.”

Eliminating Odors

Boeing has filed a patent for the concept, which it says can minimize the growth and potential transmission of micro-organisms. The sanitizing even helps rid a lavatory of odors.

It also operates without being touched. The cleaning system would lift and close the toilet seat by itself so that all surfaces are exposed during the cleaning cycle, according to Boeing. Other perks for those worried about germs: a hands-free faucet, soap dispenser, trash flap, toilet lid and hand dryer. The planemaker is also studying a hands-free door latch and vacuum vent system for floor spillage.

Maintenance Savings

Boeing’s concept is a finalist for a Crystal Cabin Award that will be announced at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, Germany, on April 5.

The potential benefits aren’t just in the bathroom. The self-cleaning concept could also help airlines save money on costly repairs, Mann said.

Toilets “are notoriously difficult to keep maintained to high standards, which shows up as odors that cannot be controlled and eventually, corrosion to structures adjoining the lav module,” such as floor beams and fuselage stringers, Mann said. “It really would be a maintenance cost savings, too.”

source: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-03-03/boeing-s-new-self-cleaning-jet-toilet-is-a-germophobe-s-delight

by Julie Johnsson and Andrea Rothman

http://www.thisoldtoilet.com

Toilet Replacement Lids and Seats - Luxury toilet seats coming out of the water closet - This Old Toilet 800-658-4521

Take a trip to Japan and you're floored by the health-minded fastidiousness of the culture.
Cab drivers wear white gloves, place lace doilies on the backseat head rests. Courteous cold sufferers hide behind a gauze mask to contain their germs. Hotel guests find slippers at their door (so please remove your dirty shoes).
And most fascinating, when venturing into a hotel or even a public bathroom, visitors are greeted by an auto-washing toilet seat, most often bearing the Toto brand name Washlet, inviting you to enjoy a hands-free, paper-free, hyper-cleansing potty visit that's weird and wonderful at the same time.

Connected to the toilet's cold water line and a nearby GFCI electric outlet, then controlled with a side mount or wireless remote, even the most basic ($300 and up, online) Washlet warms its seat for comfort, pre-mists the bowl (so sediment is less likely to stick) and turns on a surprisingly effective air freshener as soon as you settle in.

Best of all, this thing really scrubs you clean - back or front (for the ladies) - with a stream of warm water directed in a fine or forceful, pulsing, steady or oscillating fashion. Then dries you off with a breeze of warm air.

Pricier ($675 and up) Washlets are even more accommodating. While lesser examples temporarily run out of warm rinse water (held in a rear holding tank) after 45 seconds, a sleeker, tankless S300e or S350e delivers unlimited quantities, heated instantly with a ceramic element.

Adding robotic charms, too, a proximity sensor on the S350e automatically lifts the lid (or lid & seat) as you approach, drops 'em after you depart. And turns on a night light to help guys aim more accurately (in the dark) from a standing position.

Want automatic, hands-free flushing, too? For that you must invest $3,500 to $10,000 for one of the fully integrated (and quite handsome) smart toilets in Toto's Neorest line.

These high-performance "thrones" are often cited as a shining example of Japanese tech innovation and eccentricity. Most amusingly so in that episode of The Simpsons wherein Homer, on a sojourn to Tokyo, is befuddled by the indecipherable controls and "dancing water" antics.

So you might be surprised to learn (as was I) that the first example of this "better than a bidet" species was made in the U.S. and imported to Japan by Toto, starting in 1969.

That "wash air seat" had a clunky medicinal look, mostly used in hospitals and nursing homes. The things are still a great helper for elders and anyone incapacitated to maintain dignity and independence during ablutions.

But Toto envisioned a much wider audience. So it tweaked and domesticated the beast, then finally launched its own more consumer-friendly Washlet in 1982 with a prime-time TV commercial that hit a sore spot with some Japanese viewers but tickled lots more. In the ad, a girl is trying to wipe black paint off her hand with paper, making a mess. "Paper won't fully clean it," she says. "It's the same with your bottom." Today, smart toilets are found in 70 percent of Japanese homes.

Marketing Washlets and Neorests in the U.S. has been harder. As recently as four years ago, Toto's international division chief Hiromichi Tabata groused to the Japan Times about "the cultural taboo over talking about toilets" here.

But the tide started turning, Toto U.S.A. president William Strang told me recently, after he suggested to kitchen and bath retailers to put a Neorest or a Washlet seat "in the showroom bathroom that your visitors use. They're squeamish the first time. But after a chance to test drive, they truly fall in love with it."

And become proselytizers for the cause. Like my buddy Brian ("no last name, please") a medical researcher for a leading Philadelphia hospital who invited me over to sit and "peri care" on his $3,500 Neorest 500. "It seemed like a crazy luxury when I bought it four years ago. But its performance has been flawless, and when you enjoy using it at least once to several times a day, doesn't seem an indulgence at all."

Strang says his techy toilets are now a suitable subject for dinner party conversation. "When I have a new model in the house, people line up to try it." And it's acceptable brunch talk, too. The CBS Sunday Morning show recently devoted a lengthy segment to the Toto Museum in Tokyo and its products.

Strang claims there's even an enthusiastic customer base for a new flagship model - the $10,000 Neorest 750H - which furthers the species' already sophisticated ("E-Water+") germicidal hygiene with antistick bowl finishes and an ultraviolet "Actilight."

But I see this newbie as the means to make Toto's less pricey models seem positively "cheap." Like the $750 and up S350E Washlet seat - available in round (snug) or elongated seat versions, white or beige. My Toto of choice, the S350e does almost everything the kingly Neorests do and looks reasonably at home on all but the narrowest of toilets.

Ready to splurge on a new toilet as well as a smart seat? Check out Toto's neatly integrated Connect+ series - such as the Carlyle II Connect+ with Washlet S350e Connect+ (spotted online for $1,400 and up). A comfortable universal height design, available in either low consumption (1.28 gallons per flush) or ultra efficient (1.0 gpf) form, it neatly hides the smart seat's water pipe and electric line. And while billed as "elongated" can often fit into a spot formerly occupied by a round toilet with the deployment of Toto's optional (and unique) 14-inch rough-in kit. Ask your plumber if it's right for you.

source: http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20160228_Luxury_toilet_seats_coming_out_of_the_water_closet.html

by Jonathan Takiff

http://www.thisoldtoilet.com