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Musical toilet
Inax has come out with a new toilet that features an SD memory card slot for playing your favorite tunes through built-in-stereo speakers. The card comes pre-loaded with some classical songs from Bach, Chopin and Mendelsohn. The Satis Asteo Washlet also has a sensor that automatically raises and lowers the seat and features an in-bowl light for night trips to the toilet.
Toto recall
Toilet maker Toto has recalled 180,000 of its Z-series toilets "after wiring problems caused three to catch fire over the past year." This is probably not a risk people want to assume when using a toilet. Toto will repair the toilets for free. Simply contact the manufacturer for more information.
The Wall Street Journal's Walt Mossberg took Bronell's high-tech Swash 800 toilet for a test drive and was not convinced of the need for a toilet seat that provide bidet-like cleaning and air drying.
Our verdict? While some features of the Swash 800 made our sit-down experience more of a luxury, we were unconvinced by its bidet-like cleaning and drying process. In particular, the air dryer was ineffective, just like those annoying air dryers for hands in public bathrooms. That meant you either had to remain seated a long time or resort to toilet paper, the low-tech commodity the Swash is supposed to surpass.
Also, the Swash 800 must plug into an electrical outlet, something most bathrooms don't have behind the toilet. So, you have to hire an electrician to install one, or use a long, ugly extension cord to plug the Swash into an outlet near the sink or vanity.
Historic toilet discovered
Plumbers in St. Paul have rescued an historic wooden toilet from the late 1800s. The fixture was discovered during a building renovation and local plumbers were called in to retrieve the rare toilet, which resembles an indoor outhouse.
Luxury bathrooms not consist of chandeliers and flat-screen TVs. MSN reports on a trend in upscale decorating that will cost Americans about $22 billion this year.
From a $20 million dollar home for sale in Fort Lauderdale, where there was a Rembrandt hanging in the loo, realtor Tim Elmes says a bathroom can make or break a deal.
"At the minimum, it's his and hers toilets. Even if there's one bathroom, there must be two separate toilets", said Elms.
Don't think a "his toilet" means less. It's not a linen closet; it's a gym -- and a Jacuzzi and sauna -- topping off a bathroom complex that's bigger than most homes.
Build your own foot flush
With two paper towel rolls, a wire hanger and a few other simple supplies you can build your own foot flusher for your toilet. This could be a temporary solution for someone with a disability.
Toilet lid sink
This handy toilet lid is a novel way of conserving water. Waste water from the washing of hands drains into the toilet tank and is used on the next flush.
Seat up or down? This problem tests the limits of many a marriage. Well, now a paper addresses the issue and determines what scenario for toilet seat operation most benefits marital harmony.
It is notable that John and Marsha each advocates a strategy that benefits them. This is predictable under game theory. However the conflict over strategies has a cost M in marital discord that is greater than the cumulative cost of toilet seat transfers. It behooves John and Marsha, therefore, to adopt a strategy that minimizes M.
Tissue for toddler tushs
The new Cottonelle Kids line of toilet tissues is targeted at parents of 4-to-9 year olds. In addition to child-friendly graphics, the new tissue aims to solve a parenting concern that children use too much tissue. Printed on each roll are graphics that instruct kids where to tear. The line also includes flushable moist wipes that limit children to one wipe at a time.
Is your toilet ringing?
If you drop your cell phone in the toilet and think you can get away with getting it replaced under warranty, think again. The phone companies are on to you. They're using a special label with a dot that turns red if it comes in contact with water. One glance and they know it wasn't a random malfunction.
Digital bathroom
Learn more about the digital bathroom of the future at MSNBC.
The Toilet Bowl, a unique restaurant in Taiwan goes to extremes with its theme. Not only are the seats real toilets, but dinner is served in the bowl. The picture at left speaks for itself.
Roto-Rooter released their five most unusual drainpipe discoveries in 2005. Just hope you don't have these items waiting for you down the drain.
- A Vicksburg, MS, crew found a live Civil War cannon shell believed to be from the 1861 siege of Vicksburg.
- In Greensboro, NC, a crew had to rescue a cat from the sewer.
- In Bloomington, IL, a plumber removed several GI Joes and Matchbox cars that a young boy sent down the toilet.
- Police in Canada had a crew retrieve a large stash of drugs that a suspect had just flushed down the drain.
- In Sacramento, CA, a crew had to pull from a business' toilets a large number of miniature liquor bottles after an employee who had been drinking on the job flushed them down the toilet.
Toto Japan has released a new toilet with a built in MP3 player to broadcast the songs of your choice. (Via Gizmodo)
Clean stains from bottom of bowl
Often dark spots or stains form in the bottom of a ceramic toilet bowl, particularly where the bowl curves. This is caused by material getting trapped in imperfections in the bowl's finish. A standard brush my have trouble reaching into these pits to remove the deposits. To get at them, turn of water to your tank and flush the toilet until it is empty. You can then reach in with a rag or sponge and clean out the deposits.
Save money with toilet repairs
The Seattle Times recommends fixing a gravity toilet during a bathroom makeover rather than replacing it. Taking care of toilet repairs on your own can help cut costs during a remodeling job, since new toilets can run from a couple of hundred to several thousand dollars.
For those times when only a new loo will do, however, consider the bathroom's location. If it's near a kitchen or other living area -- or if your home is small -- you'll probably prefer a quieter toilet, such as a traditional gravity model or a vacuum-assisted toilet. Noisier is a third type: the pressure-assisted model.
Toilet training for cats
The new $29 CitiKitty toilet training system for cats promises to have your feline potty trained in weeks. The CitiKitty is a training seat that replaces the litter box and sits on the toilet. After a cat begins using the new seat with kitty litter, internal ringer are slowly removed to finally expose an open toilet.
Bathroom disputes
A study of 253 newlyweds by Roto-Rooter found bathroom disputes top a top pet peeves list. Among the men and women surveyed sharing the bathroom seems to be a problem:
- 1. Leaves dirty clothes on the floor (47%)
- 2. Leaves sink a mess (44%)
- 3. Never cleans the toilet bowl (37%)
- 4. Never replaces the toilet paper (37%)
- 5. Tries to have conversations while I'm using the toilet (30%)
A throne for Susan Sarandon's Oscar
From the celebrity toilet file we find that, according to the Internet Movie Database, Susan Sarandon has her Oscar for Dead Man Walking displayed in a bathroom.
Oldest toilet search
American Standard is sponsoring a contest to look for the owner of the oldest American Standard toilet. If you think you may have it, you can send your photos to American Standard. They are also running a contest for the ugliest bathroom that can be entered at the same site.
Nature's Call urinals are each individually crafted to resemble a flower. The unique urinals are made from high-fire porcelain and can take up to a year to dry. The urinals are priced from $3500 to $9500.
This gem consists of a green base and a goal with a soccer ball on a string. The Pee Goal fits inside a urinal and the player takes aim. It also keeps cigarette butts out of the urinal drain. (Via Gizmodo)
Clear potty training
The Babywunder Deluxe is a completely clear potty for training toddlers. It's not clear what the advantages are for potty training, but your young one will get immediate feedback on his accomplishment and everyone can fully share in the experience.
Self-lifting toilet seat
ASC Elite Seat automatically returns to the up position and "gets out of harms way" to help keep the toilet seat dry.
A plunger replacement hit the market in June. The New Plunge, by S&K Manufacturing, is a piece of straight, flexible plastic that fits into the toilet drain. According to a press release, the New Plunge is easier to clean and store than a traditional plunger.
S&K recommends the following techniques for the New Plunge:
1. Prior to flushing: New Plunge allows you to prevent your toilet from clogging by using the "slice-and-dice" method on waste so that the toilet will not clog.
2. After flushing: Use the New Plunge as you would a plunger.
