Friday, December 19, 2003
Perfecting the Toilet
a.k.a. making a good flush even better
One of the early acquisitions we made after moving to Japan was a "washlet."
Mitsuko, my wife, will tell you that this is one of the best things in Japan.
But, you ask, what is a washlet? Ah, let me explain.
Basically, it's a toilet seat. But after you get home and connect up the
water line and electricity, that's when this toilet seat starts to show off
the extra features that make it not just useful, but plain luxurious.
First, it's heated. This is especially desirable in Japan, where most
toilets are in their own small room, often unheated (and with zone heating
the norm in Japan, that unheated room often is downright chilly!). So
instead of sitting on a cold ring of ice, you get to sit on a nicely warmed
plastic seat.
Second, this seat has a control panel on the side. Push the right button,
and a small pipe will come out of the hidden reaches and spray... well, you
know how a bidet works? The Japanese version can spray front or back,
depending on which button you push. The water is warmed, too.
And on the version we have, there is also air drying. So once you've
showered your privates, you can get a warm breeze to dry off.
Actually, I think there may be more functions. But those are the ones I've
learned about so far.
Of course, we got a basic model. If you want to get into fancier
versions, you can get additional features. One of our friends has the
remote control version, with the control panel on the wall away from the
toilet. This has the added function of lifting (or lowering) the seat at
the push of a button.
One of the advertised versions also lifts (and lowers) the toilet lid based
on detection of someone coming (or leaving). So when you walk up to the
toilet, it automatically raises the lid. And when you're finished and walk
away, it lowers the lid again.
So, that's what a washlet is. Here in Japan, you can buy them in home
centers and department stores. Ours came with necessary tools,
instructions, and a video about installing it. It was easy to install, and
well worth the effort.
While I don't use the washlet shower, the warm seat and my wife's pleasure
at having this certainly make it worthwhile for me.
After all, a plain toilet is just a flush and a gurgle, but a toilet with a
washlet, that's a flush, a fssst, a whoosh, a gurgle, and a sigh of
contentment! And it's a warm seat, too.
a.k.a. making a good flush even better
One of the early acquisitions we made after moving to Japan was a "washlet."
Mitsuko, my wife, will tell you that this is one of the best things in Japan.
But, you ask, what is a washlet? Ah, let me explain.
Basically, it's a toilet seat. But after you get home and connect up the
water line and electricity, that's when this toilet seat starts to show off
the extra features that make it not just useful, but plain luxurious.
First, it's heated. This is especially desirable in Japan, where most
toilets are in their own small room, often unheated (and with zone heating
the norm in Japan, that unheated room often is downright chilly!). So
instead of sitting on a cold ring of ice, you get to sit on a nicely warmed
plastic seat.
Second, this seat has a control panel on the side. Push the right button,
and a small pipe will come out of the hidden reaches and spray... well, you
know how a bidet works? The Japanese version can spray front or back,
depending on which button you push. The water is warmed, too.
And on the version we have, there is also air drying. So once you've
showered your privates, you can get a warm breeze to dry off.
Actually, I think there may be more functions. But those are the ones I've
learned about so far.
Of course, we got a basic model. If you want to get into fancier
versions, you can get additional features. One of our friends has the
remote control version, with the control panel on the wall away from the
toilet. This has the added function of lifting (or lowering) the seat at
the push of a button.
One of the advertised versions also lifts (and lowers) the toilet lid based
on detection of someone coming (or leaving). So when you walk up to the
toilet, it automatically raises the lid. And when you're finished and walk
away, it lowers the lid again.
So, that's what a washlet is. Here in Japan, you can buy them in home
centers and department stores. Ours came with necessary tools,
instructions, and a video about installing it. It was easy to install, and
well worth the effort.
While I don't use the washlet shower, the warm seat and my wife's pleasure
at having this certainly make it worthwhile for me.
After all, a plain toilet is just a flush and a gurgle, but a toilet with a
washlet, that's a flush, a fssst, a whoosh, a gurgle, and a sigh of
contentment! And it's a warm seat, too.
