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Toilets
Toilets, Toilets, Toilets
We’ve been working away at making the site easier to use again. This time, we’ve taken a look at our Toilets area of the website and decided to divide it down a little bit more. We’ve broken the category up into Back To Wall Toilets and Close Coupled Toilets.
Whilst I was working on the category, see what else other people had done with their sites, I saw that someone had asked the question – “What is a a close coupled toilet?”. Until we have a chance to write a full guide to choosing toilets, we’ll simply answer the question by stating:high level
A close coupled toilet is one where there is a separate toilet bowl and cistern, but they are made so that the cistern sits on the bowl, at the back, as if they were a one-piece toilet. These toilets are a modern update to the original “low-level” toilet and cistern, which still used gravity to aid in the flushing of the wc. These were an evolutionary step on from the high level wc familiar in older properties.
High Level WC – old style found in turn-of-the-century bathrooms
The cistern of the low level WC comes down from somewhere near the ceiling with improved flushing technology.
Finally, the cistern comes down to meet the toilet on the Close Coupled toilet. Flushing technology has improved so much that the gravity effect of a raised cistern is no longer necessary.
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Man reunited with ring – 73 years after he dropped it in the toilet!
In 1938, a young man in California dropped his class ring into the toilet at the butcher’s shop he worked in and never expected to see it again.
In a bizarre twist of fate and consequences, Jesse Mattos had it returned to him 73 years later after being found when a sanitation team were doing routine maintenance on the sewage system.
Picture from the Times-Herald
The ring appeared amongst debris and was found by sanitation worker Tony Congi, who attended the same high school in the 1970s and recognised the design of the ring. Tony then took the ring to be cleaned and it revealed that it had the year 1938 and initials “JTM”. He then found the yearbook from that year and discovered only one person graduating that year had the initials.
In another weird twist, Tony knew an old classmate of Jesse’s who gave him his phone number so the two men could meet and Tony could return Jesse’s keepsake, 73 years after he lost it!
Trade Plumbing are a leading supplier of bathroom and heating supplies to both the trade and the public, selling a wide range of goods from shower enclosures to electric towel rails at great value prices.
No CommentsToilet inspired garden on show at the Chelsea Flower Show
The Chelsea Flower Show always aims to push boundaries and this year they’ve got an unusual garden from a South Korean designer which is centred around a toilet.
In South Korea, it is normal for the toilet to be located in the garden and for many centuries people in Korea have considered using the toilet to be a highly spiritual experience which helps you cleanse your mind.
The garden is named Hae-woo-so, which is the Korean word for a traditional toilet and features a number of pathways leading to the traditional toilet building.
The designer, Jihae Hwang, is believed to be the first South Korean designer to exhibit at the show and said: “There’s no limited number of topics you can make a garden from. Why not a toilet?”
Other weird and wonderful exhibits on show include a garden suspended 25m in the air, a working water mill and a cypress tree covered in gold.
If the garden has inspired you to update your bathroom, look to Trade Plumbing. They sell a wide selection of bathroom fittings and fixtures including bathroom suites, shower enclosures and central heating supplies so you can create your own spiritual retreat in your home.
No CommentsThe latest must have luxury toilet for just £4,000!
An American manufacturer has unveiled the latest in bathroom technology – an ultra hi-tech toilet costing £3,900.
The Numi, produced by Kohler has a plethora of features to make your experience as comfortable as possible, including a heated seat, foot-warming hot air vents, a motion-activated seat and lid, and a bidet. 
It also includes the latest technological facilities such as illuminated side panels, a touch screen computer panel and a built in sound system with speakers which can either play built in music or the radio.
Jim Lewis, Kohler’s vice-president of marketing says that the Numi is innovative and in a league of its own, not just due to the price!
He said: “Numi packs technology into a compact toilet and is controlled by an advanced and intuitive interface. It’s an astounding example of modern industrial design where form and function go hand in hand.”
Despite all the features it includes, does it really offer value for money? The Numi is probably destined for the homes of the rich and famous, as we imagine most people wouldn’t be able to justify throwing that much money down the (toilet) pan!
No CommentsSquirrel rescued from toilet by British businessman
Following the blog post we did a few weeks ago about strange things found in bathrooms, here’s another one to add to the list!
A British man was on a business trip to Malawi and on his return to his hotel, he found something he didn’t expect in his bathroom – a squirrel!
Whilst getting ready for bed, Duncan Goose discovered the critter inside the toilet bowl. In his shock, he slammed back down the lid but then decided that the animal was helpless and could do with some assistance.
He put a hand towel into the toilet to allow the squirrel to climb up then placed it in a laundry basket to take it outside and release it.
Mr Goose said: ‘It didn’t seem too much the worse for wear so hopefully it’s recovered from the experience and will go on to have a happy life devoid of toilet bowl experiences.’
No CommentsToilet shaped house is transformed…into a toilet museum
Over in South Korea, a gentleman named Sim Jae-Duck was such a big fan of toilets that he built himself a house in the shape of one!
The man who built the house was the chairman of World Toilet Association, and it cost him $1.6million to build back in 2007. Created out of glass and concrete, the house is set over two stories and has a bathroom in the centre.
The house, located in Suwon which is 24 miles south of Seoul, has now been transformed into a toilet museum. It features exhibits such as bathroom signs and many pictures of toilets from all over the world.
The proceeds from the museum will go towards funding cleaner toilets across the world, as Sim Jae-Duck was well known for his efforts in promoting good bathroom hygiene, especially as the country prepared for the 2002 World Cup.
Inspired by the building to update your bathroom? Trade Plumbing sell everything you could need to both the trade and the public, offering great value and a great selection. From bathroom suites and shower enclosures to taps and furniture, they have everything you could want for your bathroom.
No CommentsA brief history of the bathroom…
We all visit the toilet quite regularly on a daily basis so next time you’re in there and about to flush, just take a second to think how dirty, unhealthy and just generally mucky this world would be without the invention of the toilet.
For starters there would be no toilet without the bathroom so let’s take a look at the bigger picture and have a look into bathrooms. Although there were outdoor ‘water closets’ in and around the Victorian times, the bathroom or WC only ever really moved indoors when the first flushing toilet was built by an aptly named gentleman; Thomas Crapper. His plumbing company built the first flushing toilet, but many people are incorrect in saying that he invented the first toilet.
He didn’t invent the first toilet at all, in fact there’s been that many factors contributing to the invention of the flushing toilet that we can’t list one particular name and say “Ah yes, it was this old chap who invented the first one!”. The invention of the flushing toilet has factors that go all the way back to the 31st Century BC and they come as far forward as 1980. So you can put all these factors together and bang, you’ve got your indoor toilet! Now you can flush…
No CommentsRoyal Wedding to be Marked By Commemorative Toilet
It’s all set to be the most-watched event of the year as Prince William and Kate Middleton tie the knot on Friday 29 April 2011 at Westminster Abbey, London. Millions across the country and around the world will be tuning in and for an event of such magnitude, it’s only right that there’s a commemorative toilet to mark it!
That’s the intention of Friends of Stamford Recreation Ground in London who are hoping to install a new toilet block in the local park if they are able to raise £78,000 through the Spend a Penny Campaign.
Image courtesy of: Mirror Group
Chairman Penny Dawson said that the group is considering installing a brick or plaque with the couple’s initials to mark the Royal wedding in April and is also looking at a host of other fundraising ideas.
Buckingham Palace is now referring to Miss Middleton as Catherine, after she was previously known as Kate, but the unfortunate combination of the couple’s initials WC has led to a change in design of official commemorative china.
In normal cases, the bride’s initial would follow the groom’s but this has changed to CW for the forthcoming nuptials.
Mrs Dawson has stressed that the plaque is still at the ideas stage and that plaques were placed on building to mark the wedding of William’s parents.
She said: “It is important to mark a Royal occasion. It is a national event and in the year we are building the toilet. It’s quite fun and I hope they are not offended by it.”
The campaign now has £33,000 in the bank but needs to raise the remaining £45,000 by grants and fundraising.
Volunteers are looking at a number of events, including coffee mornings.
Mrs Dawson said that there was a suggestion of holding a gurning competition in Red Lion Square later in the year. She said: “We thought it might be a bit of fun.”
No CommentsAll Cisterns Go with Community Toilet Scheme
It’s the season of goodwill and businesses in Hertfordshire are extending theirs to Christmas shoppers by opening their doors and offering their toilet facilities to all.
The council-led scheme could see local companies earn up to £1,000 for their gesture as opposed to the constant, expensive maintenance of public loos. 
The scheme was trialled in Borehamwood and so Hertsmere Borough Council are rolling it out across Bushey, Radlett and Potters Bar, and are asking shops, cafes and pubs in the area to sign up.
Members of the public would be able to use the toilet facilities during the premise’s opening hours and without any need to make a purchase.
The amount of money each business will receive, after signing up to the scheme, will depend on the facilities on offer, their location and opening hours. Businesses with one unisex toilet will get £600, while those with separate male and female toilets, disabled toilets and baby changing facilities will get £1,000.
Councillor Jean Heywood, Portfolio Holder for Environment, said: “I hope businesses will jump at the chance to earn some extra money in the current financial climate.
“It is a great scheme and a win-win situation for both shoppers and shopkeepers – shoppers will have clean and safe convenient facilities to use and shopkeepers will get an annual fee as well as increased footfall which can boost sales.”
No CommentsToilet of the Year Awards – The Winners and the LOOsers
Competition is always rife at this time of year as we reminisce about the last 12 months and dish out awards in various industries… and the toilet sector is no different with Britain’s Loo of the Year Awards having taken place this week.
The awards herald the greatest toilets in the public domain which includes retail stores, shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, cinemas and basically any non-residential loo! A whopping 1,400 venues were competing for the annual accolade and that holy grail of Loo of the Year which includes recognition from fellow peers and a trophy bearing a mounted golden toilet seat. 
“This is our opportunity to celebrate the very best in away-from-home toilets,” Mike Bone, director of the British Toilet Association, said in his opening address. “The toilets you will see today, the winning toilets, show the power of really wanting something good in this world and striving to achieve it.”
Inspector Richard Ward declines offers of free food, and even cups of tea or coffee, when making his rounds. “I won’t compromise my neutrality,” he says.
For all contestants, the Loo of Year awards are deadly serious. Doreen Hutton, environmental services manger for 2007 overall grand prize winner, the Trafford Centre, says she has constant thoughts of how to reclaim her trophy.
“We feel that pressure, that we need to stay up there and stay forward thinking when it comes to new toilet technology,” she says.
As the night drew to its climax with purple and blue spotlights circling the room, it was the name of British pub chain JD Wetherspoon which reigned supreme, picking up that much-coveted golden toilet seat.
The company operates 790 pubs across the UK and has a board that places a premium on restroom standards with employees instructed to check bathrooms are clean every half an hour.
Wetherspoon’s head of property and acquisitions, Jon Randall, said: “We are thrilled to have been named as the overall winner of the Loo of the Year Awards 2010. Our staff maintain their pub toilets to the highest standards at all times and this is reflected in the assessor’s inspections.
“We will continue to provide our customers with the best toilets at all times.”
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