Gentle cleansing, skin-friendly drying, intuitive controls and the perfect temperature at the touch of a button - smart toilets offer all this and more.
A smart shower toilet differs from a regular toilet in that, instead of you using toilet paper, it gently cleans your bum with a shower jet. It moves back and forth so that the water reaches the right places. The water temperature and strength of the jet can be individually adjusted. Afterwards, you can use a warm air dryer.
Smart toilets have long been standard in Japan and the US and now they're reaching new places, too. In Germany, they are less well known but are slowly gaining ground, according to trend researcher Frank A. Reinhardt, who ran a bathroom show at a German trade fair recently.
Check out the Villeroy & Boch shower toilet, designed to provide an “everyday experience of well-being."
Duravit's shower toilet, a “true designer” piece, has a bidet spray, heated seat, illuminated inner bowl and adjustable water temperature.
Or there's the shower toilet made by Hansgrohe which offers “maximum comfort, design and intuitive operation” with UV disinfection of the shower head and an odour extraction system integrated into the seat.
They all sound comfy but these are only really for people who don't mind taking their time. “Users should bear in mind that this procedure takes time,” says Gordon Fischer, owner of a plumbing and heating firm in Rüdersdorf, who installs smart toilets for clients. “A trip to the loo takes at least six to seven minutes.” Bring a book, maybe.
Helps elderly
Older people can also benefit from toilets with smart functions. “Many find it difficult to reach their backside with toilet paper due to physical limitations,” says Jens J. Wischmann, managing director of the German Sanitary Industry Association (VDS). “For them, gentle, thorough cleansing with a warm shower jet is particularly pleasant and helps them maintain their independence when using the toilet.”
You do not have to have or use all the features at once, of course.
Shower toilets are often available in a classic version and with comfort features. A basic version has a classic shower function and a hairdryer. The comfort version adds extras such as a heated seat and an illuminated bowl. Producers promote the latter as making it easier to find the toilet at night.
And in addition to the bidet function, the front shower – equipped with a separate arm – offers an additional hygiene feature that women may use.
Naturally, a fully equipped shower toilet can also be controlled by an app. Tech-savvy and health-conscious people might appreciate the fact that these smart toilets can even collect health data. “In Japan, these features are popular, but in Germany they are not yet very widespread,” says Wischmann.
Which functions ultimately suit whom is up to you. “It’s important to try out these toilets,” says Wischmann. That’s the best way to find out whether you really need specific features. You can test smart toilets at some bathroom showrooms.
Easier to fit, cleaner and greener
You want the design to be right too of course. Earlier models used to be large and bulky, dominating the bathroom but today’s shower toilets are the same size as conventional toilets.
New models fit into any bathroom, even smaller spaces and usually work with existing connections. Just remember to plan for an additional power connection. “The technology is discreet; everything can be adjusted via remote control,” says Wischmann.
Don’t need all that? The development of the shower toilet has also changed standard toilets. “As part of these innovations, the rimless interior design and the flush system were developed, whereby the entire interior is flushed without splashing,” says Reinhardt. “Standard toilets benefit from this too.”
Cleaning is easier too. Rims are a toilet's most problematic part. Dirt and limescale can collect and become embedded underneath it, though it is needed to prevent water from splashing over the rim when flushing.
“With the rimless version, the interior of the bowl and the water flow paths are now optimised so that the water stays in the bowl and flushes all around,” says Wischmann.
With the removal of the cavity at the inner rim, there are no longer any hard-to-reach areas that are difficult and time consuming to clean.
Rimless toilets also use less water than older models. With seven to 10 toilet visits per person per day, say, this is no small matter.
Dual-flush systems, familiar from public toilets, are now standard in private households too. That's where you decide whether you want to flush using a small or large volume of water.