Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with toilets

no, I am not talking about bidets!

mustcatchmooseandsquirrel — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 03:48:20 -0800

Why do public bathrooms in France commonly not have toilet seats on their toilets?

To flush or not to flush

crunchtopmuffin — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 20:30:34 -0800

Woman Filter: So a girlfriend of mine and I just discovered that we've been operating under contradicting information about whether it's okay to flush tampons! I thought that you never, ever flush them. She's been operating under the assumption that it's only not okay to flush them into a septic system, but otherwise it's okay. Does anyone have any expert knowledge about this? Google was only helpful in terms of getting personal perspectives.

NOBODY LIKES YOU THOMAS CRAPPER NOW GET YOUR LEGACY OUT OF MY BATHROOM

saysthis — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 04:11:44 -0800

I was a bit inspired by this post to think about what kinds of composting toilets are available for a poured-concrete apartment building in the middle of an urban area. Am I nuts for even thinking of it? Even if I could, wouldn't the stench ruin us? Or what are the technological barriers preventing these systems from being smaller than they are? The girlfriend and I are 4 months away from moving into our new place, and as there simply IS NOT such a thing as a separate-standing home in Beijing, we're looking at ways to make our new abode a little less polluting. It's a standard, cut-rate poured-concrete apartment, we're on the top floor (which means that given the proper permission we can install things on the roof and hang things off the side of the building), and it's a two-floor penthouse with 3 bathrooms (in line with the usual overabundance of toilets common in floor plans these days). The water pipes are already connected, but...it'd be nice if we didn't have to use them. Do I have any options?

Help fix a fussy toilet...

Manhasset — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 06:00:04 -0800

I have a toilet that doesn't flush well. Can you help me fix it? My toilet fills up wih water pretty fast and most of the time functions but more often than I'd like... well, stuff just doesn't go down. However, it's not clogged.

When I hold the handle down for the entirety of the flush ('til all water leaves it), it generally works perfectly. However, if the handle is just pushed like a normal flush, it sorta half flushes.

I know nothing about plumbing or toilet-workings but am hoping this can be fixed by opening the back and turning or twisting some things. I've fiddled with it with zero success.

Suggestions?

How do I de-stench my toilet without killing my cat?

grapefruitmoon — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 14:47:30 -0800

ToiletFilter: How do I de-stenchify a smelly toilet and not kill my cat in the process? I just moved into an apartment with a tiny bathroom and a toilet reeking of old pee (the bathroom is lovely in all other aspects). I really would like to be rid of the smell. The toilet bowl itself is clean, and I'm guessing the stench is coming from the tank or the pipes (or the goblins).

I've thought of putting some kind of Magic Toilet Cleaning Tablet (like 2000 Flushes) in there, but the problem with this is white and has four paws. My cat drinks out of the toilet. I can't stop her. I can't train my husband to always close the lid. Trying to do either would be trading the stench problem for a re-programming another mammal problem.

So, what products or methods can I use to get rid of the stench, but not kill the cat?

Info on self-contained composting toilets

ottereroticist — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 16:30:25 -0800

Recommendations for composting toilets, please. We need a self-contained unit (no space for a separate tank), with low to medium capacity (used 30 hours a week by two to three people). Electricity is available.

We are looking at the Envirolet, Biolet, and Sun-Mar.

What kind did you install? How do you like yours? What do you wish you had known beforehand? Any other brands we should consider? How about online information resources?

Thank you, o wise and eco-sustainable Mefites!

Are my toilets leaking?

hall of robots — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 08:53:22 -0800

I bought a house recently and my first utilities bill was $230 (!). Most of the cost was water, and the folks at city hall wondered if it was a toilet leak, but I haven't heard or seen evidence of this. Any ideas? Anyone had to inspect a house for leaks? I tried dye strips for 20 minutes last night, as instructed, and nothing happened. But three hours later, the toilets were full of dye. Should I try the test again? If a three hour leak is conclusive, is it just a matter of replacing the flapper/handle mechanism? Can I check the yard for leaks?

How do I get a stronger flush from a low-flow toilet?

nakedcodemonkey — Wed, 02 Feb 2005 08:32:02 -0800

Any good hacks for getting a low flow toilet to deliver a stronger flush? Commode replacement is not, unfortunately, an option.

Toilet Seat at Work Has Month/Year Chart on Underside -- What Is It?

Jimbob — Sun, 14 Nov 2004 20:53:35 -0800

The toilet seat at my place of work has a chart like this embossed on the underside. Clearly months and years, with a period of them checked off with little bumps. What could it possibly mean? The chart is about 5cm x 5cm in size.

low flow toilet retrofit

daver — Tue, 02 Mar 2004 10:03:25 -0800

ToiletFilter: I'm adding a toilet in the basement of our house. Should I get a low-flow 1.6 gpf unit, or go for a free multi-gallon unit? Can I retrofit a multi-gallon unit to flush less?

Chipping Toilet Seat

billsaysthis — Sat, 27 Dec 2003 12:26:46 -0800

I bought a new toilet seat about 18 months ago and the laminate of the inside front is already chipping. While these things aren't that expensive to replace I'd just as soon find a way to cover it up. Can I use plain white paint or will the small but growing?

Preventative maintenance to keep a toilet from clogging?

soyjoy — Wed, 17 Dec 2003 08:11:24 -0800

I know how to unclog a toilet. How do you keep it from clogging, specifically if you have no influence over who's going to use it (e.g. when you're having, say, a party this weekend)? Is there something to flush down it occasionally, or daily, that will minimize the chances of clogging?