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Comment by jacknews | Hacker News Reader

"The question is, if toilet paper becomes a luxury item, can Americans live without it?"

The article itself appears to be part of the marketing machine. I don't at all consider toilet paper a luxury, in fact using water seems far more satisfactory and hygienic.

Japanese style washlets and european bidets are the luxury, um, end, of the market. If anything, plain toilet paper is set to be discarded as a rather unhygienic relic.

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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A0RHSJO/ref=oh_aui_deta...

$35 and you can install it in about 5 minutes flat. It's terrific, can't go back to TP ever.

The water that comes out of my tap is about 43*F right now so no thanks....

Japanese washlets heat it up, as well as your seat. Including temperature and pressure control. Pretty awesome, I wonder why everyone else thought around 1970 that toilets are good enough now.

Anything heating up water, makes it necessary to to install a water softening plant or either the device - and/or the piping is in for a change after 15 to 25 years (depending on the lime levels in your water table).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_softening

PS: Dont be fooled to buy a system with mandatory ion-exchanger cartdrige. All one needs is salt to rejuvenate the ion exchanger.

Why is it a problem to change the device every 15-25 years?

The butthole is surprisingly temperature tolerant. Can't speak for the female anatomy in this regard, however.

This. Cheap, easy, and more thorough. In retrospect, scraping off with dry paper seems silly...

Honest question: How do you dry your butt afterwards? Do you keep a butt-towel next to the toilet? Shared or one per person?

At least in Japan, many toilets also have dryer system built-in along side the bidet. Others have toilet paper for drying off.

Toilet paper. You'll still cut down your consumption (60% on average from my personal numbers) and you'll need it for visitors who are not into 'that bidet thing'

warning: TMI. The dirty clothes basket is next to the toilet. I fish something suitable looking out of that and pat dry.

I hate traveling outside Japan! Can't live without "shower toilets" (that's how they're called here). It's hardly a luxury. It's an essential household equipment!

I feel like I'm going to barbarian lands when I leave Japan (for the sake of full disclosure, I'm not Japanese)

You could also just try using Baby wipes?

It's a bad idea to flush those. They don't degrade, and end up blocking sewers and ruin septic systems.

There are flushable versions.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Huggies-Pull-Ups-Big-Kid-Flushabl...

They sure do say that.

Don't believe them.

Its like flushable golf balls, anyone can write flushable on some packaging and sell it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgHVO-RZ8c4

Not even a little bit.

Those are generally "flushable" in the same sense that gravel is flushable, i.e. they'll fit through the bottom of the toilet but no guarantees after that.

There are flushable wipes: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N288ZXE/

I see you have never lived outside the city. Those will ruin any septic system in a hurry. Not great for city sewage. Where do yiu think wipes go when you flush them? Away? Someone has to deal with it eventually.

You're absolutely right, but the marketing for these is misleading. Many people think it's okay since they're advertised as being flushable.

They help Fatbergs to form.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatberg

Or just soak ordinary toilet paper in water before using it. It's cheaper and doesn't congest the pipes.

I keep a lotion bottle next to my toilet. Not only is lotion cheap, it's lubricating as it cleans, so it helps make the next wipe cleaner than just using a wet wipe! Lotion ftw.

I visited Japan, they had so many awesome toilets, I had to take videos and photos of all the crazy versions and options in restaurants, public, at home etc... they are awesome.

Also, the standard toilet conserves water by adding a small hand washing sink to the top of the tank, brilliant! Google this, as it's so common sense, I can't understand why it hasn't spread wider. This kind of toilet allows for a tiny extra bathroom, without the need of a sink, and it's still sanitary.

The problem with the sink in the top is that the soap encourages algal growth in the tank. It's the same reason you shouldn't use grey water to flush.

That's interesting, but doesn't algae need light to grow? The tanks are solid porcelain. Even our fish tank, if not near a window won't grow algae, move it near a window and 2 days later it's turning green.

Also, I looked in the tank, and it was spotless. I think any concerns of growth of anything in the tank are far outweighed by the water savings. I'd guess millions of gallons a year across Japan with just this one feature.

No, some algae does not- they only need a source of energy (carbonhydrates). Google heterotrophe for more Info.

PS: That is why algae can grow in sewers.

Well, I guess maybe in Japan that is of little concern, as it's a common toilet design.

lol, I googled "heterotrophe in toilet tank from soap" and your comment came up. :P

I did some searching, I simply can't see any problems with this. Worst case it seems you have to clean your tank.

Besides, doesn't the water and soap from your sink end up in the sewer anyway? Just not seeing the problem.

Doesn't anyone know how to use the three seashells?

(Somewhat disappointingly) there is now an explanation for this:

https://scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/6688/how-did-the-t...

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