Toto says do not wipe toilet seats with toilet paper

Japanese toilets – complete with music players, automatic showers, and heated seats – apparently aren’t afraid to make a splash with their new designs.

But these front seats have an unexpected nemesis: toilet paper.

Toto, a Japanese manufacturer of high-end toilet bowls, said last week that users should not wipe their seats with toilet paper, as this can create small particles on the surface.

The company’s advice came after people wrote numerous posts on social media complaining about scratches and discoloration.

A Toto representative told the Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shimbun that its bidet toilet seats are made of plastic resin because of its “resistance to detergents and its ability to be molded into complex shapes”.

However, wiping the seat with toilet paper or a dry cloth can cause small, invisible spots where dirt can accumulate, leading to discoloration.

But Toto is not the only manufacturer that has advised users not to use toilet paper to wipe its toilet seats.

Similar suggestions have already been given by cleaning experts and published on the website of life.

Instead of dry toilet paper, people recommend using soft cloths soaked in tap water or detergent. He also advises against using thinners, nylon or metal sheets, or paints – all of these can damage the surface of the toilet.

The company said that while it is looking at things unrelated to the original, “there are no plans to change things at this time.”

The Washlet toilet, Toto’s flagship bidet toilet, includes features such as an automatic lid, air dryer and bidet water controls.

Japanese toilets, beautifully constructed and considered to be a way to enhance the country’s hospitality culture, have become an attraction for foreign tourists and pride of place at home.