Touchless toilets, bidets and finishes that help keep toilets cleaner are some of the new trends
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You’ve heard about touchless faucets for the home but how about touchless toilets?
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These days, with a pandemic still out there and germs being spread it’s no longer just about disinfectant wipes or sprays when it comes to keeping your bathroom clean.
COVID-19 has made Canadians more aware than ever about the importance of personal hygiene and American Standard has taken hygiene vigilance to higher levels, said Ryan DeBoer, leader, trade showroom sales West, for LIXIL Canada, whose brands include American Standard, Grohe and DXV.
DeBoer points to a newer generation of touchless toilets — with consumer feedback improving how the touchless sensor is activated to eliminate inadvertently activating the flushing mechanism — as well as other self-cleaning advances to minimize germ spread.
“The touchless toilet is really starting to gain in popularity and not just because of COVID-19,” said DeBoer, noting that the filthiest part of the toilet might not be where you think. “The dirtiest part of toilet is the trip lever. Typically, you flush the toilet and then you wash the hands.”
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The touchless toilets American Standard offers work off a remote control, shaped like a hockey puck, whose hand-wave sensor senses the wave in order to activate the flush. The remote can be placed up to three feet away from the toilet and DeBoer said a remote-control option adds a nominal upcharge of around $50 on American Standard’s Cadet and Studio toilet lines.
But the need for clean doesn’t stop there.
Most American Standard toilets are finished with an EverClean glaze that inhibits the growth of stain and odour-causing bacteria, mould and mildew on the surface, said DeBoer. Then there’s the VorMax Collection, also from American Standard, which features patented technology that delivers one powerful jet of water that scrubs the entire surface of the bowl from top to bottom, including hard-to-reach spots.
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DeBoer also talks of the CleanCurve Rim design, which eliminates hard-to-reach surfaces where dirt and buildup tend to hide.
Who knew that a toilet is not just a toilet anymore?
Meanwhile, apparently a hand-shower sprayer is not just a sprayer either. DeBoer talks of American Standard’s Spectra Filtered 4-Spray Hand Shower Rail System, which he said reduces chlorine levels in the shower by at least 50 per cent, helping achieve softer, more hydrated skin and hair. It uses an activated carbon filter.
Taking cleaning to a different level, there’s the bidet. This one from LIXIL’s DXV line, the AT200 LS SpaLet bidet combines luxury design and performance, and enhanced features harness technological advances to keep both the user and the bathroom clean.
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This SpaLet model lets the user have a fresh out-of-the-shower feeling while keeping the bathroom room smelling fresh, with air circulation, room refresh deodorizer, and an air shield deodorizer. A soft night light illuminates the seat and bowl, creating a glow that guides you during the night, said DeBoer.
“I definitely think if people were aware of the products we have to offer people would be more inclined to replace what they have in their home,” said DeBoer, adding that when it comes to bathroom fixtures homeowners generally don’t replace them unless they need to.
What It Costs
If you’re looking to add some of LIXIL’s hygiene friendly products to your bathroom, expect costs to be as follows:
- Toilets can start as low as $180 for a basic model and go as high as $1,000. American Standard’s Cadet and Studio lines range from $350 to $550, with remote control features adding an extra $50 to the price.
- Expect to spend $500 for a toilet from the VorMax Collection, which includes the Clean Curve Rim design.
- Bidets start at about $3,500 and hit $5,500 for fully featured units. DXV’s AT200 LS SpaLet costs $4,800.
- American Standard’s Spectra Filtered 4-Spray Hand Shower Rail System retails for $275.
