Homeowners seek self-cleaning toilet advice from unlikely places: social media

Who would have thought #toilets would be trending? And did you know there is a plumbingtok? Everyone from your eccentric aunt to DJ Khaled is posting about their love of high-end toilets. Advice and reviews, solicited and unsolicited, are one click away.

While the trusted contractor and designer remain the go-to professionals and best understand the needs of a home's specific layout, the internet is not to be ignored. A homeowners' social network is a great place to begin searching for ideas before talking to a trusted professional regarding a highly specialized fixture that needs to be carefully selected.

Is the self-cleaning toilet a has-been? Or is it a modern marvel that can make your busy life more manageable? Explore the advantages and disadvantages and keep up with the latest by exploring TikToc and Instagram reviews. As it turns out, reviewers say it lives up to the hype!

A Self-Cleaning Toilet: Defined

It's all in the name! TikTok reviewer @Moffett.Plumbing.Air interprets one self-cleaning smart toilet's ability as a "Heavenly Sheeeesh." Several manufacturers create self-cleaning toilets, bidets and smart toilets to reduce the need for frequent cleanings. With a flush or push of a button, the fixture cleans itself, reducing the risk of stains accumulating and simplifying the task of maintaining a hygienic bathroom.

Manufacturers incorporate self-cleaning technology in numerous ways:

• The bowl's non-porous finish and design prevent waste from adhering to the surface. Some use water pressure against the specially designed basin.
• Additional cleaning agents or other technology are incorporated beyond the finish and design. These exclusive products are brand-specific to the make and model. They work in several ways, including:
  • Releasing sanitation solutions with each flush or cleaning cycle.
  • Operating integrated ultraviolet lights (usually located under the seat) interact with cleaning solutions and the bowl's ceramic photocatalytic finish to eliminate microscopic germs.

Now Trending: Advantages and disadvantages of a self-cleaning toilet

Advantage: They are eco-friendly!

• A self-cleaning toilet saves water, with the standard WaterSense certification of 1.28 GPF or lower. Some brands even have a dual-flush system, which allows the user to choose if they flush with .8 gallons of water per flush or the more powerful 1 GPF. Using less water to flush the toilet can save on your water bill; little changes add up over the year!
• Cleaning solutions used to clean the toilet don’t sit in the bowl between cleanings. It uses clean tank water for every normal flush, which makes it safer for any household pets, curious children and the environment.

^{@TwinHomeExperts explain TOTO's TORNADO FLUSH. The TORNADO FLUSH features two powerful nozzles that create a centrifugal, cyclonic rinsing action which reduces waste buildup and keeps the bowl cleaner. This high-efficiency system is more effective in one flush than most toilets with multiple flushes. The modern hole-free rim design means that it performs more consistently and is easy to clean.}

Disadvantage: Cost.

• The added features of a self-cleaning toilet can make them more expensive than the alternatives. Some models require special cleaning packs, which is an added expense every few months.

Advantage: A self-cleaning toilet saves time.

• The bowl design and glaze coating are specifically crafted to minimize the amount of surface area that can collect waste.
• With push-button cleaning, it becomes easier for homeowners to clean their toilets more often, extending the lifespan of their toilets. Programmable cleaning options, available on some models, allow the cleaning agents to work for one-minute or 10-minute deep cleaning cycles.

^{Howie Mandel, who helped launch American Standard's ActiClean Self-Cleaning toilet, shares how it frees up his time to do things he enjoys.}

Disadvantage: Cleaning is still required!

• Despite the self-cleaning feature, homeowners must manually clean and perform routine maintenance to ensure the fixture's longevity.
  • Technology has not gone that far. Homeowners need to wipe down the seat and outside of the toilet to maintain a hygienic environment.
  • Once a month, homeowners should complete regular cleanings to loosen any hidden debris they may find in a nook or cranny.
  • Homeowners will likely have to regularly replace the batteries and cleanser to ensure proper operation. To simplify the process, the fixture comes equipped with indicator lights to change the batteries or swap out the cleaning agent.

^{@xoteamsky shares her enthusiasm for her self-cleaning toilet. She demonstrates how it self-cleans (both the quick-clean and deep-clean settings) and quickly shows that she still must manually clean regularly.}

Advantage: Designer style and luxury experience.

• The toilet is no longer a fixture to take for granted. Like a regular toilet, homeowners can choose different colors, designs and features when selecting a new self-cleaning toilet. They can be more expensive than their traditional counterparts, but they make up for it in convenience and style.
• Additionally, new technologies ushered in an upgrade in homeowners' bathroom experience. Some luxury self-cleaning toilets include additional features including:
  • Slow-closing lids
  • Heated seats
  • Automatic flush
  • Nightlight
  • Remote control
  • Self-deodorizer
  • Air dryer
  • Bidet washing features
  • Leak alerts, courtesy of built-in sensors

^{DJ Khaled provides a list of the toilet's features: a UV cleaning system, remote control operation, automatic opening and closing, a bidet function, and a built-in air deodorizer. The TOTO's AP WASHLET base model has a starting retail price of $2,346. According to Khaled, it also provides a place to "meditate and reflect on life."}

Disadvantage: Design and repairs

• Depending on the model and the features, flushing and other controls may be located on the upper tank, creating a challenge for some households due to physical barriers.
• The difficulty of the repair depends on the make and model. Self-cleaning toilets with parts contained in the tank lid or within the seat are a relatively easy fix. The repair is more complex for more sophisticated systems with embedded wall elements. Regardless, homeowners shouldn't expect to find the needed repair parts at the neighborhood hardware store. Work with a trusted contractor and expect to wait for the shipping of the needed parts.

Self-cleaning toilets: The bottom line

People have been posting about their self-cleaning toilet experiences on the internet for years, and people are responding. Comments include: "Wow!😳 Great idea." "Take my money 😳." "Self-cleaning toilet... I was waiting for a brush to pop out of the walls of the bowl and start scrubbing." "Finally, a toilet for my significant other!" And, "I got a self-cleaning toilet and I have never felt so alive." ​

"After all, it's not just a toilet," one commenter responded. "It's a 'flushing' sound."

With features to make cleaning more efficient becoming commonplace, homeowners may be surprised at the affordability of some models. Ultimately, the time and savings in water alone can balance out the purchase price.