"it is equally important to get practical fixtures that will be easy to use by dummies."

For this reason, if you're in the U.S. and most of your friends are American, I would not put a washlet or Neorest in a guest bath. Frankly, I find them a bit intimidating, a bit 'embarassingly intimate', and would NOT want to make a 'user error' when simply trying to use the toilet.

In the master bath? Absolutely! (I plan on it.)
But for the 'public' bath? I'd vote no.

Thanks, sweeby. I am in the US and I was leaning towards not using a washlet/neorest as well. However, some of the great features I have been searching for in other products are as follows:

- toilet seat warmers
- powerful flushes
- built-in deodorizers

In other words, any great feature that does not require the user to push buttons on a sophisticated panel, and features that would reduce the host's effort in keeping the room clean and hygienic.

Also, DH is into those futuristic toilet shapes primarily because no need to clean those nooks and crannies behind the throne.

Thanks in advance! Also, I would love to hear more people chime in.

I have a Washlet in the master (LOVE it!). I wouldn't put one in the bath that guests will be using for the reasons Sweeby already stated.
There may be an electric (warmed) toilet seat out there. My Toto UltraMax has quite a powerful flush. I don't know about the built in deodorizer.
Look for "one piece" toilets for ease of cleaning.
Monica

Trust me, as the brand new owner of a Neorest, you don't want one of these in the main bathroom in the USA. My 'Dorothy' is flipping her lid at the moment and Toto customer service has been great but we've been so busy with her now mutually agreed upon birth defect (she was actually born to flip her lid) that we haven't had time to read the operating instructions. In addition to flushing at will, she flips her lid (the whole side of the toilet seat comes off every time the seat is lowered.)... We're wondering if her flushing at will is her attempt at some sort of feedback/communication regarding her particular situation. The first time we mentioned Dorothy had flipped her lid, she flushed instantly - and we were all the way on the other side of the large bathroom.

TotoUSA is sending us a new bidet for our Neorest as of today but we think Dorothy knows more than she is telling us and we're thinking we will have to whisper her into behaving. We're going to be the toilet whisperers.

We have a washlet in our master bath and it is wonderful! We also have the the electric warmed toilet seat (also great - it's on a timer). Definitely agree with Sweeby and Monicakm - I would not put a washlet in the powder room or any bathroom that gets used by guests.

I have Washlets in both of my guest room bathrooms and a Neorest in the master. Guests have never had a problem figuring them out. If they're intimidated, they simply don't use them or inquire about their operation....but they still enjoy the warm seat. Quite a few my former guests have liked them so much that they've gone on to outfit their bathrooms at home with Washlets.

I didn't put a Washlet in the powder room, it didn't seem necessary. Overnight guests, however, seem to appreciate having them in the bathrooms connected to their bedrooms.

I agree. This isn't "Brain Surgery!" If they're intimidated, they don't have to use the features. The Washlet is virtually maintenance-free. If they have a problem with that, call Obama......

It is interesting to read the last few comments. Seems like some guests have trouble figuring out the washlet while some don't. I am then wondering, is there some way one can selectively turn of the "washlet" feature so it can be turned off when you are entertaining some 20 guests including kids who might just enjoy "playing" with spraying water etc?

All in all, I would love to have warmed seats but then am wondering: how easy/difficult is it to turn off features that are not desirable (or take out washlets altogether) when you want to flip to generic version?

goldust! Shouldn't have been munching when I got to your post! Too funny (to read about, but I suspect not to live with!).

I went to a party where the homeowners had a Neorest toilet seat, and they had to show it to everyone. They invited everyone to Try it.

EVERYBODY slunk off to the bathroom that was obviously in the opposite direction from that bathroom because they knew they were going to get grilled about having water shoot up their ___ in front of everyone.

One guest who had been there on her own said they waited outside the door while they Insisted she try it, and then asked her about the experience.

It was a blot on the evening. Everyone knew when people used the bathroom which is something that should not be, at a dinner party.

homey_bird...I don't know how easy it is or isn't to remove the Washlet toilet seat. I know my parents have done it a couple of times when they had company (staying for a week) that included children. You could always unplug it. I have the S300 model that comes with a wall mountable remote. One could detach the remote from the wall plate and hide it. With the remote out of sight and guests not able to use the functions, they'd still be able to enjoy the warm seat :)

golddust...Dorothy obviously has a technical imbalance. Be kind (g)

palimpsest,
That must have been a very strange experience. Once Dorothy is whispered, I promise not to do that to any of my guests!

Golddust,
I could have saved your from this experience with Dorothy. If you had only sent her to me, I would have made sure she was toilet trained before you got her back:-) Glad to hear Toto is making it alright for you! This is what you get for outbidding me on Ebay for the toilet!!!

Hehehe, homepro. I remember your generous offer when I worried if Dorothy's flush was going to be good enough. While on the phone with Toto tech, she actually sprayed us with water at will. We decided it was because she didn't like what we were doing to her. And, to be fair, we were on the wrong path.

Toto customer service is excellent. Robert, our Toto tech, send me an email the other morning and this is what it said, in part: "I apologize for the inconvenience this problem has caused you. So IÃm working to make sure we get a properly functioning Dorothy home to you as soon as possible. After all, ÃthereÃs no place like homeÃ."

He is sending it 2nd day Air and I should have it tomorrow. Time to drag out the operating instructions so I know just how to whisper her.

Bottom line is that, if you don't want to use the Washlet features, you don't have to. The seat still warms, and if that's a problem with your friends....perhaps you oughta get some new one's (friends...)

Thanks everyone for sharing their experiences freely(!).

Very hilarious discussion btw!

I disagree with all who said they would not put one in a bathroom used by guests.

You specifically said this is also YOUR main bathroom and YOU really want one. In my opinion that is all that matters.

While I definitely draw the line at standing outside the door and demanding an instant "review" of your fancy toilet - I think that most people can handle using a toilet with extra features they don't have to use if they don't want to.

Really, I was kidding. If you want one, go for it! But if the kids start playing around, the water really does spray pretty darn far if their bums don't fill up the toilet seat. Just sayin'...

Dorothy's mom

I can only comment on the whole washlet or no washlet question. I have not had the pleasure to use the Neorest, nor had I ever used a washlet till I started shopping for this bathroom. A few of the plumbing stores in my area have the Toto washlets for customers to use and I gotta say I LOVED IT! and it was easy to use just like McDonalds you pick the picture and push the button Hello what could be simpler. I even sent my mom to the bathroom and told her to use it and she said "NO I'm not going to". Well she came out with a big smile and said how much is that? She noted that it is a great thing for seniors as they get older and can't clean as well, plus she said you would save a bundle on paper! So I say if your family is going to be using this bathroom a lot then I say go for it and let the chips fall where they may...... ew that's kinda gross.

Well, I can report in regarding kids and the Neorest after 4 grandkids dropped by to use Dorothy today. They are ages 9 to 14 so they aren't really little. They had to drop by after DD was introduced and she told them about the toilet. They came right after school.

It was pretty funny. All 5 of us sitting on the stairs, waiting for the response of the kid in the bathroom meeting Dorothy for the first time. They had no trouble at all. No squirting water or anything. We said the family that pe*s together, stays together.

Now that Dorothy is whispered and there are new curtains for the french doors that lead into the bathroom, I wouldn't hesitate to have a Neorest with kids, at least in this age range.

Now they all want to have field trips with their friends. One tiny bit of a concerning conversation included a plan by the boys to hide the remote and control it from outside the bathroom while one of their friends was using it.
Maybe I should see if the remote works from outside the door before I give my full endorsement. Be right back...

Oy! Dorothy's remote *does* work through the door. I just flushed her from outside in the hallway with doors shut. Hmm.

DD said she has never heard so much "potty talk" as she did on their way home in the car. They all *love* Grammy's Dorothy. My house is on the way to school so I am imagining lot's of company now for Dorothy. DD said she hopes they don't get into trouble talking about it at school. :+)

>>Oy! Dorothy's remote *does* work through the door...LOLOL I'll have to see if the S300 remote works thru the door. That could be fun (g)

Golddust
What a hoot. I am so glad that Dorothy brought you and your family closer together:-)

Dorothy has become my girlfriend. She always says 'Hi' when I walk past her by lifting her lid, almost in a servant kind of way. But I'm into equality so I always say 'Hi Dorothy and thanks but I don't need to go right now." Sometimes I'm just vacuuming or something. Then I may say, "Do you want me to disable your auto and let you sleep or do you just need the company right now?" I say that because sometimes she just seems to be lonely and wants some interaction, so on those times I just let her be part of us/me. If she is no bother, why silence her? :+) She is totally whispered and I love her so much. I wish *everyone* had a girlfriend like Dorothy.

We're still working out the dryer issue. I'm not that patient in that department but I'm still open to it so I don't think there will be any future crises or counseling services needed because we have a strong mutual respect for each other and that weakness in me doesn't appear to bother her at all. She can save on that effort and put it all toward communication regarding other things. She swallows but we've yet to even mention that difference between her and my sucking toilet downstairs, who needs a plunger. Our relationship is so new.

Golddust, you've inspired me . . . I had my Carlyle-with-Washlet for 6 whole years (before moving) and never once did it occur to me to name it, let alone to name it Dorothy. I love your cleverness, and now my new washlet will be called Dorothy, too . . . can't wait to move in next weekend. I've missed having a washlet while in this dismal apartment!

BTW, a friend's 7-year-old daughter could hardly wait to get her mom in the car to report what my potty did to her when she "accidentally" pushed a button! I understand my bathroom was the talk of her school class.

Oh good, hostagrams. Every good Toto deserves an appropriate name and I'm happy to have been the one to bring you closer to your soon to be Dorothy.

LOL - thanks for a needed chuckle at the end of my day!

My 14 yo niece cannot wait for her annual summer visit to use our new toilet - when I told her about them she got the giggles and could not stop. She said she is going to drink a lot of water before getting off the plane so the first thing she can do when she arrives is use the toilet!

Maybe I'll let her name it!

Good to hear, because this is my new campaign. All Toto toilets must have a name. :+)

I've had more laughs today while googling for reviews of the washlet! I just posted a link to a funny review on another washlet thread.

Anyway, I have a few washlet questions and thought I'd add to an existing thread instead of starting a new one.

Does having a washlet make it any harder to clean the toilet (my least favorite chore)? Anything special need to be done to Dorothy?

On which side of the toilet should I have the electrician put the outlet for my anticipated purchase (can't wait to try one now!)?

Anything else I need to know?

THANKS!

Who knew toileting could be so fun...I have never tired one and am sure interested now.

I could see a special version installed in public bathrooms for babies to help with diaper changes...LOL.

At least with a washlet (Toto or otherwise), most guests would have no idea that the seat did anything out of the normal. So I don't think they would be intimidated by it. If you get one with a remote you can just remove the remote when guests are over and then it works just like a normal seat.

A couple years ago, someone here, with a Washlet, said they would take the remote out of the bathroom and when guest needed to use the bathroom, they would engage the cleaning action. IIRC, they thought it was quite funny (g)
Monica