Toilets have come a long way from their humble beginnings — as boards with holes in them draped over large pits in the ground — to evolve into what we see in our homes today. These bathroom fixtures have a fun and surprising history. So, for the sake of having some interesting bathroom material to read, here are six toilet facts you likely never knew.
1. The Average Person Spends About 3 Years on the Toilet
The minutes that the average individual spends on the toilet each day equate to three years in the course of a lifetime. Now, that is a lot of time to read and play games on your phone.
2. The First ‘Modern’ Flush Toilet Was Invented in 1596
Toilets have existed in some variation for thousands of years. However, Sir John Harington invented the flush toilet that we use now. He did this to make life easier for his godmother, Queen Elizabeth I of England. However, flushing toilets would not appear in the common household for a few hundred more years.
3. Toilets Flush in Different Directions Depending on Location
Toilets change flushing direction depending on where they are located on the globe. Because of what is known as the Coriolis effect, toilets in the Northern Hemisphere flush counterclockwise, while those in the Southern Hemisphere flush clockwise.
4. The Word Toilet Comes From the French
The name for this fixture comes from the French word “toilette,” a cloth used for grooming. “Toilette” was later used to describe the grooming process before entering the English language as “toilet” to describe a comfort station.
5. There’s a Toilet-Themed Restaurant in Taiwan
There really is a restaurant called Modern Toilet. It is in Taiwan, and it serves food in dishes shaped like toilet bowls. Patrons actually sit on nonfunctioning toilets to dine.
6. Toilets Save Lives
This sounds really far-fetched, but it is true that toilets save lives. This is because they rid our homes of human waste, which is known to cause serious health conditions if it is allowed to linger for any period.
World Toilet Day is on Nov. 19. The purpose of this observance is to give attention to the world sanitation crisis. Awareness of this gives us the knowledge to act so that we can make things better for folks around the globe.
Toilets may seem simple, but they comprise several components that work together intricately. This is why yearly inspection and maintenance are critical. To schedule toilet maintenance for your Rochester, NY home, get in touch with our team at Nichols Electric and Plumbing.
