Don’t wipe toilet seat with toilet paper: Japanese manufacturer

Japanese toilets – equipped with music players, automatic flushes and heated seats – clearly aren’t afraid to make a splash with their innovative designs.

But these state-of-the-art seats have an unlikely curse: toilet paper.

Top Japanese toilet bowl maker Toto said last week that users should avoid wiping their seats with toilet paper, as it risks creating micro scratches on the surface.

This advice from the company comes after several 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 due to the material’s “resistance to detergents and ability to be molded into complex shapes.”

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

But Toto isn’t the only manufacturer that has advised users not to use toilet paper to wipe their toilet seats.

Similar recommendations have previously been issued by cleaning experts and also published on lifestyle sites.

Instead of dry toilet paper, people recommend using a soft cloth soaked in tap water or detergent. They also advise against using thinner, nylon or metal scrubbers, or abrasives – all of which can damage the toilet seat surface.

The company said it is considering more scratch-resistant materials, adding “there are no plans to change the material at this time.”

The Washlet, Toto’s flagship bidet toilet, includes features like an automatic lid, an air dryer, and pressure controls for the bidet’s water flow.

Japanese toilets, seen as an extension of the country’s hospitality culture with their thoughtful design, have become an unlikely tourist attraction for foreigners and a source of domestic pride.