Most of us don’t give the toilet paper in our bathrooms a second thought, until it is absent. A bathroom without toilet paper is intimidating and that could lead you to wonder about how toilet paper evolved to become a commodity.
History tells us that the ancient Romans had to rely on their fingers and later on they soaked small sponges in salt water and tied them to a stick. In the Middle Ages, moss, leaves or old rags had to suffice, though wealthier folks could use sheep’s wool. There is no doubt that the original “toilet paper” is a far cry from the personal hygiene product that we are all familiar with today, which will be acknowledged on the 26th of August with “International Toilet Paper Day”. However, the culture of hygiene has not stopped with paper and in more recent years we have also witnessed the increasing rise of using ‘wipes’ – soft cloth with moisture. “Washing instead of wiping” is the new motto for the most intimate area of personal care. This evolutionary way of thinking – prompted by the rising popularity of shower toilets – is changing the world.
Revolutionary Toilet Hygiene
While the idea of a toilet with a spray and an air-drying function (such as the Sensia Arena shower toilet from GROHE) might still seem a little strange to some of us, in other cultures, cleaning yourself with water after using the toilet is as normal as washing your hands. Shower toilets are particularly popular in Asia. In Japan, for example, they account for 80 percent of toilets. But also in Europe, where the trend is rising towards a market share of five percent – increasingly consumers are abandoning old practices and giving up toilet paper. And it’s for a good reason since the most natural cleaning agent of all is water. And not only is it more hygienic but it is also gentler to the skin.
It is easy to manoeuvre shower toilets. After using the toilet, small spray arms with a range of adjustable jet types provide thorough cleaning using warm water. Odour extraction and warm air-drying functions ensure maximum personal comfort. The type, intensity, temperature and position of the water stream as well as the jet types and cleaning method can be individually adjusted. The GROHE shower toilet can even be adjusted via a smartphone app – smart settings that users appreciate. In addition, shower toilets are not only more pleasant to use; they are also more environmentally friendly, as toilet paper is no longer needed: a clear case of washing instead of wiping! Also, important to note is that although jet water streams are used the overall total consumption of water is still lower than your conventional toilet.
Probably One of the Cleanest Places in the World
The “end of the roll” is also gaining popularity in this country. GROHE is helping drive the change to shower toilets. Last year GROHE launched the Sensia Arena, a model that meets the design requirements of bathrooms in Europe. While previous models catered primarily to the Asian market in terms of their design and technology, the new Sensia Arena shower toilet is surprisingly minimalistic: intuitive to use, with a clear and simple design. An innovative surface in the form of cleaner, virtually germ-free ceramic and an automatic cleaning function for the spray arms probably make this model the cleanest place in the world.
If you would like to find out more about shower toilets and the benefits of installing these in your home visit https://www.grohe.co.za/en_za/shower-toilet/. In the interim remember to give your Toilet Paper a second glance on “World Toilet Paper Day” and remember that this product has come a long way from the Middle Ages.