Although a washing toilet is mainly associated with travel to countries in the Far East, nearly half of Poles would consider installing one in their bathroom, and 4 percent say they have already done so. The results of the social survey, are a good prognosticator for the future of toilets with a washing function. In an era of increased concern for health and immunity, proper intimate hygiene also takes on special importance.
What do Poles feel when they hear: "washing toilet"? Curiosity, amusement, uncertainty? Do they associate internet and TV reports about toilets from Asian countries saturated with electronics, intimidating with a multitude of buttons, or perhaps they have had the opportunity to test it themselves and see that it is a comfortable and friendly solution? Would they use it in a doctor's office, in a movie theater, in a friend's apartment? Are they of the opinion that toilets with a washing function are likely to become widespread, or do they consider them a luxury? Do they predict that we will tame them, like the dishwasher, without which it is difficult to imagine a modern kitchen today, or do they think we are not yet ready for such a technological revolution?
Answers to these and other questions about Poles' attitudes toward washing toilets were brought by a nationwide survey conducted by the IBRIS Institute for Market and Social Research on behalf of the Laufen brand - one of the world's leading manufacturers of bathroom furnishings.
© Laufen
Not as niche and Japanese as they paint it.
The washing toilet is a solution that nearly six out of ten respondents have encountered, most often on the Internet, in commercials and TV shows, on the road, or in conversations with family and friends, and less often in stores and interior design fairs, or in the press. More than half of those who declared familiarity with a toilet with a washing function think it was invented in Japan, 15 percent put it in China. Switzerland - the country where the world's first washing toilet was actually created- was indicated by only 7 percent of those surveyed in this group. The survey of Poles' attitudes toward the washing toilet also asked questions about hygiene and comfort associated with taking care of physiological needs. In this context, 4 percent of the total number of respondents reported that they have a washing toilet at home to maintain intimate hygiene, in comparison - bidet owners account for 13 percent of respondents.
© Laufen
Washing hands after using the toilet was declared by 88 percent of respondents. Using an air freshener is also a common practice, with 60 percent of respondents using it. One in three of those asked after using the toilet washes the intimate area with water, and nearly one in four freshens up with wet wipes. A special gel or liquid, on the other hand, is used by one in five people.It turns out that the washing toilet is not at all as little known in Poland as it might seem, since nearly 60 percent of respondents have encountered this solution in one way or another, and 4 percent report that they use it on a daily basis. However, if to these few percent we add declarations of owning a bidet, we see that at the moment less than 20 percent of Poles take care of intimate hygiene by using specially designed, professional and comfortable devices. Another issue is the awareness that taking care of hygiene after taking care of physiological needs limited only to washing hands, which is indicated by the majority of respondents, cannot provide as much protection and comfort as washing the intimate area additionally every time.
© Laufen
Green light for bathroom revolution
More than half of Poles would use a washing toilet if they had the option. The reluctance or doubts of the others are mainly due to the habit of traditional, proven solutions, but also to the fear of contracting diseases from people previously using such a toilet. Technical issues are also a problem, the fear of setting the water stream or temperature wrong, splashing the bathroom, or spending too long in it. 10 percent of respondents believe that water alone cannot wash well. In terms of willingness to install a washing toilet in the home bathroom, respondents were divided. As many as 43 percent would consider implementing such a solution - especially those aged 30-39 and those aged 70 and over. 46 percent had the opposite opinion - they would not swap a traditional toilet for a more innovative technology. One in ten people had no specific opinion on the subject. - The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed our approach to taking care of our health and hygiene. It's not just about avoiding immune-weakening germs, prevention has also taken on special importance in the context of the impeded access to health services we face as a result of the coronavirus. The better we take care of ourselves in all possible areas, the calmer and safer we can feel. As our survey shows, we are open to modern, life-enhancing and health-promoting solutions, such as precisely the washing toilet, not only when we are at the stage of getting by or furnishing our apartment, but also in the autumn of life, which can be more comfortable thanks to them.
© Laufen
First necessity appliances?
The majority of respondents are of the opinion that a washing toilet does not have to be a cosmic machine, on the contrary - it can have a classic design and intuitive operation (66 percent), only one in twenty questioned said the opposite. A clear majority also agrees with the statement that a toilet with a washing function allows you to take care of hygiene and cleanliness in the bathroom (63 percent), slightly less, 42 percent of respondents see it as an ally in the prevention of various diseases. In the opinion of more than half of the Poles questioned, washing toilets are the future of our bathrooms, the respondents appreciate the space saving and comfort of use that go hand in hand with this product. The ecological aspect is also not insignificant for them - 51 percent see the advantages of such a solution in the form of saving toilet paper, while only 29 percent indicate that due to the consumption of electricity and water, a washing toilet is not a pro-environmental choice. 46 percent of respondents agree that installing a washing toilet is more cost-effective than investing in a toilet and bidet separately. When it comes to the statement that it is more of a luxury for the rich, respondents' opinions are clearly divided: 37 percent agree, while 38 percent deny it. - Based on the answers obtained in our survey, it can be concluded that the washing toilet has a chance to conquer our bathrooms sooner or later. Although opinions about it are divided in many aspects, more than half of Poles positively perceive this solution, appreciating its indisputable advantages. The question, therefore, is not if, but when the washing toilet will become for us the equipment of first necessity, without which we can not imagine intimate hygiene, taking care of health and the environment in which we live.
- The nationwide survey was conducted in February 2021 using standardized computer-assisted questionnaire interviews (CATI), with a survey sample of N=500 Polish residents aged 18+
For more information, visit the company's ROCA Polska Sp.z o.o. page on the A&B portal.
