The high-tech modern toilet is enjoying a star turn at the moment, even making a commode cameo in the hit series "Transparent." In one episode, the Sarah Pfefferman character, played by Amy Landecker, discovers the purifying pleasure of a bidet while visiting her mother's condo. "It has pulsate, oscillate, high, medium, low . . . " she says.
Several bathroom fixture manufacturers now offer integrated bidets, and they're looking for additional ways to differentiate their high-tech toilets at the 2016 Design & Construction Week in Las Vegas.
Toto is the brand most associated with bidets in the U.S. market. Its Washlet is a remote-controlled wand that extends from beneath the seat to provide a warm flow of cleansing water. Toto's newest offering is the Neorest 750h intelligent toilet, $9,000 (shown above). In addition to the Washlet, it features auto open/close and auto flush, a heated seat, and in-bowl catalytic deodorizer. There's even a ultraviolet light in the seat lid that is activated when the lid is closed, designed to zap bacteria.
Not to be outdone, Kohler is launching its Veil intelligent toilet, $4,275, which also has the integrated bidet and automatic opening/closing lid and flushing to minimize touch points. Its self-cleaning function uses UV light as well as electrolyzed water to sanitize the bidet wand surfaces. And the LED lighting illuminates the bowl to serve as a night light.
Not ready to shell out thousands for a new high-tech toilet? We also happened upon a glow-in-the-dark toilet seat at the home show from Night Glow Seats that sells for a mere $50. Available in green and blue, the seat can glow for up to 8 hours, depending on how long it was exposed to another recharging light source, whether sunlight or an artificial bulb.
Of course, if you just want an ordinary toilet instead of a tricked-out modern toilet, there are dozens to choose from in Consumer Reports' toilet tests, including some water-saving bargains that you can find as close as your local Lowe's or Home Depot.
