Who wouldn't want a self-cleaning toilet? Of all the household items that people despise cleaning, this one probably tops the list. Self-cleaning toilets first appeared a fewyears ago in luxury hotelsin Asia and Europe such asthePark Hyatt Zurich. Now, prices are dropping and they are making their way into regular homes. But come on-do they really work? According toLauren Haynes, a cleaning expert at Star Domestic Cleanerswho's seen many of these high-tech thronesin action, the best of them could relievemany of the detestable chore. These toilets are perfect for people without time for cleaning, or those who just want to avoid dealing with germs and bacteria, she says. But choose carefully! Here are some of the industry leaders below, plus some choice quotes culled from online reviews to help you weigh whether these luxuries are worth the cost. For the budget-conscious:You can free yourself from toilet cleaning for a mere $399 withtheAmerican Standard ActiClean. How it works: Every flush releases jets of water so strong, theypressure-wash the sides.And for more stubborn stickage (just use your imagination on what this industry term means), you can press a button on the control panel for a 10-minute deep cleaning cycle, which fills the bowl with water, along with cleaner released from a cartridge. This toilet'ssurface is also covered in anantimicrobial glaze that inhibits the growth of bacteria, and the rim design eliminates that cavity under the rimthat usually hides dirt. Does it work?Haynes givesthis model athumbs-upin part because it barely costs more than a regular toilet and it has aneasy installation and control panel. She adds, It performs really well. Customer reviews are overwhelmingly positive: According to one review onLowe's,I was a bit skeptical at first, thinking I would still have to clean it every once in a while. Yetso far the self cleaner has taken care of everything. Another enthusiastic fan agrees:I've moved the toilet brush out to the garage, and I'm sure it knows the garbage can is nearby. We'll see what happens. On the Lowe's website at least, 86% of customers were impressed enough to recommend it, and about half gave it five stars. But not all are dazzled.I might as well just pour cleaning solution into the bowl and it would be just as good if not better, says another reviewer. After the deep clean cycle finished, there was still stuff on the back of the bowl that wasn't removed from regular flushing. So, you mightnot want to toss your toilet brush just yet. For the high-tech germophobe:Toto's Neorest 750H Dual Flush($10,200) kills germs usingUV light, which is also used in surgical rooms to disinfect equipment. How it works: The magic starts the moment the lid goes up and the bowl is misted with water to help keep waste from sticking to the surface.Then when you flush, two powerful jets send a veritable cyclone of water swirling around the bowl, scrubbing the surface with pressure from the water (using only 1.28 gallons). Then,while water drains from the bowl, the surface is sprayed withelectrolyzed water, which contains charged ions that attach like magnets to dirt particles, thus changingtheir charge so the dirt is repelled from the surface.All that, just by sending a harmless electrical charge through water-no harsh chemicals necessary. A final perk: Adeodorizing system allows you to disassociate yourself fromthe task for which the toilet was created. Does it work? Customers say once you try the Neorest there's no goingback to ordinary toilets. Prepare to be ruined for life, says areviewer named jfisherm. AmznAddict adds, If this thing existed on Game of Thrones, no one would care about the Iron Throne, they would be going to war over this baby. The problem, of course, is the price. AsBusiness Insidernotes, the Toto is indeed a throne fit for a king or queen. For fans of thebidet:If you are a fan of the bidet-which sends a strategically targeted spout of water to clean you up-you mightdigKohler's Veil Intelligent toilet($3,375). How it works: Although it boasts the same tech as the Toto-UV light and electrolyzed water-these features clean only the bidet faucet rather than the whole bowl.Still, asCNETpoints out, thisfeaturemeans less icky manual cleanup. Does it work?Its self-cleaning abilitiesare limited and the toiletbowl will still need to bescrubbed. However,the bidet feature does add a hygiene edgenot seen in the above models. In other words, you'll end up cleaner,which is nice in its own right. Plus, sensorsdetectwhen you get up and will flush for you and shut the lid. All of which adds up to hands-free waste management. As one Amazon reviewer points out, I don't even flush the dang thing anymore nor ever touch the lid. The post Self-Cleaning Toilets: Do They Really Work? appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com.
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