Here at Mr. Rooter, we don’t take toilets for granted, and neither should you! After all, you’ll spend more than three months of your life sitting on one, so they deserve a little respect. Here are a few interesting things you should know about one of the world’s most popular fixtures.
Lavatory Laughs
- King George II of Great Britain died falling off a porcelain throne in October 1760.
- Toilets harbor a fraction of the bacteria found on cell phones and television remote controls.
- It’s estimated that only four out of five people wash their hands after using the bathroom, and only 30 percent use soap!
- More than 5 million people admit to dropping their cell phone in the toilet each year.
- Toilets are flushed more times during the Super Bowl halftime than other time of year.
Flushing Economics
- Americans spend more than $5 million annually to flush toilets.
- Average toilets use six gallons of water per flush. New, water-saving models use 2.8 gallons or less and could save a family of four, hundreds in yearly energy costs.
- Toilets have an average service life of about 50 years.
Toilets Abroad
- You’ll pay a $150 fine for forgetting to flush in Singapore.
- In a recent survey of travelers, the cleanest toilets can be found in Japan. The worst are found in Malaysia and Great Britain.
- South Korea has the world’s only theme park dedicated to toilets.
- When in India, visit the Sulabh International Museum of toilets to learn about 4500 years of water closet history.
The Best and Worst of Toilets
- The world’s most expensive privy is orbiting Earth in the International Space Station and cost NASA nearly $19 million.
- Hang Fung Gold Technology Group created the most expensive toilet in 2001. It’s made of 24-carat gold and embellished with jewels. The cost — $2.5 million!
If your toilet is working like a charm today, give it the salute it deserves. If it isn’t, Mr. Rooter can help!