Toilet training isn't quite so easy in Japan. There's squat toilets and western style to consider. Then there are the talking toilets, and toilets that act as electronic bidets. It's no wonder then, that Japanese kids need more than a few hints from mum to master lavatorial etiquette. Meet Pants Pankuro and his friends, in their efforts to master the strange world of the Japanese toilet. [more inside]
posted by PeterMcDermott on Nov 5, 2009 - 39 comments

Ah, the old head in the toilet prank. Gets 'em every time. Not to be confused by the most toilet seats broken by the head in one minute. Or the toilet monster.
posted by billysumday on Aug 14, 2009 - 17 comments

Brazil's new water conservation campaign: Xixi no Banho! (slyt)
posted by Sys Rq on Aug 6, 2009 - 86 comments

In 1991, SNL unveiled the prototype for The Love Toilet. Almost two decades later, the dream has finally been realized: presenting The Love Seat Toilet and the TwoDaLoo.
posted by not_on_display on Jun 22, 2009 - 29 comments

Tweet your movements. - The cycle is complete. [via]
posted by Burhanistan on May 19, 2009 - 51 comments

High performance toilet demonstrations: St. Thomas Creations , Gerber, Gerber Gone Wild, American Standard, American Standard Champion 4, American Standard abusive flush testing
posted by swift on Mar 5, 2009 - 34 comments

Korea's "Mr. Toilet" passed away. Founder of the World Toilet Association, Sim Jae-Duck promoted sanitation worldwide and built the first giant Toilet-Shaped House in Korea.
posted by jwakawaka on Jan 27, 2009 - 27 comments

For large events, the National Park Service recommends one porta-potty per every 300 people. But if a low estimate of two million people attend the January 20th swearing-in of Barack Obama and the inaugural parade that follows, the just announced 5,000 toilets planned for the event will provide only one seven-foot plastic sanctuary for every 400 people. And even though Don's Johns use a satellite GPS system to "track the delivery, location, and status of every unit," many are skeptical the levies will hold.
posted by punkbitch on Dec 20, 2008 - 29 comments

Don't like scooping cat litter? Toilet train your cat.
posted by thbt on Dec 10, 2008 - 86 comments

How space toilets work. They've come a long way. They sure don't look like the one in my house. What happens when they break? NPR explains the logistics of the repair process. Oh thank heavens, it's working again.
posted by desjardins on Jun 14, 2008 - 10 comments

At Taipei's Modern Toilet restaurant, the chairs are toilets. You sit around sinks and bathtubs, and eat chocolate soft-serve out of little toilet-shaped bowls. Bon appetit!
posted by jbickers on Jun 2, 2008 - 55 comments

From aquarium toilets to sself-cleaning toilets to intelligent toilets and musical multi-buttoned Japenese toilets, toilet technology has come a long way, baby.
posted by christonabike on Dec 6, 2007 - 11 comments

Mr. Whipple is dead. Long live Mr. Whipple. Oh how we loved you. [more inside]
posted by miss lynnster on Nov 19, 2007 - 62 comments

How to use an Indian Toilet
posted by hadjiboy on Oct 2, 2007 - 113 comments

Why do men pee standing up? To summarize, the author thinks there's too much messy splatter when you stand up. He makes this point by starting with an Adam and Eve story, then clarifies that he too used to pee standing up, then discusses possible reasons, then shares a messy personal story, then writes another paragraph, then another, then another ...
posted by jragon on Sep 15, 2007 - 107 comments

Toto are marketing the Washlet in America. A nicely designed site without any scatological references. Possibly NSFW intro. [flash]
posted by tellurian on Jul 12, 2007 - 50 comments

MizPee works on your mobile phone to help you locate the nearest, cleanest bathroom.
posted by Dave Faris on Jul 3, 2007 - 25 comments

Dirty Toilets in Tokyo Many more photos (in Japanese) here.
posted by KokuRyu on May 16, 2007 - 57 comments

"Fortunately nobody was using the toilets when the fire broke out and there were no injuries," a company spokesman said. "The fire would have been just under your buttocks." The flaming toilets of Japan! Of course, if these kinds of problems with new-fangled techno-toilets continue, people might be advised to go back to the traditional Japanese toilet. In which case, this refresher course in How to Use Japanese Style Toilet Bowel [sic] might come in handy. Happy squatting!
posted by flapjax at midnite on Apr 19, 2007 - 24 comments

Have you been wondering how to convince your child that the toilet's an appropriate place to deposit their bodily waste? Maybe you should provide them with a jaunty ditty (Note: sound!) that can be customized with their name! Previous potty posting on Metafilter.
posted by beaucoupkevin on Jan 2, 2007 - 17 comments

Italian police impound the Bolzano Museum of Modern Art's toilet that flushes to Fratelli d'Italia. Prosecutors said the anthem "should never be open to ridicule."
posted by jeffburdges on Nov 7, 2006 - 25 comments

Ever wonder how toilet efficiency is tested? With pictorial goodness of the, errr, test subjects. (mildy NSFW)
posted by greatgefilte on Oct 22, 2006 - 30 comments

The 2006 Toilet Paper Wedding Dress Contest Winner Is...
posted by 2or3whiskeysodas on Sep 15, 2006 - 44 comments

Urinal Sculpture - beautiful targets. (I think this site stands on its own. However, if you are in dire need and one of these lovelies is just too fare to run, here is a guide to your local loo, or even better yet your loo on the run. For the true loooligist this compendium is sure to satisfy.)
posted by caddis on Aug 19, 2006 - 30 comments

An obsessive compulsive cat flushes a toilet for three minutes.
posted by boo_radley on Aug 9, 2006 - 33 comments

The problem with public restrooms; a monologue for both men and women. [Flash animation; no pun intended].
posted by Effigy2000 on Jul 1, 2006 - 22 comments

Is doing it in the squat position natural and strain preventing [Human digestion warning]? Regular toilet "thrones" seem to be not very ergonomic, with dire consequences. A study. Colon cancer rates in the developing world (where squatting is still used) way lower.
posted by vertriebskonzept on Jun 30, 2006 - 73 comments

A game theoretic approach to the toilet seat problem. Because people are really passionate about their toilets.
posted by dhruva on Feb 3, 2006 - 54 comments

This story made me wonder a bit. I'd never thought to wonder where all those old toilets disappear to. Maybe some lost tribes are out there right now hunting with the remnants of these devices, which seem to have a rich history. Disclaimer.
posted by IronLizard on Nov 8, 2005 - 16 comments

I have always viewed those large home improvement warehouse stores as dangerous places, but not exactly for this reason. Whew.
posted by terrier319 on Nov 3, 2005 - 34 comments

Oh! that I were a T---d, a T---d,
Hid in this secret Place,
That I might see my Betsy's A----,
Though she sh--t me in my Face.
(Written under this in a Woman's Hand)
'Tis Pity but you had your Wish, E. W.

Boghouse (public toilet) poetry from 18th century london.
posted by Kickstart70 on Jun 26, 2005 - 27 comments

Toilet Bowl restaurant in Taipei. Dishes on the menu come in two sizes: number one (small) and number two (large). Soups On! [via]
posted by casu marzu on May 7, 2005 - 29 comments

Where do you hide your nasty-ass toilet plunger so the house guests won't see it? Under an attention-getting, gawdy as hell fake plant - duh.
posted by shoppingforsanity on Mar 29, 2005 - 20 comments

In an effort to undermine California's vehicle global warming law, the auto industry has been running an ad claiming today's vehicles are virtually emission free. The Union of Concerned Scientists says "poppycock on that!" and is seeking a FTC false-advertising investigation. Fortunately, no matter who's bullshooting, you can help wipe away the problem.
posted by danOstuporStar on Mar 16, 2005 - 30 comments

Oh, the fun things a man can build with $10,000! "Some folks like to take their time on the can. Not Paul Stender. When the 43-year-old former pit mechanic feels the need for speed, he straps himself into his jet-engine-equipped toilet and roars off, trailing flame."
posted by miss lynnster on Jan 1, 2005 - 9 comments

I-C-U-P. I wonder if you can use it at night?
posted by alball on Jul 8, 2004 - 20 comments

The Australian National Public Toilet Map.
posted by hama7 on Jul 6, 2004 - 7 comments

Get infected by the Bathroom Mania! Kisses the sexy urinal
posted by hypnorich on Feb 19, 2004 - 9 comments

The Poop on Poop [an A to Z courtesy of Vice]
posted by boost ventilator on Dec 28, 2003 - 15 comments

Save our Toilets ! To the rescue of a dying Empire,comes The British Toilet Association.
posted by sgt.serenity on Dec 22, 2003 - 5 comments

The International Center for Bathroom Etiquette makes me really glad that I'm a girl. I had no idea there were such complex decisions to be made about where to stand and which sink to use.
posted by anastasiav on Nov 23, 2003 - 41 comments

Grinding Nemo. The JWC company, maker of sewage equipment, wishes to issue a press release informing small children everywhere that contrary to scenes in the hit Disney movie, flushing fish down a toilet drain will not set them free in the ocean, but rather melt them with chlorine disinfectant before shredding them into particles with processing machinery. Have a great weekend.
posted by XQUZYPHYR on Jun 6, 2003 - 22 comments

Would you queue for the iLoo? [More inside]
posted by ginz on May 7, 2003 - 24 comments

MetaToiletFilter Self wiping since 1999.
posted by srboisvert on Apr 8, 2003 - 12 comments

Urinal Interface Design. Our aim is to keep this place clean. Your aim will help. [via guuui]
posted by kirkaracha on Jan 18, 2003 - 33 comments

Hiding in the bathroom at work? Well, surprisingly, it looks like you're in the minority.
posted by kingmissile on May 25, 2002 - 17 comments

NYC Police Arrest Transgender Man for Using Men's Restroom The first link is just a post-arrest picture of riot cops and protestors. Read the story here.
posted by SuperGoat on Feb 5, 2002 - 32 comments

Woman gets stuck to airline toilet for two hours. The American woman used the toilet, but pushed the flush button before standing up.
posted by swift on Jan 25, 2002 - 18 comments

Do you support the WTO? No one protested the WTO 2001 Summit. Perhaps because you were too busy going to the bathroom 10 times a day. Don't miss the thousand names contest.
posted by fleener on Dec 23, 2001 - 6 comments

How to use Japanese style toilet.
First of all, you'd better know which is front. Don't lose your balance.
posted by lheiskell on Nov 18, 2001 - 30 comments