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A fully functional, self cleaning toilet may sound very futuristic, but it's something the leading manufacturers in the industry have been providing for some time. American Standard with the ActiClean, and TOTO with their intelligent Neorest range.
To help our readers, we're going to look at their capabilities, analyze their specifications, and rate them below. By the end of this guide, you'll begin to understand the benefits of owning one and any reasons to avoid them.
| Image | Product | Rating? | Review |
|---|---|---|---|
  |
American Standard ActiClean 219AA157.020 | 84% | Here |
  |
TOTO Neorest 550H | 84% | Here |
The 219AA157.020 is a two piece unit with an oval shape bowl, which is ideal for people with comfort high on their list of priorities. Externally, it's a very basic design with a tank / bowl combo and an exposed trapway. However, it's the internal features we're most interested in here.
The self clean mechanism has different settings, one is a quick clean cycle, the other is a deep clean cycle. What's the difference between both I hear you asking? The quick option is built for the purpose of everyday upkeep and maintenance, and the deep clean option is something that thoroughly rinses the bowl of bacteria and takes longer. The latter isn't something that would be required to use everyday.
Unlike some of its competitors, the rim is styled in such a way that the dirt that would otherwise be hard to find gets fully washed out. This is known as a CleanCurve rim, and it's an AS innovation. Combined with its VorMax jetted scrub and solution, you have a great combination that's able to leave the bowl spotless and the bathroom odor free for longer.
It's also glazed over with EverClean anti microbial surface which further protects the material from dirt due to its non stick design.
Readers should note that the system runs on batteries and will require 4AA batteries. This could be a deal breaker for many, but they can last many months without needing to change them.
Overall, this could make a suitable upgrade for those of you who're a bit of a germaphobe and a hygienic environment is very important to you.
The MS982CUMG#01 is one piece, elongated and skirted around the trapway, giving it a contemporary style that could fit perfectly into a modern household.
Similar to AS EverCleas glazing, it comes with its own form of protective coating known as SanaGloss. It has all the same advantages and will help fight bacteria and stop waste adhering to the bowls surface.
The washlet has three different settings. One to take care of the back, one for the front, and soft. This will leave you feeling fresher.
Users can utilize either a partial or full flush, known as dual flushing. The amount of water used can be changed up between 1.0 gallons and 0.8 gallons. Giving full control to the user in how much water they use. Both choices are highly efficient and meet WaterSense standards, and there is a electrolyzed water feature which the manufacturer describes as a proven disinfectant.
Technology wise, the 550H is probably one of the most impressive models on the market. Not only will it wash itself, you will no longer need to rely on paper to wipe. The washlet does this for you and it includes a built in dryer too. Then there is the fact that it's made by a very reputable brand. The downside of all this? It's expensive.
| ActiClean 219AA157.020 | Neorest 550H | |
| Type | Two piece | One piece |
| Flush | VorMax | Dual |
| GPF | 1.28 | 0.8 / 1.0 |
| Bowl | Elongated | Elongated |
| Comfort height | N/A | |
| Color | White | White |
| Dimensions | 30.2 x 20.7 x 31.4" | 27.8 x 15.3 x 21.5" |
| Weight | 106.4 lbs | 86 lbs |
| Rating | 84% | 84% |
There was a time when they priced themselves out of most consumers homes. All that is changing however as new innovations come to the fore, making them more affordable for the average home owner. The advantages to owning one is the sheer convenience. You'll spend less time washing down the bowl yourself, a task that the majority of buyers dislike. It will also play an active role in protecting the ceramic from bacteria and staining.
Rough in - Get you rough in measurment using this step by step guide. The majority of readers will require one that fits a twelve inch rough as that is the most common way plumbing fixtures are set up in modern homes. Having said that, you still need to check, as you may instead require something that fits a 10" or even a 14" rough. Doing your due dilligence on this now can potentially save you time, money, and headaches in the future.
Glazing - The glazing helps keep dust, mildew, and germs in general from finding a home within the ceramic pores of your bowl. This leaves things free of odors and hygienic for other users.
Trapway - Users should make a decision on whether they want the trapway to be concealed or not. They certainly look better, but you should be prepared to pay more for the added materials used in the production process. When it comes to trap size, we're of the opinion that the average size of just over 2 inches is sufficient for the average user. However, you can also get options specifically designed to handle more due to a bigger trap passageway.
Brands - It's easy to remain focused on the market leading brands like Toto and American Standard, while forgetting about the alternatives that Kohler, Gerber, Sterling and many others are offering. Keep an open mind, and research and compare each of the products you're interested in against others using our comparison tables.
Seat - Is the toilet seat included? What may seem like an obvious question to some, is something that can easily catch you off guard if it isn't. Modern seats can get quite expensive, especially if you're not looking to spend much. We recommend getting yourself a product with quiet close hinges.
Self cleaning toilets come in several different forms as we have outlined above. The advantage of owning one include saving time that would otherwise be spent scrubbing the bowl yourself, although you will still probably find yourself doing that, even if it means less frequently. Then you have the fact that it will keep bad smells away for longer, that can only ever be seen as a positive.
However, while the majority of customer feedback found on the web is positive towards them, you can't ignore the fact that they are more expensive in general. If you're someone working with a small budget, you may want to wash the bowl yourself and save the extra cash. But for pure convenience, these could make a great addition to your household.