View source for Washlet

{{short description|Toilet by the Japanese company Toto}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{update|date=June 2017}}
{{refimprove|date=November 2010}}
{{Expert needed|Japan
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| subject = Language or region expertise
| date = November 2024
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[[File:Calmic-3.jpg|thumb|A typical washlet in Japan]]
[[File:Modern japanese toilet.jpg|thumb|Control panel of a modern Japanese washlet with bilingual text]]
[[File:Washlets (high-tech toilets) in Japan (video).webm|thumb|Washlet in action in [[Tokyo]]]]
[[File:Toto Washlet TCF8WW88, top view.jpg|thumb|right|A yet-to-be-installed Washlet, TCF8WW88 model]]

{{Nihongo|'''Washlet'''|ウォシュレット|Woshuretto|lead=yes}} is a [[Japan|Japanese]] line of cleansing toilet seats manufactured and sold by the company [[Toto Ltd.|Toto]]. The [[electronic bidet]] features a water spray element for genital and [[anal cleansing]].<ref name="letelegramme 2012" /><ref name="heraldsun hasegawa 2012" /><ref name="rappler 2012" /><ref name="japantimes kyoko 2012" /> and commonly appears on toilets all over [[Japan]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}  The device was released in June 1980<ref name="washlet 2022" /> and as of January 2022, [[Toto Ltd.|Toto]] has sold more than 60 million units.<ref name="washlet 2022" />

==History==
In the 1960s, Japanese plumbing company Toto's goal was to import American "wash air seats" for domestic sales, mainly for sale to hospitals and nursing homes. [[Toto Ltd.|Toto]] began domestic production in 1969, but wash air seats were expensive and sometimes caused [[scalding]] injuries due to poor regulation of water temperature. {{citation needed|date=June 2017}}

In 1980, Toto began to sell its improved Washlets in [[Japan]] after surveying employees to determine appropriate spray positions, since there were no biometric statistics available.

In the 1980s, the term "Washlet" originated by the company [[Toto Ltd.|Toto]]. Recognized for its pioneering role in 2012, the original Washlet G model was certified as item 55 of [[Mechanical Engineering Heritage (Japan)|Mechanical Engineering Heritage]].<ref>[https://www.jsme.or.jp/kikaiisan/heritage_055_en.html MECHANICAL ENGINEERING HERITAGE NO.55 WASHLET G (Toilet Seat with Shower Unit)]</ref>

== Design ==
In 1996, Toto also released Washlets designed for Japanese-style [[Squat toilet|squat toilets]], but they proved difficult to use due to accuracy issues. Japanese-style toilets were replaced with their Western-style counterparts, and the model was discontinued around 2003.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}}

In October 2005, [[Toto Ltd.|Toto]] released other improvements, incorporating [[sleep mode]] for [[energy conservation]], a remote control, and a Washlet that could play [[MP3|MP3 audio files]]. Upon her visit to Japan in 2005, pop singer [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]] commented that she had "missed Japan’s warm toilet seats."<ref>{{cite web |date=2005-12-08 |title=Madonna loves warm toilet seats |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/madonna-loves-warm-toilet-seats-20051207 |access-date=27 January 2021 |website=News24}}</ref>

==Functions==
{{expand section|date=October 2025}}

The cleansing features include buttons labeled Oshiri ("Rear") and Bidet ("Front") with translations in English speaking regions. Most current models have a sensor preventing water from spraying while a person is not sitting on the toilet.{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}

For [[antibacterial]] and [[disinfectant]] purposes, the nozzle is designed at such an angle that the water does not splash back on the inside of the toilet (43º for anuses, 53º for [[vulva]]s), and the nozzle itself is washed with warm water when stowed away and before use. Anal and genital cleansing functions operate on different nozzles. Some models feature deodorizers and dryers for the user's convenience.{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}

The control panels usually features settings to change the intensity of the water spray, as well as warmth.

==See also==
*[[Electronic bidet]]
*[[Toilets in Japan]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em
|refs=
<ref name="washlet 2022">{{cite news | url=https://jp.toto.com/company/press/2022_10_28_01/# | title=ウォシュレット累計出荷台数6000万台突破 | work=Toto Ltd. | date=October 28, 2022 | access-date=January 5, 2024|lang=ja}}</ref>
<ref name="letelegramme 2012">{{cite news | url=http://www.letelegramme.com/ig/generales/france-monde/monde/toilettes-le-washlet-japonais-veut-faire-son-trou-en-europe-19-11-2012-1912472.php | title=Toilettes. Le "Washlet" japonais veut faire son trou en Europe | work=Le Télégramme | date=19 November 2012 | access-date=December 10, 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="heraldsun hasegawa 2012">{{cite news | url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/the-other-side/japanese-toilet-maker-toto-seeks-global-lavatory-domination-with-heated-seats-powerjets-and-odour-masking-washlets/story-e6frfhk6-1226520413547 | title=Toilet maker Toto seeks global lavatory domination with Washlets | work=[[Herald Sun]] | date=November 20, 2012 | access-date=December 10, 2012 | author=Hasegawa, Kyoko}}</ref>
<ref name="rappler 2012">{{cite news | url=http://www.rappler.com/business/16429-japan-s-high-tech-toilet-maker-eyes-global-throne | title=Japan's high-tech toilet maker eyes global throne | work=Rappler | date=20 November 2012 | access-date=December 10, 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="japantimes kyoko 2012">{{cite news | url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nb20121205a2.html | title=Japan's high-tech toilet maker eyes global throne | work=[[The Japan Times]] | date=5 December 2012 | access-date=December 10, 2012 | author=Hasegawa, Kyoko}}</ref>
}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.washlet.com/ Official link]
* [http://www.totousa.com/drake%C2%AE-ii-two-piece-toilet-128-gpf-elongated-bowl Drake II specifications on TOTO official website]
* [https://www.totousa.com/washlet Washlet – TotoUSA.com].html

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{{Human waste elimination}}
{{Plumbing}}

[[Category:Products introduced in 1980]]
[[Category:Toilets]]
[[Category:Japanese inventions]]