Toto says don’t wipe toilet seats with toilet paper

Japanese toilets – equipped with music players, automatic flushes and heated seats – are clearly not afraid to make a splash with their innovative designs.

But these top seats have an unlikely nemesis: toilet paper.

Toto, a Japanese toilet seat producer, said last week that users should refrain from cleaning their seats with toilet paper because they risk creating micro scratches on the surface.

The company’s advice came after a series of posts on social media complaining of scratches and discoloration.

A Toto representative told Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shimbun that its bidet toilet seats are made of plastic resin because of the material’s “resistance to detergents and its ability to be molded into complex shapes.”

However, wiping the seat with toilet paper or a dry cloth can cause small invisible scratches where dirt can accumulate, leading to discoloration.

But Toto is not the only manufacturer that has advised users against using toilet paper to wipe their toilet seats.

Similar recommendations have previously been issued by cleaning experts and also published on lifestyle sites.

Instead of dry toilet paper, people recommend using a soft cloth soaked in tap water or detergent. They also recommend using thinners, nylon or metal cleaners, or abrasives – all of which could damage the surface of the toilet seat.

The company said that while it was looking into more scratch-resistant materials, “there are no plans to change the material at this time.”

The Washlet, Toto’s flagship bidet toilet, includes features such as an automatic lid, an air dryer and pressure controls for the bidet’s water flow.

Japanese toilets, with their thoughtful designs, seen as an extension of the country’s culture of hospitality, have become an unlikely tourist attraction for foreigners and a source of pride at home.