Americans Are Ready to Update Their Toilet Experience to an Intelligent One

New study from Kohler reveals three in five Americans think washing with water would give them a cleaner feel than toilet paper alone

PR Newswire, KOHLER, Wis. – Oct. 11. 2016
In an age where smart homes have become a way of life, consumers are seeking ways to make their homes, and everything within them, work harder, faster and smarter. Kohler is encouraging Americans to also upgrade their traditional toileting experience to an intelligent one. Americans want what intelligent toilets and cleansing seats have to offer, but they remain uncommon in the United States.

So why aren’t intelligent toilets more popular in the U.S.? While three in four Americans have heard of a bidet, only about three in ten have ever used one. Why? Fear of the unknown.

In a recent survey conducted by Kohler, of the 56 percent of Americans who aren’t open to using a bidet, one of four say it’s based on not knowing how to use one. However, an overall fresher feeling and features like a deodorizer, a night light and a heated seat have strong appeal. In fact, about two thirds of Americans would choose a toilet that would give them a cleaner, fresher feeling and three in five Americans think washing with water would give them a cleaner feel than toilet paper alone.

“Some of my patients feel that their regular routine isn’t enough when it comes to feeling clean,” says Dr. Roshini Raj, board certified gastroenterologist and internist. “That’s when using an intelligent toilet or cleansing seat could be a solution. Both have a cleansing feature that uses water to wash and can provide users with the cleaner feel they are seeking.”

To help dispel uncertainty about using water to achieve a better clean, Kohler has created a video for curious consumers that shows exactly how to use the features of intelligent toilets and cleansing seats. From what buttons to push to what users can expect to feel, the video answers the most common questions.

“When Americans hear the word bidet, most have an outdated picture in their minds of a standalone fixture, but in fact, the functionality is now built into a toilet or attachable seats, and they are simple to use. Once you try one, you won’t be able to live without it,” says Shane Allis, marketing director of Kohler Sanitary Products. “From intelligent toilets to cleansing seats that attach to existing toilets, these modern day bidets are for consumers who are looking for an upgrade to their toilet routine.”

To meet a variety of consumer needs, Kohler offers a range of intelligent toilets and cleansing seats that can be incorporated into any bathroom without sacrificing design.

  • Veil
    An ultimate, one-piece intelligent toilet with integrated cleansing functionality that provides a suite of features to offer optimum hygiene and individual comfort, from personal cleansing to an LED nightlight to hands-free opening and closing, and flushing – all of which are easy to control on a touchscreen LCD remote control.
  • C3 230
    A cleansing seat that comes in a slim, low-profile design made to fit most elongated toilets with an easy-to-use touchscreen remote that allows you to adjust and set the seat to all your personal preferences.
  • Puretide
    The perfect entry-level cleansing seat, with a stylish design that offers affordable cleansing functionality and quick installation that does not require electricity.

For more information, visit KOHLER.com/IntelligentToilets.

About Kohler Co.
Founded in 1873 and headquartered in Kohler, Wisconsin, Kohler Co. is one of America’s oldest and largest privately held companies comprised of more than 30,000 associates. With more than 50 manufacturing locations worldwide, Kohler is a global leader in the manufacture of kitchen and bath products; engines and power systems; premier furniture, cabinetry and tile; and owner/operator of two of the world’s finest five-star hospitality and golf resort destinations in Kohler, and St Andrews, Scotland.

About Dr. Roshini Raj
Dr. Roshini Raj is a board certified gastroenterologist and internist with a medical degree from New York University School of Medicine and an undergraduate degree from Harvard College. She is an attending physician at NYU Medical Center/Tisch Hospital and an Associate Professor of Medicine at the NYU School of Medicine.

Survey Methodology
The publicity omnibus survey was conducted through a telephone survey of 1,009 Americans (general population).

  • ORC International Telephone CARAVAN® conducted the survey between August 11-14, 2016
  • The numbers are weighted to be nationally representative (final data is adjusted to consider the two sample frames and then weighted by age, gender, region, race/ethnicity and education to be proportionally representative of the US adult population)
  • Dual-Frame Cell-Phone: Telephone CARAVAN® uses a dual frame sampling design, this means that the sample is drawn from two independent sample frames— one for landlines and one for cell phones (509 interviews were from the landline sample and 500 from the cell phone sample)

The margin of error for the sample of 1,009 is +/- 3.08% at the 95% confidence level. Smaller subgroups will have larger error margins.

Media Contacts:

Vicki Hafenstein
[email protected]
920-457-4441, ext. 70519

Louise Gonzalez
[email protected]
646-935-4157