Sunday, August 23, 2015

Industrial Strength Toilet Plunger

plunger, plungers, toilet, toilets, ablution, ablutions, bidet, bidets, commode, commodes, clog, clogs, clogged, blockage

This is a Korean toilet plunger. And the reason why we affectionately call it "industrial strength," not that we know if there actually is such a rating, is because of the handle on the side. After you place the opening in the bowl, you pull up on the top handle. While pulling the top handle, the side handle allows you to hold the plunger in place by pushing down using your other hand or even a foot. The sight of someone unclogging a toilet by pushing down on the plunger with a foot and then pulling up with one's dominant hand instantly creates a myriad of "power" nicknames for this highly-effective tool.

Friday, August 14, 2015

AIDS-Prevention Message

bathroom, bathrooms, restroom, restrooms, washroom, washrooms, lavatory, lavatories, latrine, latrines, condom, condoms, prophylactic, prophylactics, rubber, rubbers

Found in a public men's bathroom in South Korea, this is a condom-dispensing machine with an AIDS prevention message. Interestingly, there is no mention of pregnancy prevention, only AIDS prevention.

Monday, August 3, 2015

An Unusual Shower

bathroom, bathrooms, restroom, restrooms, washroom, washrooms, lavatory, lavatories, latrine, latrines, shower, showers, jacuzzi, jacuzzis, hot tub, hot tubs, whirlpool, whirlpools

This shower has several unusual features. The most prominent unusual feature is the corner of water jets. These water jets are neither directly in front or behind, nor are they on the side. We found them to be positioned at an awkward angle. Standing in traditional shower positions, water comes at you from either the front left or the rear right.

Below these water jets is a seat. We found the water jets even more awkwardly positioned than they are while standing. Water comes at you from behind, rear left, and left, but not at all from the front or right sides.

Also, the control panel is visible on the left edge of the image. If you look at the control panel while under the shower, and then you turn the water jets on, you potentially have water coming directly towards your face.

Furthermore, there are two shelves for toiletries, and they are positioned at different heights. Both shelves seem a bit high for shorter users. Both shelves also require users to step in towards the water, instead of traditional placement which requires stepping away from the water.