Ask a Manager is collectively losing their shit over how people flush toilets

[conuly]

With or without feet.

There's a few people in that thread adamantly going up and down asserting that, duh, how could the rest of us be so dumb as to not know that certain types of toilets are specifically designed to be flushed with the foot. None of them have provided any sort of evidence for this claim, which makes me think that their evidence boils down to "Mommy told me when I was a kid" or "Well, I flush with a foot so I just sort of assumed", and - man, I hate when people do that. Fucking back up your claims, or at least qualify them. "I was told by my preschool teacher, but I've never verified it" would be a lot more honest and less annoying.

Anyway, I have emailed the manufacturer most often mentioned in the comments to ask for their opinion. Mostly because that is how things ought to be done, but also because if these flushers are designed to be flushed with the foot, great, but if not then we have to ask if the other contingent, which is equally vociferously asserting that foot flushing increases wear and tear on the mechanism and causes breakdowns, needs to be taken seriously. Because what's really not okay is breaking the toilet for everybody who comes after you - and sure, you'll say that you are not the sole person responsible for breaking the toilet that much faster, but c'mon, everybody says that.

So let's see what we see, and in the meantime, let's also all wash our hands. With soap and water, thanks.

Comments

[sovay]

Anyway, I have emailed the manufacturer most often mentioned in the comments to ask for their opinion.

I will be fascinated to hear the results. I have seen toilets which flush by floor pedals, but I gathered that was not the style of toilet under discussion.

(In order to contribute properly to this flamewar, I absolutely do not believe that the standard-issue public toilet is designed to be flushed by stepping on the lever at more or less hand-height just because the maneuver is not necessarily accessible, but I have also never heard that it would break one to do so. My personal beef is with the kind that have sensors because in my experience they never actually flush when they are supposed to and you have to trigger them anyway.)

[conuly]

I have also never heard that it would break one to do so.

The people making this claim all say they work in repairs. I don't think any of them are saying that one (normal) foot-flush is enough to do it, just that the mechanism can only take so much cumulative force, so if (using fake numbers) it could withstand 10,000 normal hand flushes it can only take 7,700 foot flushes. Or whatever, I don't know what numbers we're working with.

[sovay]

Or whatever, I don't know what numbers we're working with.

I understand the theory is that even if flushing by foot is not equivalent to putting one's entire body weight on the lever, it's more pounds per square inch than pressing or pulling with the hand. Maybe the manufacturer will give you numbers. I really hope they respond.

(I remain fascinated that this argument is even a thing.)