Why do toilets in Vienna have a shelf?

Toilets in Vienna (and other German-speaking/European regions) often feature a "shelf" or "flachspüler" (flat-flush) design, which serves for health monitoring and reducing splashback. This platform allows for the inspection of feces for health issues, prevents water from splashing up, and facilitates easy stool sample collection.
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What is the point of a shelf toilet?

The purpose of the shelf is inspection and self-monitoring. It seems that Europeans embraced the concept of examining their excrements as a means of gauging their well-being.
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Why are Austrian toilets different?

The Austrian toilet is called so due to its flat bottom and a hole on the opposite side. Instead of being conical, the part of the bowl that is meant to receive human waste is flat and placed higher than the siphon hole.
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Do Germans put leftovers in the toilet?

According to the results, nearly 91 percent of people in Germany also throw menstrual products, medicines, leftover food and cigarette butts down the toilet, all of which belong in the bin.
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Why do Dutch toilets have a shelf?

TIL Dutch toilets have a ``poop shelf'', the purpose of which is to allow the pooper to inspect their own poop.
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Vienna's Pay Toilet System Explained

Do some cultures not wipe after pooping?

Cultural Differences in Toilet Paper Usage

In Asia, bidets are a popular alternative to toilet paper. In the Middle East, water is used for personal hygiene after using the toilet. In Africa, the usage of toilet paper is not as common and many people resort to alternatives such as wiping with water or cloths.
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What are the disadvantages of a shelf toilet?

Cons of Wall-Mounted Toilets
  • They're more expensive than standard toilets. ...
  • The cost of labor is high. ...
  • It takes substantial work to install. ...
  • It's harder to access the tank. ...
  • Bidets are trickier to install.
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Do some cultures not wipe?

Although we would think today that all cultures use toilet paper, surprisingly some cultures still abide by their old habits. In parts of India and Arabia, people exclusively use their bare left hand for wiping. They consider it disgusting that other cultures use toilet paper, as it leaves behind an unpleasant residue.
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What is the fine for peeing in public in Germany?

Urination and defecation in public

Fines would regularly be in the range of €20-€100. Homeless people might also be more likely, due to their situation in life, to commit other criminal and regulatory offences. If homeless people insult passers-by they commit the criminal offence of insult under Sec.
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Do Europeans use toilet paper after a bidet?

Bidet Etiquette in Europe

Remember, after using it, you should dry yourself with the dedicated small towel provided or toilet paper before leaving the bathroom. France: While not as ubiquitous as in Italy, bidets in France are often considered a sign of a well-appointed home.
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Which country has the best toilets in the world?

While Japan sets the gold standard, toilet cleanliness varies greatly worldwide. Countries like Singapore and Switzerland also receive high praise for their well-maintained public restrooms.
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Why are there no seats on toilets in Italy?

In fact, all of the city's toilets started out with a seat. The reason behind the mystery of missing toilet seats: squatters. Toilet squatters, specifically. The toilet seats break over time after people stand on the seat to avoid the mess potentially on its surface.
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What is the polite word for toilet?

Lavatory. Lavatory has Latin origins, deriving from the word “lavare”. During the Medieval period, this evolved to “lavatorium” and finally to lavatory which is still used today, though not commonly and only in the most formal settings.
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What did humans do before toilets?

Back to the beginning. Before we had sewers and flushing toilets, humans disposed of their faeces (poo) and urine (wee) into cesspools. A cesspool was a large hole dug into the ground and lined, usually with brick or stone and then the bottom lined with soil.
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Do you flush toilet paper in Germany?

Flush toilets can easily get clogged. As with every rule there is an exception. Toilet paper belongs into the toilet unless your sitting in an automobile caravan. Never throw tampons, sanitary towels or similar materials in the toilet but use the pedal bin.
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What is a Dutch shelf?

Traditional Dutch toilet design with a shelf in the bowl. The shelf allows inspection before flushing and can reduce water use. Common in the Netherlands but unfamiliar to many outside it, including Ireland.......
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What is the 21 second pee rule?

The "21-second pee rule" comes from a Georgia Tech study showing most mammals over 3kg (like humans) empty their bladders in about 21 seconds, a consistent duration due to longer urethras in larger animals creating gravitational flow, not size. While not a strict medical guideline for humans (our range is wider, say 10-30 seconds), it serves as a fun health benchmark: significantly shorter times might mean a weak stream, and much longer times could signal holding it too long or potential bladder issues, suggesting a need to see a doctor if consistently off.
 
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Is it rude to pee standing up in Germany?

The same stereotype exists in Germany, where men who sit to pee are known as sitzpinklers. However, due to a rapid change in public opinion regarding peeing standing up, most German men now pee sitting down, and being a sitzpinkler is much less of an insult.
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What is the most hygienic nationality in the world?

The cleanest country in the world is Estonia, according World Population Review's Cleanest Countries in the World 2025.
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Do some cultures wipe their bum with their hands?

VIkings used whatever nature offered – moss, grass, you name it – along with their left hand, for post-bathroom tidying up. Islamic cultures would use a small pot of water, known as a "lota," and use their left hand to clean themselves. It matched up with their teachings about staying hygienic.
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What if you have diarrhea in a composting toilet?

Yes, you can use the compost toilet when you have diarrhea. If that's the case, we recommend that you change the bags more often and add more cover material than usual to help bind the extra liquid. If the diarrhea is due to an illness, do not compost the solid waste.
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Why do Dutch toilets have a ledge?

It not only allows you to do a health check with a quick inspection of your stool, but it also prevents water from splashing you when making a deposit.
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