Back to U.S. Website, APO/FPO FurnitureExtra 25% OffSelect Furniture by Abbyson*RugsExtra 15% OffSelect Area Rugs by Nourison*DécorExtra 15% offSelect Home Decor by Christopher Knight*Bed & BathExtra 10% OffSelect Bedding & Bath by Madison Park*Home ImprovementUp to 25% off + Extra 10% off Lighting & Ceiling Fans*KitchenExtra 10% OffKitchen & Dining*OutdoorExtra 10% offSelect Outdoor Furniture by Highwood*JewelryUp to 70% Off + Extra 10% OffJewelry*WatchesUp to 70% off + Extra 10% offWatches*WomenExtra 10% offWomens Clothing & Shoes*MenExtra 10% off Mens Clothing & Shoes*Kids & BabyShop Car Seats MoreUp to 65% offSelect Luggage & Handbags* Tips on Choosing a New Toilet It performs a thankless job, but your toilet makes your life easier. Also a fact: Putting a little bit of time into researching the different kinds of toilets that are available can ensure you'll be satisfied with the toilet you purchase. If you're not sure where to begin your research, keep reading for some basic tips on choosing a new toilet.
Choose the right toilet height. Toilets usually come in a standard height (the height you're probably accustomed to) and a comfort height, which is two or three inches higher than the standard height. Unless you're buying a toilet that will be used often by children, comfort height toilets are usually the most comfortable (hence the name). Consider water-saving toilets and dual-flush toilets. Nowadays, the maximum amount of water a toilet can use during a flush is 1.6 gallons, which is far less than toilets in the past, so if you're replacing an old toilet, chances are any toilet you buy will use less water than your old one. However, if you really want to decrease your water use, consider buying a toilet that's specially designed to conserve water or a dual-flush toilet, which has a low-volume flush for times when just a little water will work and a standard-volume flush for times when you need a normal amount of flushing power. Decide whether you want a two-piece or one-piece toilet.
Two-piece toilets have tanks and bowls that are separate pieces and are the standard toilet used in most homes. Two-piece toilets function well, and many people are perfectly satisfied with them; however, some people prefer one-piece toilets, in which the bowl and the tank are fused into a single, seamless unit. One-piece toilets are easier to clean than two-piece toilets, and they have a smooth profile and a sleek look that some people prefer. Choose a bowl shape that fits your bathroom. Toilets come with either round bowls or elongated bowls. As the name implies, round bowls are fairly round and work well in smaller bathrooms since they have a small profile. Elongated bowls are oval-shaped and are two or three inches longer than round bowls. Some people find the elongated bowls to be more comfortable. Understand the different flush mechanisms. For years, homes used only one kind of toilet: the gravity-flush toilet. These toilets use the weight of water to provide flushing power.
The flushing mechanism is simple, which means these toilets are low maintenance, and gravity-flush toilets are perfectly adequate for many people. However, once toilet manufacturers began looking for ways to conserve water, they devised new ways to create flushing power, which resulted in assisted-flush or pressure-flush toilets. These toilets use air to increase flushing pressure, which results in a more powerful, efficient flush. American Standard White Studio Right Height Round-front Siphon Dual Flush Toilet Combo Duravit Durastyle White Siphon Jet/ Elongated/ Het/ Dual Flush White Alpin Toilet Bowl TOTO Drake Cotton White Elongated Toilet Bowl and Tank Toto Elongated Cotton White Washlet Toilet Seat American Standard White Studio Right Height Elongated Siphon Dual Flush Toilet Combo Toto 'Drake' Elongated Cotton White Eco ToiletGetting your home ready - knee or hip surgery Before you go to the hospital for surgery, set up your home to make your recovery and life easier when you come back.
Do this well in advance of your surgery.Ask your doctor, nurse, or physical therapist about getting your home ready.Make sure everything you need is easy to get to and on the same floor where you will spend most of your time. If you will need to use the stairs, you should limit using them to once a day.Have a bed that is low enough so that your feet touch the floor when you sit on the edge of the bed.Set up your bed on the first floor if you can. You may not need a hospital bed, but your mattress should be firm.Have a bathroom or a portable commode on the same floor where you will spend most of your day.Stock up on canned or frozen food, toilet paper, shampoo, and other personal items.Either buy or make single meals that can be frozen and reheated.Make sure you can reach everything you need without getting on your tiptoes or bending down low.Put food and other supplies in a cupboard that is between your waist and shoulder level.Place glasses, your teapot, and other items you use a lot on the kitchen counter.
Make sure you can get to your phone. A portable phone can be helpful.Place a chair with a firm back in the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and other rooms you will use. This way, you can sit when you do your daily tasks.If you will be using a walker, attach a sturdy bag or a small basket to it to hold your phone, a notepad, a pen, and another other things you will need to have close by. You can also use a fanny pack. You may need help bathing, using the toilet, cooking, running errands, shopping, going to the doctor, and exercising. If you do not have someone to help you at home for the first 1 or 2 weeks after surgery, ask your health care provider about having a trained caregiver come to your home to help you. This person can also check the safety of your home and help you with your daily activities.Other items that may help:A shower sponge with a long handleA shoehorn with a long handleA cane, crutches, or a walkerA reacher to help you pick up things from the floor, put on your pants, and take off your socksA sock aid to help you put on your socksHandle bars in the bathroom to allow you to steady yourself Raising the toilet seat height will keep you from flexing your knee too much.
You can do this by adding a seat cover or elevated toilet seat or a toilet safety frame. You can also use a commode chair instead of a toilet.You may need to have safety bars in your bathroom. Grab bars should be secured vertically or horizontally to the wall, not diagonally.DO NOT use towel racks as grab bars. They cannot support your weight.You will need two grab bars. One helps you get in and out of the tub. The other helps you stand from a sitting position. You can make several changes to protect yourself when you take a bath or shower:Put non-slip suction mats or rubber silicone decals in the tub to prevent falls.Use a non-skid bath mat outside the tub for firm footing.Keep the floor outside the tub or shower dry.Place soap and shampoo where you do not need to stand up, reach, or twist. Sit on a bath or shower chair when taking a shower:Make sure it has rubber tips on the bottom.Buy a seat without arms if it is placed in a bathtub. Keep tripping hazards out of your home.Remove loose wires or cords from areas you walk through to get from one room to another.
Remove loose throw rugs.Fix any uneven flooring in doorways. Have night lights placed in hallways and rooms that can be dark. Pets that are small or move around may cause you to trip. For the first few weeks you are home, consider having your pet stay elsewhere (with a friend, in a kennel, or in the yard).DO NOT carry anything when you are walking around. You may need your hands to help you balance.Practice using a cane, walker, crutches, or a wheelchair. It is especially important to practice the correct ways to:Sit down to use the toilet and stand up after using the toiletGet in and out of the showerUse the shower chairGo up and down stairs Hip or knee surgery - getting your home ready; Osteoarthritis - kneeCabrera JA, Cabrera AL. Total hip replacement. In: Frontera, WR, Silver JK, Rizzo TD, eds. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 61.Niska JA, Petrigliano FA, McAllister DR. Anterior cruciate ligament injuries (Including Revision).