When I was a kid visiting my grandparents house, there was a little macrame picture hanging on the wall.
It featured a kind of skinny little building on a hill, and beneath that, a short poem I’ll never forget:
“On a cold dark night
In a sleepy haze
Be glad these ain’t
The good ol’ days”
I stared at that thing every time I was in there, completely lost as to its meaning. I don’t know why I never just asked my grandparents what it meant, other than the fact that I felt like there was a joke in there, and I hate admitting that I don’t get a joke.
It wasn’t until I was maybe 15 or so, visiting again for some holiday, that the penny dropped. It was an outhouse. The kind my grandparents had actually grown up using. The poem was about being grateful nobody has to go poop outside anymore. What a time to be alive.
But bathroom innovation didn’t end with, yanno, the bathroom. Check out these Reddit posts about the cutting edge in poopoo peepee tech.
15. I’m blue
Well that’s…bleak.
All of the toilet lights in my town have been changed to fluorescent blue, in an attempt to prevent heroin users from being able to find a vein to use.
byu/sorryimanorwichfan inmildlyinteresting
14. Backup plan
Way to go, bar.
This brewery has a sign in the bathroom that offers a backup plan incase your date isn’t going so well
byu/daffydubs inmildlyinteresting
13. Can’t handle it
That seems a lot more sanitary, actually.
My school’s bathrooms have pedals instead of handles
byu/allygator314 inmildlyinteresting
12. The fresh stuff
Well well well, look at fancy office Maria over here!
The toilet at my work has a wall of strong scented wood to replace an air refresher (it works surprisingly well!)
by inmildlyinteresting
11. Going down
You might call it a sink sink.
These kids toilets in a London museum whose sinks slope to cater for progressively shorter children.
byu/cuttyranking inmildlyinteresting
10. Visibility
I’m totally on board for this. But also my neck hurts from reading it sideways.
9. Safety first
Just don’t mix it up with the soap.
This zoo has a complimentary sunscreen dispenser in the bathroom.
byu/hotdee7 inmildlyinteresting
8. Date protection
Seriously, this should be widespread.
7. White noise
Japan is so far ahead of us with toilet stuff.
Japanese toilets often have a button that plays white noise/water sounds so you can poop without other people hearing your business.
byu/mikieliza inmildlyinteresting
6. Code red
Clever and discreet.
The bathroom at my doctor’s office has a discreet way for victims of abuse, violence, or human trafficking to get help.
byu/theryanfight inmildlyinteresting
5. Kid seat
For the tiny butts among us.
Public toilet at shopping centre has a extra smaller toilet seat for little humans.
byu/im-Scary-Terry-bitch inmildlyinteresting
4. Free means free
As it ought to be.
My office flipped all the women’s restroom vending machines to be free.
byu/ScoopOKarma inmildlyinteresting
3. Gender neutral
The way of the future.
I have a Gender neutral bathroom at my High school
byu/McquacK__ inmildlyinteresting
2. Cool glasses
For when you gotta temporarily hang up your style.
This toilet lock that doubles as a tray so you can’t leave without taking your stuff.
byu/notanaijin inmildlyinteresting
1. Pet stop
Puppers need poopers too.
Pet bathroom at the Burbank Airport.
byu/disneyway inmildlyinteresting
The future of 1 and 2 look bright.
If you were redesigning your bathroom any way you want, what would you do with it?
Tell us in the comments.
