World-first review: Kohler C3 bidet toilet seat, car wash for your butt

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World-first review: Kohler C3 bidet toilet seat, car wash for your butt

Technology is touching all parts of our lives, our nether parts being no exception. These days there are toilet seats that clean you up like a car wash, and we have one right here from Kohler that we’ve been testing. Japan has embraced bidet toilet technology like no other nation on Earth, with water-spraying seats now installed in 68% of Japanese households, but American toilets aren't going high-tech that quickly. We’re wondering why, because their spraying, spritzing magic wands make you feel as clean as when you step out of the shower.

We installed a Kohler C3 200 toilet seat ($950) a couple of months ago and gave it a full test… drive. It’s packed with useful features — front and back spray, deodorizing fan, cool blue LED lights to give you a nighttime landing strip, and a blower that dries you off with warm air. Plus it’s controlled with an excellent wireless remote. Come with us by clicking Continue and we’ll extol the virtues and alert you to the pitfalls of such alien technology. No giggling, please. At least not when the bidet is off.

You Got the Power?

When we first unpacked the Kohler C3, we immediately noticed an obstacle for the majority of homeowners: It requires a power outlet behind or near your toilet. We were in luck, though, because we have electronic toilets here at our Midwest Test Facility, flushing with compressors that save water and work perfectly, so a power outlet was already in place. If you don’t have a receptacle nearby, that can be installed by an electrician, but it’s not going to be cheap, perhaps in the $200 range or more.

Easy as Hooking up a Garden Hose

Once we took off the old seat and secured the new one to the toilet, the rest of the installation was straightforward. You use the water pipe already connected to the toilet, and that water is warmed by an in-line heater in the seat on an as-needed basis. That’s an efficient design, saving power that would need to be used to keep that water heated 24/7. The smartly designed wireless remote control attaches to a magnetic holder that you mount to the wall.

Stink Stopper

The first thing you notice when you sit on the seat is a nearly silent fan turning on automatically. That’s the deodorizing fan whirring away, and it works surprisingly well, filtering all that malodorous air through activated charcoal. In fact, it can almost eliminate the need for a bathroom fan, neutralizing that harsh bathroom smell. We didn’t realize a level of deodorization this complete was even possible.

Engage and Giggle

Once you’re done with your bidness, you push a button for the bidet function to begin, selecting front or rear (we think they should have labeled the buttons No. 1 and No. 2), depending on what needs washing. You can also finely adjust the exact place where the spray nozzle is aimed, and we’re here to tell you: It can hit you in exactly the right spot. It’s a strange sensation at first, and takes some getting used to. Some of us just couldn’t keep from laughing out loud when the spray first started, we were so ticklish. But that giddy feeling went away after we’d used the seat for a few days.

Spray Versatility

There are lots of choices for this spray, including pulsate, which resembles a Water Pik but in slower two-second intervals, the normal flow which sends a constant gush of water precisely where you need it, and oscillate, undulating its spray back and forth to be sure you’re getting completely clean. Overall, it’s like a carwash for your butt, spraying and rinsing and leaving nothing behind. You can choose between three water temperatures, from cold to pleasantly warm, and there are two presets, saving favorite settings for him or her. Topping off the luxury is a heated toilet seat with temp settings from cool to hot, a welcome feature on a cold morning, which can be set to turn off automatically to save energy.

Whoosh

Once all the spritzing is done, it’s time for a blow-dry, and you can choose three fan speeds and temperatures for this, too. This was the only weakness of the Kohler C3 200, where the system is not able to dry you off quickly enough. Also, when you start the dry function, the deodorizing fan switches off, quickly reminding you of what a great job that charcoal filter’s been doing of eliminating odor. Here’s where you still might need that bathroom fan.

Not Perfect

Kohler suggests a quick butt-check with toilet paper after you’re done with the C3’s bidet-and-dry routine, which is good advice. Sometimes all this magic isn’t able to get you completely clean, so we got in the routine of a quick check for assurance. About half the time, we were glad we did, but the C3 still nearly eliminated the need for toilet paper.

Choice Seat

The overall experience with the Kohler C3 was overwhelmingly positive with both our male and female test subjects. This product is terrific, and we’re enthralled with its near-perfect engineering and workmanship. It works extremely well, and would be especially useful for the disabled or elderly. It’s one of those technological innovations that’s remarkably easy to get accustomed to, and one that you’ll miss when you’re away from home. We’re hoping the U.S. embraces this tech, long overdue in a country so obsessed with daily cleanliness.

Kohler C3 200 and Designer Plumbing Outlet

By Charlie White
9:03 PM ON 08/19/08

(18) COMMENTS

bidet toilet seat:
Finally an American company that is realizing the benefits of bidet toilet seat use. Bravo!...More »

Comments

By Hairy Anus at 12:54 AM ON 08/20/08

Do any of you have a hairy anus? I do, and it's quite a chore removing all those pieces of fecal matter that have become entangled in the hair around my anus. Also, weren't you worried that feces stained water would deflect off your ani and spray or drip back onto the nozzle, and then spray into the anus of the next user? This might be a convenient way to transfer germs from anus to anus.

By Mr. BabyMan at 2:49 AM ON 08/20/08

It's nice to see you guys haven't been sitting down on the job to get us these reviews. When it comes to reviewing new gadgets, it's always best to get your butts into gear and sh*t or get off the pot. Whoo! I'm flushed.

By ITrush at 11:23 AM ON 08/20/08

Wow, that's very impressive. I want to try it actually. giggles..

By NoSkidmarks at 11:59 AM ON 08/20/08

These units are made in South Korea. Wiping with dry paper leaves residue that leads to stinkbutt, skidmarks and odor. Washing with water (even after paper) is the only way to clean. Bidet users view dry-wipers as "the great unwashed"

By CJW at 12:49 PM ON 08/20/08

The E-Toilet: Log on, Log out, Log off.

It's hard not to make fun of fancy, thousand-dollar toilet seats, but this thing does seem pretty awesome. All the haters who've never felt the warmth of a heated toilet seat on a cold Winter morning are living sad, empty lives.

By The Poopmonster at 1:51 PM ON 08/20/08

I want one.

By Jen at 7:29 AM ON 08/21/08

Sorry, I giggled. But you did a great job in writing a serious and helpful review about, well, shit.

By IsoTek at 9:22 PM ON 08/21/08

"Japan has embraced bidet toilet technology like no other nation on Earth, with water-spraying seats now installed in 68% of Japanese households, but American toilets aren't going high-tech that quickly. We’re wondering why, because their spraying, spritzing magic wands make you feel as clean as when you step out of the shower."

Probably because most Americans prefer to clean their behinds in a shower or bathtub where one can freely use soap and water. A cleaning that this device doesn't do. A toilet no matter how fancy is designed for one thing...the elimination of waste. Trying to make it a bathing spot may be admirable but wasteful and considering that we should be conserving water why would we be adding another device which basically becomes a redundant bath spot. If your ass is dirty get in the tub or shower and scrub it, don't rely on your toilet to rinse your but and expect to be totally clean.

By Myles at 11:31 AM ON 08/22/08

Isotek, I'm guessing every time you sit on the toilet, you hop in the bath and scrub away. This device helps those of us who want to be a little cleaner and don't have the time or resources to take a bath every time nature calls.

By Kleen Me at 11:57 AM ON 08/22/08

The water will hopefully flush away any solids that might fall on the nozzles. This product has many benefits: less taxing on septic systems and muni-sewage systems; fewer trees used for toilet paper; increased level of hygiene; hemorrhoids sufferers would find that the less wiping and increase cleanliness help reduce their suffering; and anyone, like myself who is going through treatment for a fistula find this wonderful! If I could I'd buy one of these toilets today! There are other toilets like this as well, but they sell for over $1000.

By Karahana at 2:35 PM ON 08/26/08

Ok, how much does this crap cost? How much does a bidet and a toilet separately? You Americans wont stop amazing me...

By MYNAME at 5:25 PM ON 09/01/08

Wow, an American company finally came out with something that the rest of the world has been taking for granted for decades. Bravo!
A few more baby steps every year and maybe in a few centuries, the Americans will have cought up with everybody.
I bet if they create big enough hype, they will be selling them for $2000 like hotcakes.

By IOWNONE at 5:18 AM ON 09/09/08

"or drip back onto the nozzle." I actually own one of these and before spraying your anus, it does an auto rinsing before and after each cycle preventing this from happening. I think it's great saves tons of paper and it does feel quite clean. (By the way original idea comes from European bidets and Asians just make everything high tech)

By ekoikeeper at 10:21 AM ON 10/07/08

i would like to no how mutch these cost.

and were i can obtain one.
thank you.
W.T.Edwards

By Paul Mills at 7:35 AM ON 10/17/08

DEAR SIR/MADAM,
WITH MUCH REGARDS TO YOUR COMPANY AND PRODUCT AM MR PAUL MILLS,I WILL LIKE TO MAKE A PURCHASE OF A TOILET SEAT.CAN YOU GET ME THE WOODEN TOILET SEAT OR DURABLE PLASTIC TOILET SEATS.LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU CAN OFFER AND IF THESE CAN BE PICKED THIS WEEK.AND ALSO DO YOU TAKE MAJOR CREDIT CARDS YOUR RESPOND IS URGENTLY NEEDED.
THANK YOU
PAUL MILLS.

By Bob at 6:37 PM ON 08/28/09

Nothing like a spray of ice cold water on your butt to wake you up in the morning.

By undecided at 4:46 PM ON 10/30/09

No, but I once had a gynecologist by the name of Harry Ennis (true story...)
Back to the real topic at hand, I think owning one of these might save my husband and I money (we buy 'wet wipes' at Costco by the crate - toilet paper causes big problems for both of us and as everyone knows is 'inefficient'). We have become spoiled after using the wet wipes (they do a great job!), but along with that we feel guilty contributing to pollution by using products that do not break down in the waste water systems as advertised. I hope that by buying the 'magic seat' it will address both fronts (and rears:) of the quandry. Keeping clean and staying green! Can't hurt to try.

By bidet toilet seat at 11:22 PM ON 11/03/09

Finally an American company that is realizing the benefits of bidet toilet seat use. Bravo!

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