FUKUOKA -- Though cleaning toilet seats with flushable paper at hand sounds easy and convenient, Japanese toilet maker Toto Ltd. is urging consumers not to do so, and the company has explained the reason to the Mainichi Shimbun.

A post on X (formerly Twitter) that went viral recently lamented that a newly installed Toto toilet seat got scratched after being wiped with toilet paper, suggesting that it should be made from more durable materials. Similar experiences can be found online. So why shouldn't you use the paper in the bathroom?

According to Toto, its "Washlet" bidet toilet seats have always been made from plastic resin. A representative said, "We use the current resin considering its resistance to detergents and its ability to be molded into complex shapes."

Repeatedly wiping a plastic resin seat with toilet paper or a dry cloth can cause tiny scratches on the surface, not visible to the naked eye. Dirt can accumulate in these scratches, leading to discoloration. Therefore, it is recommended to use a soft cloth, dampened with water and well-wrung. The toilet's instruction manuals also advise this, and for tough stains, a diluted neutral kitchen detergent apparently works.

Still, isn't it possible to develop more durable materials for toilet seats? Toto states that there are various types of plastic resins, and the manufacturer chooses ones based on a balance of quality, safety and cost, among other factors. While the company is researching materials with higher scratch resistance, it says "there are no plans to change the material at this time."

(Japanese original by Norihisa Ueda, Kyushu Business News Department)