Rimless toilets and bidets

Rimless technology is now the standard and it is worth understanding why. The traditional toilet had a rim, an inner lip under which the flush water travelled. That cavity was impossible to clean thoroughly and limescale and bacteria built up there. Removing it means the water exits through an open channel running round the whole bowl: it wipes clean in a single pass and flushes more effectively with fewer litres.

The choice between wall-hung and floor-standing is really a construction decision. Wall-hung hangs from a frame built into the partition, leaves the floor clear — you mop underneath with no corners — and visually lightens small bathrooms. In exchange it requires opening the wall and fitting the structure, so it only makes sense if building work is already planned. A floor-standing pan, by contrast, installs onto the existing outlet and is the sensible option when replacing the fixture without touching the plumbing.

That brings us to the detail that causes the most trouble: the outlet. It can be horizontal — to the wall — or vertical — to the floor, and the new piece and the existing installation do not always match. Many current models include a dual outlet that accepts both configurations and saves you from rebuilding the waste. If you are replacing an old toilet without refurbishing the bathroom, check first which outlet you have and pick a compatible or dual-outlet piece.

The seat deserves attention because it is the most used part and the first to fail. Soft-close seats prevent slamming and extend the life of the assembly, and quick-release ones let you remove the seat entirely to clean the fixing, which is where dirt gathers. When buying, check the seat is specific to the model: universal seats rarely sit well on a bowl with a particular design.