When it comes to redesigning your bathroom, the cabinets, countertops, and flooring typically get most of the attention. Despite how much use it gets every day, however, the toilet is usually an afterthought. 

But bathroom brand Toto is poised to change all of that with its impressive Toto Neorest line. These tankless toilets don’t just help you conserve water — they also implement a host of innovative tech and features that will completely transform your bathroom experience, creating a true “smart bathroom” that does things far more useful than simply playing your favorite songs off Spotify.

Though Neorest toilets have been on the market for a few years, they aren’t quite as well known as they should be. Still, there is no denying that these luxury toilets are on the rise, and for good reason. Here’s a closer look at the many ways that a Toto Neorest toilet can make a difference for your bathroom.

A New Way to Flush

The average toilet uses about 3.6 gallons of water per flush, meaning that the average family of four will use over 26,000 gallons of water each year, just from flushing the toilet! Not only does this use a lot of water, but in most toilets, the flushing mechanism doesn’t fully wash away waste and debris — which of course means that you will need to spend a fair amount of time scrubbing and disinfecting the toilet.

The Toto Neorest doesn’t feature a tank like you would find in a standard toilet. Instead, it relies on an electric pump to help provide a powerful blast of water for each flush. Known as the Cyclone Flushing System, this results in a hole-free rim that uses a pair of nozzles to send jets of water spiraling down from the top of the toilet.

By moving at a high speed, the water creates centrifugal force and is able to efficiently collect any waste within the toilet and send it into your plumbing. By eliminating the rim holes found along most toilet bowl rims, this nozzle system also reduces the potential for dirt and germ buildup that so often occurs in these locations. This system also reduces noise and splash back that sometimes occur when flushing standard toilets.

The top nozzle is further complemented by a siphon trapway located at the bottom of the toilet bowl. The design of the trapway restricts airflow to create a vacuum at the time of the flush, preventing air pockets that result in inefficient flushing. The siphoning force and spiraling water combine to ensure that everything gets flushed away, with no need to worry about potential clogs. Better still, the sleek exterior design of Neorest toilets conceals this feature for a cleaner overall look.

These aren’t the only features that help reduce water usage. Another key attribute of the Toto Neorest line is its use of a patented glaze known as SanaGloss. SanaGloss creates an ionized barrier to seal the porous ceramic of your toilet. As a result, the ionized glaze doesn’t just prevent mold and bacteria buildup — it actively repels waste particles, making them that much easier to flush away.

All of these elements combine to greatly reduce how much water a Toto toilet needs to use. Depending on the model you choose, the toilet will use a mere 0.8 to 1.28 gallons of water per flush, which could help your family save tens of thousands of gallons of water each year.

As proof of the Neorest’s water conservation, it is a certified WaterSense and CalGreen product — designations given to eco-friendly products that promote the efficient use of water.

Easier Cleaning

The aforementioned attributes of a nozzle flush and SanaGloss glaze will greatly reduce your need for bathroom cleaning by eliminating bacterial growth, but Toto Neorest toilets actually make it so you will never have to scrub your toilet bowl again!

This is made possible through the use of Toto’s ewater+ system, more generally known as electrolyzed water. Electrolyzed water is created through the process of electrolysis, which allows regular tap water that contains dissolved salt to become a powerful sanitizer and disinfectant. Electrolysis makes the water acidic to form hypochlorous acid, which has been found to be more effective at killing bacteria than bleach.

The acidic water has a relatively short lifespan, typically returning to its normal pH level after about two hours. The Toto Neorest line utilizes ewater+ after each flush, misting the inside of the bowl with the acidic water. As a result, any lingering bacteria are wiped out, leaving your toilet bowl clean and sanitary without needing to use harsh chemical cleaners. 

A pre-mist also occurs when the toilet detects you are about to use it. Misting the toilet bowl in advance further ensures that all waste will be flushed away. If the toilet isn’t used for 8 hours, misting will also occur automatically to prevent even the possibility of germ buildup or foul odors.

This automated cleaning system won’t just save you time — it will also help you save money at the grocery store and further reduce your environmental impact by eliminating the need to continually purchase chemical wipes, toilet bowl disinfectant, and other cleaners. Many of these cleaners are much less effective than electrolyzed water, which means you wouldn’t get as good of results by using them anyway.

Select Toto Neorest toilets also use what is referred to as the “Actilight” system. Actilight uses ultraviolet light to react with the toilet bowl’s coating to form activated oxygen, which works in conjunction with ewater+ to further sanitize and disinfect the toilet.

The Bidet

Bidets, or personal cleansing systems, aren’t exactly commonplace in the United States. However, there is no denying that they can also have a significant impact in improving your home’s environmental impact.

Consider this: the average American uses about 50 pounds of toilet paper each year — and unlike other paper products, that toilet paper isn’t going to get recycled. Toilet paper production contributes to deforestation, while also wasting water and electricity.

In fact, according to Scientific American, the annual manufacturing of toilet paper in the United States kills 15 million trees, while also using over 473 trillion gallons of water and 253,000 tons of chlorine. Needless to say, a lot of waste goes into making our toilet paper — and that doesn’t even account for what could happen if bleach or other products used in the manufacturing process were to leak into the local environment.

Because of the wasteful nature of toilet paper, many environmental advocates have encouraged Americans to start adopting what is already a commonplace technology in other countries — the bidet.

With Toto being a Japanese manufacturer, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that Neorest toilets also feature a bidet, also referred to as a Washlet personal cleansing system.

Smart technology allows users to fully customize their wash according to their needs and preferences. Unlike other bidets, which only provide a preset wash position, Neorest owners can use a remote to control the operation of the system.

This remote allows you to set whether you will use the front or rear cleaning spout, while also adjusting the position of the wand. For additional comfort, you can also control the water temperature and pressure, and even set the flow of water to an oscillating or pulsating setting to ensure a more thorough clean.

The initial cleaning is followed up by a soft-spray rinse and a warm air dryer, leaving your rear completely clean! On average, these bidet cleanings only use one-eighth of a gallon of water, significantly reducing both the water consumption and other forms of waste associated with toilet paper consumption.

For further convenience, the Toto Neorest can save your washing preferences for faster, easier cleaning in the future. Though adjusting to a bidet may take some getting used to, many homeowners wonder how they ever got by without one. Better still, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you are playing a small role in helping the environment.

As with the toilet bowl itself, the bidet’s cleaning wand is automatically sanitized with ewater+ after each use. This keeps any waste from accumulating on the wand, while also killing off any potential bacterial growth so you don’t have to do the cleaning yourself.

Additional Features

While the previously mentioned elements are perhaps the most notable ways in which a Toto Neorest toilet differs from the competition, these toilets also come packed with a wide array of small quality of life features that further enhance everyday use.

For example, the toilet lid detects when you are about to sit down. As such, the lid opens automatically in preparation for your use. After you use the toilet, it flushes automatically and even closes the lid when you leave — no more arguments about who left the toilet seat up! Sensor sensitivity levels can be adjusted via the remote to improve operation based on the size of the bathroom, the toilet’s placement within the room, and other factors. As a backup, manual operation of these systems (including the flush) are also available.

For added comfort, the toilet seat is heated. As with other features, the heat settings are fully adjustable so you can find the temperature that feels best to you. You can also turn the heat off entirely, if desired. Neorest toilets also feature an automatic air purifying system to remove odors. A programmable night light makes it easy to find your way to the bathroom in the middle of the night without needing to turn on other lights. These settings (as well as opening and closing the lid) can be controlled from the system’s remote. 

Another noteworthy element of Toto Neorest toilets is their ADA compliance. With a universal height, these toilets have been designed so that users of all ages and physical abilities can enjoy standard use without the need for extra assistance or accessories. 

Toto Neorest toilets further enhance their energy efficiency thanks to their Energy Saver System. This system can either be programmed manually by the user, or the toilet will self-program based on detected usage frequency for different times of day. This allows it to enter a “sleep mode” during times of infrequent use to further conserve energy.

Installing a Neorest Toilet

With so many extra features, you might think that installing a Toto Neorest toilet is more complicated than the average installation. In reality, however, the lack of a tank makes it slightly easier to install.

The only distinct difference in installing a Toto Neorest toilet is that an electrical outlet will need to be located near the toilet. This will be necessary to provide the power needed for the toilet’s automated smart features and flushing pump. Because many bathrooms don’t have an electrical outlet located in this area, homeowners may need to have an electrician install a new outlet prior to purchasing the toilet. Due to its location, this should be a GFCI outlet. Pipe extenders may also be necessary in some bathrooms.

Once the water supply and power outlet are ready, the toilet can be easily installed. Neorest toilets feature a 12-inch rough-in, allowing you to quickly replace an old toilet without the need for extra work. The toilets come with a Universal Socket that ensure proper mounting with the floor flange. Because the toilet itself comes as a single piece, you won’t have to worry about the extra mounting and attachment troubles that so often accompany the installation of a standard toilet with tank.

Thanks to this easy installation process, you won’t need any extra tools beyond what you would need for a standard toilet installation, such as a caulking gun and Phillips screwdriver. The toilets come with a 3-year residential and one-year commercial limited warranty.

There are several available models in the Neorest toilet line, ranging from a wall-hung dual-flush toilet to the compact 550H model. Included with each toilet are the tank and mounting covers, fittings, and the Washlet so you will have everything you need to start enjoying your new toilet. Some models offer a more compact size or use less water per flush, so it is well worth looking into the different options available to find the best fit for your home. Models featuring Actilight cleaning are typically more expensive than those with ewater+ alone.

Are There Any Issues to Be Aware Of?

Though Toto Neorest toilets are highly efficient, it is important to remember that the things that make them different from a standard toilet also mean that repairs and maintenance (if needed) will be different as well.

The most important difference to be aware of is that the toilet’s flush is powered by electricity. As a result, a power outage or an electrical failure would prevent you from being able to use the toilet’s automatic flush features. Some models have an “emergency flush” setting specifically designed for these situations, but for others, you might have to use a bucket of water to flush during a power outage.

Of course, if the flush doesn’t work, it never hurts to double check to make sure the GFCI outlet for your toilet hasn’t tripped! 

Getting repairs or replacement parts can also be a bit trickier than with a standard toilet, as Neorest toilets use components that are unique to the Toto brand. You won’t find what you need at your local hardware store, and your favorite plumber likely won’t be able to help with any troubleshooting. Unless the problem lies with your household pipes or water supply, all assistance will have to come directly from Toto.

The good news is that maintenance issues are rare, with Neorest toilets landing high review scores here on Kitchen & Bath Authority and on many other prominent sites across the web.

Is it Right For Your Bathroom?

The high price tag on a Toto Neorest toilet may be off-putting to some. But for those who have adopted these unique high-tech toilets, they have proven to be a truly life-changing experience.

As just one example, an article in the New York Times highlighted a businessman who waited through a nine-hour flight before going to the bathroom just so he could use his Toto toilet. The article cites other users who similarly find that they can’t go back to a standard toilet after purchasing a Toto Neorest, saying that doing so would feel like “going back to the Stone Age.”

The host of innovative features and a sleek, modern design are what make Toto Neorest toilets worth the initial investment. When it comes to the many smart toilets that are starting to emerge in today’s market, the Toto Neorest line pushes itself ahead of the competition with features that will actually make a difference in your day to day life.

Automated cleaning, reduced water usage, a customizable bidet feature, and even having the lid open and close automatically will completely transform the way you use your bathroom. Like many other users have discovered, you will have a hard time going back to using a standard toilet.

At Kitchen & Bath Authority, we offer several Toto Neorest products at fantastic discounts. Members can save even more on select products, while new customers can score additional savings through special promo codes. There’s never been a better time to buy a Toto Neorest toilet, and with these deals, you can find the right match for your home today!