Imagine a Bathroom That Cleans Itself

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Dr. Mercola

February 25 2006

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Imagine a Bathroom That Cleans Itself

Bathroom Australian researchers are hoping that a thin coating of titanium dioxide particles could help keep toilets clean.

This same technology is currently being used on several kinds of outdoor items, since it is activated by ultraviolet sunlight.

Light below a certain wavelength excites electrons, causing an oxidation effect that cleans continuously and disinfects more effectively than bleach. Techniques are being attempted to make indoor lighting, rather than sunlight, cause the necessary reaction.

Recently, the researchers were able to manage this with a layer of the coating on glass in laboratory trials. But the technology is still in a developmental stage.

Sources:

Best Syndication February 7, 2006

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

This technique is already being used to coat windows so that they never need cleaning; it was only a matter of time before someone tested the substance on toilets.

Despite all the time and energy saved by such conveniences, I remain only cautiously optimistic about the potential benefits. This substance could turn out to be just one more form of pollution that could do more harm than good.

I am a major proponent of technology, and have previously run articles about nanotechnology. Without any doubt, this technology will change your life in the future, for better or worse.

But there could be major problems in the manufacturing process of nanotech products that could cause serious health complications in the employees who produce these products. I don't believe there will be any risk to using them.

Wouldn't it be nice to have a toilet that you didn't have to clean?

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Community Comments ( 4 )

Magnolia

[ Joined on 06/06 ] [ Posted on

May 4, 2008

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Savvy User

We use hydrogen peroxide in the cleaning business to kill bacteria, mold, and mildew in bathrooms and all over the house. I've switched over to using it in toilets to clean them. Then I finish it off by wiping down the entire outside of the unit with isopropyl alcohol. We run an air purifier with a HEPA filter in each room while we are cleaning. I find the H2O2 gets rid of stubborn mold like you would not believe!

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DrEric

[ Joined on 05/07 ] [ Posted on

April 29, 2008

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Novice User

Well, get this if you want to and you can be in the latest studies on the "hygiene hypothesis".

articles.mercola.com/.../the-dirty-truth-about-allergies-you-need-to-know.aspx

As for myself I will continue with the once a month soapy water to clean the toilet.

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JohnR7

[ Joined on 12/07 ] [ Posted on

April 29, 2008

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Novice User

Clean is not really the right word. I have a ultraviolet light that I use to purify the air in the bathroom. Ultraviolet does not kill bacteria, it effects the DNA so that it can not reproduce itself. So the bacteria may die off, but ultraviolet needs to be used in combination with a hepa filter that actually filters the bacteria and irritants out of the air. Ultraviolet light may keep something from getting dirty, but it does not clean it once the dirt is there. There is research being done in hospitals using ultraviolet light to deal with various disease causing bacteria.

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VitaGuy

[ Joined on 06/06 ] [ Posted on April 29, 2008]

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Novice User

That's all true about UV, JohnR7, but this is talng about the Titanium Dioxide doing the oidation work, much like bleach does. The UV just provides the energy for the catalytic reaction. It is hard to comprehend unless you've seen similar coatings in action, and they are amazing.

My fear is how dangeous the particles might be in the environment, and there would surely be some sloughing off of TiO2 over time. Only then will we find out what we've done to ourselves now. We must learn to be more cautious!

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