Five Fascinating Facts About Portable Toilets (You Probably Didn't Know!)
Portable toilets would be deserving of medals if they were able to receive them – after all, they are life-savers at outdoor events and out-of-the-way places when 'nature calls'. Their 'ancestors' date back thousands of years and, fortunately, they have greatly evolved in terms of appearance, construction materials, mobility, functionality, and design. Whether one is referring to simple port-a-potties one might find at a music festival, or luxury restroom trailers that offer the type of amenities one would expect from an upscale hotel, there are some fascinating facts about these unsung heroes that might surprise, many – let's take a peek at a few.
Portable Toilets Claim a Humble Beginning
The history of portable toilets takes us way back to antiquity when pots were carried on trips to accompany royalty if traveling for days was on the agenda. The ancient Roman Empire, it seems, provided huge vases at the edge of many towns, and the vases were supplied by vendors who would maintain the oversized pots – what fun that had to have been.
The real beginning of what we call 'portable toilets', however, unfolds during the 1940s at California shipyards. When shipbuilders had to meet their calls for relief throughout the day, it would require the men to walk all the way back to the dock area to utilize restroom facilities, on land. Needless to say, valuable work-time was being sacrificed due to the time workers would spend walking from the work area and back again, multiple times throughout each shift.
An insightful ship-building supervisor came up with the bright idea to bring portable commodes to the men and, thereby, minimize lost work-time. The idea proved to be a success, but these early portable-toilet models were primitive, very smelly, and unsanitary (they were made, mostly, of odor-absorbent wooden walls which housed a non-flushable tank), however, they served their purpose, at the time.
New materials, new designs and other innovations in the portable-toilet industry quickly transformed the smelly portable toilets of yesteryear to the highly-sanitized and amenity-filled portable restrooms of today.
A Portable Toilet By Any Other Name…
There is the adage, A rose by any other name is still a rose, and so it goes, too, with portable toilets. Regardless of their title, they are one-and-the-same in terms of function, and they provide a priceless service whenever the need arises. They are known by a slew of synonyms – some, of which, originated before the 20th Century:
*** Portable restrooms
*** Porta-loo
*** Johnny-on-the-spot
*** Honey bucket
*** Porta-potty
*** Porta-john
*** Bucket toilet
*** Temporary toilet
*** Outdoor cubicle
*** Commode chair
*** Freezing toilet
*** Sani-privy
*** Turdis
*** Water Closet or WC (a mostly-European term for outdoor and indoor restrooms)
The End One Could Be the Cleanest
It is believed, according to psychologists who have combed through human bathroom behavior, that regardless of whether restroom stalls are inside a building or whether a number of outdoor restroom units are lined up in a row, the two units on the ends will, predictably, be the least used. Can you guess why? The belief is simple: people have an innate desire to create a maximized sense of privacy when using the toilet, and being surrounded on all sides by multiple walls or units helps to generate an increased sense of privacy and security.
One excerpt from Psychology Today tells us that if people are given a line of identical options, people 'reliably prefer the middle one' – interesting. Here are some additional insights about human bathroom behavior that are backed by research: 1) on average, women spend twice as long in a bathroom than men 2) 75% of people use their phones while sitting on the 'throne' 3) 10% of bathroom users make online purchases while doing their business and 4) 8% of people actually eat food while in the sitting position in a bathroom – not the most sanitary decision...
Portable Toilet Evolution Meets Consumers' Needs and Wants
When we think of porta-potties dating as far back as 6th Century BC in ancient Egypt and other early civilizations, we have to marvel at how far portable toilets have come. Perhaps, the epitome of that evolution could be placed directly on the very elegant luxury restroom trailers that are used, today, for any number of sophisticated gatherings – outdoor fairy-tale weddings, corporate picnics, professional golf tournaments, tented cocktail parties – you get the idea! With flushing toilets, sinks with running water, temperature-controlled interiors, and other impressive amenities, luxury restroom trailers add much-appreciated convenience and high-end sophistication to the most elegant of affairs.
Other, less-extravagant portable toilets are, also, available, with lovely interiors and prices that accommodate just about any budget. Models that are more basic are perfect for more personal gatherings such as family reunions, birthday and anniversary celebrations, graduation parties, and much more! In other words, there are portable toilets for any occasion and any budget!
It should be pointed out that science and technology have played a big role in the evolution of portable toilets, as well. Take, for example, the management of waste. Deodorizing chemicals do more than just deodorize – they sanitize, too. To, further, eliminate odors, all the plumbing in portable toilets is hidden, and all waste tanks are super-sealed to trap and hold any unpleasant smells.
Non-formaldehyde-based deodorizers contain 'biocides' which not only mask smells, they keep odor-causing bacteria from exponentially multiplying. With more elegant portable toilets, flushing commodes and sinks with soap and running water keep germs at bay, as well – oh, how portable toilets have changed!
Luxury Portable Restrooms Make Their Grand Entrance
As mentioned, luxury portable restrooms have an elegant ambiance, all their own. At Westway Site Services formerly Moore Cans, our luxury portable restrooms are as nice as interior restrooms one would find in a lovely home. Our luxury portable restrooms offer everything from flushing toilets, spacious vanities with polished sinks and running water, temperature-controlled interiors to cater to any season, private stalls, beautiful cabinetry, indoor and outdoor lighting, tastefully-designed interior décor – the list goes on!
When image truly does matter, luxury portable restrooms' stunning interiors and functional elements create dynamic first impressions! They are the epitome of class and sophistication, and some of our units will accommodate 10 users, simultaneously. Yes – being pampered is what luxury portable restrooms are all about!