Why Are Toilets Made of Porcelain? Everything You Need to Know!

When you walk into a bathroom today, you’ll find a toilet made from one of two materials: porcelain or ceramic. It’s the same materials that humans have been making toilets, sinks, and tubs from for centuries, but why is it such a popular choice and why has it withstood the test of time?

Porcelain is an excellent toilet material, and we’ll break down exactly why for you here! Porcelain and ceramic toilets offer a ton of advantages and are extremely durable.

Why Are Toilets Made of Porcelain?

It’s not that manufacturers are unwilling to switch from porcelain, it’s that they can’t find another material that does everything porcelain or ceramic can!

Simply put, porcelain and ceramic toilets are as good as it gets, and unless a new material comes out that can match the performance, ceramic and porcelain are here to stay.

Advantages of Porcelain & Ceramic Toilets

There are tons of advantages to porcelain and ceramic toilets. First, both materials are completely non-porous. Since they’re open for use all day long, sit in water, and deal with tons of human excrement, having a material that won’t hold onto any of that with each flush is a big deal.

Moreover, both porcelain and ceramic can handle a ton of weight on top of them. You don’t have to worry about how much you weigh when you sit down, it’s extremely unlikely that you’ll break porcelain or ceramic unless there is an underlying issue.

Finally, it’s easy to clean porcelain and ceramic toilets. While cleaning a toilet might not be your favorite job, it’s extremely easy to clean compared to other materials. You want a sanitary toilet, and with porcelain or ceramic it’s easy to maintain!

Are There Better Material Options?

No. While you might be able to find some other materials that perform similarly to ceramic or porcelain, you’re not going to find any that outperform it.

This is especially true when you factor in the cost of these materials. Compared to many other construction materials both porcelain and ceramic are extremely affordable, so you don’t have to spend a ton of money to get a highly functional toilet.

Two common materials people think about when looking for alternatives are plastic and steel, but both materials have their own drawbacks. Plastic toilets simply aren’t as durable and don’t stand the test of time as well as porcelain or ceramic. Moreover, while plastic is cheap, getting the molds is quite expensive.

Meanwhile, steel does hold up well and is highly functional. The problem comes down to appearance and comfort. Steel toilets tend to get extremely cold which is uncomfortable, and many people don’t like how they look.

For better or worse, it seems like porcelain and ceramic toilets are here to stay!

Final Thoughts

The next time you look at a toilet keep in mind people have been using the same material for hundreds of years, and there’s a good chance they’ll continue to use them for hundreds more!

It’s a consistent staple in our lives even if we typically don’t think twice about them, and since they work so well there’s really no reason to try and come up with anything new!

Featured Image: Soonthorn Wongsaita, Shutterstock