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Why Does This Toilet Have a Shelf Inside? The Surprising Reason Behind the Unusual Design

Imagine moving into a new apartment, walking into the bathroom, and discovering something you’ve never seen before.

At first glance, the toilet appears normal.

Then you look closer.

Instead of a deep pool of water at the bottom of the bowl, there’s a flat porcelain shelf sitting inside.

Most people have the exact same reaction:

“Is this broken?”

“Was it designed incorrectly?”

“What is that shelf even for?”

As strange as it may seem, this unusual fixture isn’t a manufacturing mistake. It’s actually a deliberate toilet design that has been used in parts of Europe for decades.

And once you understand how it works, the mystery starts to make a lot more sense.

Meet the Washout Toilet

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