# Whose idiotic idea was it to make all toilets white? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 9, 2009, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-idiotic-idea-was-it-to-make-all-toilets-white/516890 "2009-11-09T09:23:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![mac\_bolan00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@mac\_bolan00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mac_bolan00)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-idiotic-idea-was-it-to-make-all-toilets-white/516890/61 "2011-11-22T08:21:43Z")
my bet is toiletries try their best to simulate marble and white marble is the most luxurious. white clay is also the best. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Righteous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Dr.Righteous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Righteous)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-idiotic-idea-was-it-to-make-all-toilets-white/516890/62 "2011-11-22T18:53:36Z")
I too have a design complaint, different than others already mentioned: I hate all of the nooks and crevices on the base of the toilet. The front is smooth and curved of course, but the sides where the bolt goes in have all these little notched areas where gunk just seems to love to collect. I hate having to get on my hands and knees to make sure everything gets clean - cleaning the toilet is already a nasty job, but that makes it extra gross for some reason. I know I’ve seen some that are completely smooth on the outside (the Home Depot website tells me these are “hatbox” design) but they’re certainly not common. Okay, that’s my #firstworldproblem bitching done for the day. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-idiotic-idea-was-it-to-make-all-toilets-white/516890/63 "2011-11-22T19:07:30Z")
Rhodes, when you went potty at the children’s playground, are you sure you weren’t pissing in the SINK? I’ve seen some totally classy bathroom fixtures in a burgundy, and even black. But a lady who had the black fixtures (including a pedestal sink!) said that black is HORRIBLE. Water deposits and soap scum show up like neon lights, and you are forever in the bathroom wiping so it looks presentable. Cleaning the toilet, no matter WHAT color it is, is an abominable job. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-idiotic-idea-was-it-to-make-all-toilets-white/516890/64 "2011-11-22T19:41:51Z")
Isn’t this why lab coats are white? So you can see when it is dirty so you can clean it? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-idiotic-idea-was-it-to-make-all-toilets-white/516890/65 "2011-11-22T19:42:31Z")
My toilet in my 1950’s house is Wild Rose. That’s a fancy way of saying pink. Matches the Rose bathtub and sink. [![](https://www.faucetdirect.com/imagebase/resized/x500/Kohlerimages/K-4258-wild%20rose.jpg) ](https://www.faucetdirect.com/imagebase/resized/x500/Kohlerimages/K-4258-wild%20rose.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-idiotic-idea-was-it-to-make-all-toilets-white/516890/66 "2011-11-22T19:50:02Z")
Worth adding that toilets and sinks in colored porcelain do cost a bit more. I learned that when we added a full bath about 20 years ago. After talking it over, we went with white. To save a money and because colors can hinder the resale of houses. Those two reasons are probably why most builders go with white. It’s a safe neutral color that won’t drive off picky home buyers. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-idiotic-idea-was-it-to-make-all-toilets-white/516890.md?page=3)