Bathrooms in Italy: What's that string for on the wall? (2024)

FAQs

Bathrooms in Italy: What's that string for on the wall? ›

The string set off the bathroom phone. You may have noticed similar strings hanging down over bathtubs, showers and toilets in bathrooms across the European nation. They are required by law in the national building code to be installed in public facilities that need to be accessible for disabled visitors – like hotels.

It is an alarm. If you feel you are going to faint in the bathroom, you can pull the cord to call for help. You are not supposed to pull the cord just because you wonder what it is!

A bathroom emergency pullstring is a cord found in some bathrooms and restrooms that can be pulled in the event of an emergency suffered by the bathroom's user, such as a fall or lock-in.

The “second toilet” is the bidet. We Italians use it to clean our private parts: it is not a toilet, but it is something you use after the toilet. After defecating, we use the toilet paper to remove the solid parts and then we clean our butt with water and the appropriate soap.

While today the bidet has somewhat fallen out of use in France, it has been adopted as fundamental part of life in Italy. In fact the bidet is now so ingrained into Italian culture that it's a legal obligation to put a bidet in every bathroom that is built on domestic or hotel property.

The string set off the bathroom phone. You may have noticed similar strings hanging down over bathtubs, showers and toilets in bathrooms across the European nation. They are required by law in the national building code to be installed in public facilities that need to be accessible for disabled visitors – like hotels.

For Italy there are three associated plug types, types C, F and L. Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins, plug type F is the plug which has two round pins with two earth clips on the side and plug type L is the plug type which has three round pins. Italy operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz.

In fact, all of the city's toilets started out with a seat. The reason behind the mystery of missing toilet seats: squatters. Toilet squatters, specifically. The toilet seats break over time after people stand on the seat to avoid the mess potentially on its surface.

An Italian shower is a type of shower that is very popular in modern homes. It is also known as a walk-in shower or a European shower. Unlike traditional showers that have a step, a bathtub, or an acrylic base, for example, the Italian shower is flush with the floor, giving it a more elegant and modern look.

Sure, you can wipe first, but most people who use a bidet find it easier and cleaner to just use the bidet. This is because the water pressure will adequately clean your bottom without the need for toilet paper. Some people like to wipe with toilet paper after using a bidet, but it's a matter of personal preference.

How should a woman use a bidet? ›

Start with a gentle pressure and gradually increase if needed. Optional Additional Cleaning Methods: If desired, you can use your hand to assist with cleaning while the water is flowing. Gently cleanse the area with your fingers, taking care to avoid any harsh rubbing.

Bidets are in fact a legal building requirement in Italy and they have been so for nearly 50 years now. Article 7 of a Ministerial Decree issued on July 5th, 1975 states that “in each house, at least one bathroom must have the following fixtures: a toilet, a bidet, a bathtub or shower, and a sink”.

Some bidets have a built-in air dryer that you can use. Look for the "Dry" button next to the "Wash" and "Stop" features. If there's no air dryer, simply pat yourself dry with toilet paper.

The answer really is rather simple: One is a toilet, the other is a bidet, used for washing. If you visit countries like France, Italy and Portugal, or venture further afield to East Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, you are likely to come across two toilets in the bathroom.

Step 1: Always use the toilet before you use the bidet. A bidet is intended to help you wash and clean up after using the toilet, but the fixture is not an actual toilet. Some use a bidet without toilet paper, some use toilet paper and the bidet, and some use the bidet and then dry off with a towel.

In Italy, some bathrooms are just a hole in the floor with a type of shower floor frame around it where you sit down or stand to pee (whether you´re female or not). It might be a challenge for beginners, but not after you know what to expect and how to handle the experience.

If you start to fall and reach out in panic, that's where that thin tub/shower cord comes in handy. If you yank the cord on your way down, or pull it once already splayed on the floor with legs akimbo, an alarm is designed to ring on a master panel in the hotel.

Why Does My Shower Have a Pull Cord? A pull cord in an electric shower is a safety feature designed to protect anyone needing to do maintenance.