KOHLER asked our family to try two new solutions to issues families – especially those with small children – face every day. We received two products to install in our upstairs bathroom and our family of 5 has tested them over the past few weeks; from installation, to ease of use, to necessity, to benefits, to cons.
THE KOHLER NIGHTLIGHT TOILET SEAT
A Late Night Inconvenience
It’s the middle of the night and nature calls, waking me from a comfortable slumber. This is a normal part of pregnancy, albeit an annoying one, 
and I get up to stumble my way in the dark, praying I won’t trip or wake anyone up.
Sometimes that last drink of water before bed time gets to one of our kids and they get up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night. A door creaks open and I am startled awake by the sudden glare of the hallway light. I can only pray no one else wakes up.
An Innovative Solution
The innovative folks at KOHLER have clearly experienced these wake up calls as well, so they came up with a simple, affordable solution: Night Light Toilet Seats. While a lighted seat might not fit into the category of “must have,” it is certainly a useful, convenient option. The seat comes in two versions, Cachet and Reveal. Our family decided to try the Reveal seat.
Installation
Tim found installation of the NightLight Seat to be relatively simple and self-explanatory. If you can remove and replace a toilet seat, install some hardware, and set a timer, you can easily replace your current seat with this lighted one.
How Does it Work?
The Reveal seat includes a guide light on a 7-hour timer that is run by batteries. Set it once and you’re done. The guide light illuminates the seat, so you can find it in the dark without turning on any lights. The LED light also gently illuminates the bowl without hurting your eyes. While the LED light is the highlight of this seat, it also includes additional features that show KOHLER’s attention to important details. The unique tight-grip bumpers hold the seat in place and prevents slipping, while the Q3 lid prevents the seat from slamming – another important night time feature.
Pros
- Smart, thoughtful features that addresses night time disruptions.
- Seat is comfortable, quiet, and stays in place.
- The 7 hour cycle turns the light on when it’s needed and prevent wasting battery life.
- Allows you to save energy by turning off hallway or bathroom lights you might otherwise leave on.
- Encourages children to use the bathroom independently at night.
- Adds an element of safety to night time bathroom visits.
- Makes it easier to return to sleep with minimal disruption
- Can be installed in a rental and uninstalled when you move.
Cons
- Price point is higher than a traditional seat.
- May qualify as more of a luxury item, over a necessity.
- Battery cost.
THE KOHLER TOUCHLESS TOILET FLUSH KIT
Battling Germs
Sanitary habits and thorough hand washing routines are a common challenge for families. We take our children to public restrooms, relieved when touchless options are available, from flushing, to washing hands, to hand dryers. This option is not so readily available at home, so we find ourselves repeating the dreaded questions, “Did you flush? Did you wash your hands?”
An At-Home Solution
The KOHLER Touchless Toilet technology aims to bring the touchless flushing experience into your home. With the Touchless Kit, you can simply install KOHLER’s hardware to your existing standard toilet for just under $100. The system is powered by two AA batteries and the materials say it can generally be installed within 20 minutes.
Installation
We did not enjoy a 20 minute installation experience with this product. While installation wasn’t overly complicated, it was definitely more time consuming than the Night Light Toilet Seat. Installation requires removing your current lever flush and adding the touchless technology inside the tank. An optional hand decal is included that you can use to indicate where the touchless system is located within the tank.
How Does it Work?
Operation is simple. When you are ready to flush, simply put your hand over the sensor button and the toilet flushes. My kids – 3, 5, and 8 – had no difficulty operating the flushless toilet and are actually much more likely to remember to flush with it installed. It’s been a few weeks and the flushless novelty has yet to wear off.
Pros
- Quieter flush than standard toilet.
- Hands-free experience.
- Encourages the flushing habit.
- Appears to reduce water usage per flush.
- No need to clean toilet handle or pick up germs from a handle while flushing.
- Can be installed in a rental and uninstalled when you move.
Cons
- Sometimes flushes unexpectedly. You can lean and flush without intending to.
- The novelty means kids will flush repeatedly in the beginning.
- Water pressure appears lower, so sometimes one flush doesn’t do the trick.
- More of a luxury than a necessary, so might not fit every budget.
Overall, our family has appreciated the convenience and luxury of both of these products. While I appreciate the touchless technology and would recommend it to families who can fit it into their budget, I think the Night Light Toilet Seat is the real winner at our house. It’s easy to install, comes with a great number of features, and meets our family’s needs. Thanks to KOHLER for the opportunity to review these products!
Disclosure: We received products to facilitate this review. All opinions are our own. No compensation was received.
This kind of makes me giggle and think of a toliet UFO but I can absolutely see the purpose in the nightlight product. Growing up on the water in Florida, you get a lot of creatures in your toliet. This would totally help my childhood PTSD, because I absolutely can’t pee in the dark in fear of sitting on a rat.
Ahh! I’ve always had an irrational fear of snakes in the toilet. lol.