Meet the toilet stool – it’s never too late to poop with proper posture
14.3.2025
Translation: Veronica Bielawski
Pictures: Patrick Vogt
I tested the Stuul toilet stool out of curiosity. And what can I say? It’s an absolute game changer! This is a rave review of a product everyone should own.
I was today (and by today I mean 47) years old when I learned how best to sit – or rather, squat – when going number two.
A bitty stool to help you do your duty
Ever since I got the Stuul toilet stool, answering nature’s call has been a breeze.
And I say this as someone who rarely felt like he struggled before. I thought it was normal to have to push every now and then to get out the deuce. Par for the course, I figured. Boy, was I wrong! With the toilet stool, I don’t need to push, and my bowel movements are quicker than before. I also feel properly cleared out afterwards, which wasn’t always the case before. And it’s so simple: just prop up your feet and let it all out!
Indeed, the toilet stool and squat it forces you into has been a new experience for me. I’m hooked. The Stuul has turned me into a home doo-er; there’s no place like home, especially with a toilet stool.
Why squatting shouldn’t just be reserved for the slopes
It was many years ago that I first read about how the sitting position on the toilet is anything but ideal for bowel movements, and I’ve come across this line many times since. The German science magazine Quarks, for instance, explains that when sitting, the pelvic floor muscle is kinked, which makes bowel evacuation more difficult. When squatting, the pelvic floor muscle remains relaxed and the bowel is straight, making the bowel movement easier. The following ad from a toilet stool manufacturer explains this in more detail and with more humour:
All this to say, I’ve known about this for a long time in theory. I just hadn’t put said knowledge into practice. My colleague Natalie Hemengül, who took a class in how to use the toilet, is a few years ahead of me.
Superb stools with the Stuul
Has your interest been piqued? That’s great! You won’t regret adapting your squat. Do you need the Stuul toilet stool for this? Not necessarily. There are other brands and stools out there. Still, there are a few reasons that speak in favour of Stuul products.
Build quality
Stuul toilet stools are made from expanded polypropylene (EPP), which consists of over 90 per cent air, making it light as a feather. In addition, the manufacturer writes that the stool automatically adapts to the room temperature due to its high air content. Mind you, I’m not very sensitive to differences in temperature, and I like to put my feet on the stool simply because the material feels nice either way.
Ease of cleaning
The bathroom is a breeding ground for countless germs and bacteria. Toilet stools are no exception and should be cleaned regularly. You can easily do so with soap and water or disinfectant. You could even put the stools in the dishwasher; according to Stuul, the material retains its shape up to 110 degrees Celsius, though I haven’t dared to try that yet. What I can confirm is that the stool is robust. Time will tell how durable it really is in the long term.
Design
The two-piece toilet stool from Stuul is designed to be nested together when not in use for space-saving storage. It’s a smart solution that also looks good. And I’m not the only one who thinks so. Stuul has already received several awards for its toilet stool, including the International Design Award and the Good Design Award.
Sustainability
Stuul delivers its toilet stool with no frills and, above all, without plastic. In fact, the scope of delivery is reduced to the essentials: inside the box made of sustainable grass paper was the Stuul and nothing else. Very cool! According to Stuul, the toilet stool itself is 100 per cent recyclable and is produced in Germany in a climate-neutral way.
In a nutshell
Little stool, large effect
I’m sold! First and foremost, of course, on the toilet stool concept itself. If it were up to me, I’d never drop another deuce without it ever again.
The fact that I chose the Stuul of all stools as a fresh convert is down to luck. I could have easily gone for a different brand. But it’s not only lucky for Stuul, it’s also lucky for me; I have absolutely nothing to criticise about this product.
The only point of criticism goes to myself: why didn’t I get myself a toilet stool much earlier?
Pro
- Helps you assume the correct position during bowel movements
- Pleasant feel
- Light as a feather
- Pretty design
- Space-saving (two-piece stool nests into itself)
- Easy to clean
- Sustainable
I'm a full-blooded dad and husband, part-time nerd and chicken farmer, cat tamer and animal lover. I would like to know everything and yet I know nothing. I know even less, but I learn something new every day. What I am good at is dealing with words, spoken and written. And I get to prove that here.
Home + Kitchen
Follow topics and stay updated on your areas of interest
Health
Follow topics and stay updated on your areas of interest
81 comments
later