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We have all been there. After finishing your business, you look down at the silver buttons on the cistern and press the larger one.
Perhaps you even press both at once, hoping for "extra power". It is the ultimate user-interface mystery sitting right in your bathroom.
If you have ever wondered why your toilet looks like a 'choose your own adventure' setup, you are not alone. Those buttons are a genius feat of engineering.
This smaller button is designed for Number 1s. It uses less water, usually around three litres.
Since liquids require less force to clear, using a full tank wastes money. Your wallet, too, will thank you.
Using the correct button helps slash your monthly water bill. This habit keeps your plumbing system working exactly as designed.
The larger button is "full-power" mode for solid waste and toilet paper. It releases the entire cistern, which is typically six litres of water.
You need that extra force to ensure everything clears the pipes properly. This prevents awkward situations and keeps the bowl clean.
Using the big button for everything wastes thousands of litres of clean water. Dual-flush systems can reduce water usage by 67%, making it a significant invention of water-saving technology.
TL/DR: The big button is for the "big business", and the small one for the "small business".
