It’s said that necessity is the mother of invention, but sometimes disgust may give birth to one. Case in point: the Johnie-Lift.
It’s an invention that was inspired by Paul Doyle’s mother-in-law, who had a large family and a dislike of cleaning.
“With two adults and eight children, she was constantly cleaning the bathroom,” Doyle explained. “She felt very uneasy touching the seat, so she said, ‘Boy, wouldn’t it be great if there was a handle?’ ”
After years of listening to the complaints, Doyle and his wife, Laurie, bought a 3-D printer and created a mock-up of a simple plastic handle that sticks to the base of a toilet seat. The couple, who own a Thousand Oaks vitamin store, contracted with a Texas manufacturer for fabrication. They financed the venture themselves.
The Johnie-lift went on sale earlier this year for $2.95, and can be purchased online at JohnieLift.com, or from Think Vitamins, the couple’s vitamin store. It’s also available at Teebop.com, a website that sells unusual items.
Some small hotels have purchased the product.
“It’s not going to eliminate the germs, but it will greatly reduce them,” Doyle said. “It reduces what I call the ‘eww factor.’ ”
