WORDS AND PRODUCTION Annemarie Meintjes PHOTO Dook
The Japanese have a smart solution for one of our most irritating household dilemmas: the missing or worn plug.
If they’re not tethered to the bath or basin, plugs tend to go missing with surprising regularity. Modern pop-up plugs aren’t much better; over time they tend to stick or lose their watertight seal.
The Japanese don’t have these problems, because they opt for a ball instead of a conventional plug, which seals better and is way easier to unplug for the water to run out.
So how do you choose the right ball? Golf balls are a good size, but the dimples prevent them from being watertight, and squash balls are so light they float. The solution is to use one of a pair of Baoding balls – also known as meditation balls. They’re heavy enough, they come in different sizes, and they’re usually decorated with pretty symbols. You’ll find them at shops selling Chinese remedies.
