Portable restrooms might actually be older than you think. According to Heffernan Insurance Brokers, the first portable restrooms were constructed from wood and metal in the 1940s. While building the ships, planes, and tanks that brought World War II back to Nazi Germany, the industrial powers of the United States needed substantial additional restroom capacity for their factories, knowing that this capacity would only be temporarily needed. Keep reading to learn more about this interesting history.

Early Twentieth Century

In the early twentieth century, factory floors typically only had facilities for men, as women weren't regularly employed in factories before World War I, according to Red Kap. The portable toilet was invented to be placed in ships under construction and used by workers of all genders so that men and women didn't have to leave the ships they were working on.

Circa Mid-Twentieth Century

Portable restrooms during World War II tended to absorb smells especially well because they were made of wood and metal. By the war's end, they were a prevalent part of life on the home front. That was especially true on the coasts, where waste was typically difficult to lug off of ships. However, if waste remained on the ships, it could make areas uncomfortably malodorous long after being moved to different parts of the vessel. This made portable restrooms a particularly beneficial alternative.

Mid to Late Twentieth Century

In the 1960s, new high-strength plastics were applied to these temporary outhouses by George Harding, according to Wonderopolis, creating a portable toilet that eventually became known as the Porta Potty. Porta potty rental service is available for everything from work sites to music festivals, in multiple service levels from basic to luxury. Since their initial creation, porta potties have gone through several iterations, each one better than the last.

Modern Day

Of course, a porta potty isn't always called a porta potty. Some porta potty rental services refer to the whole genre of portable toilets as "biffs." "Porta-loo" is a popular synonym in the UK, along with "Jiffy Johnny," "spiffy biffy," and others elsewhere. Seems everywhere you go, you'll find jaunty names saluting these necessities of big events in the great outdoors.

Your porta potty rental service might not be a glamorous part of your event, but it's necessary. Call Nix Sanitary Service today to get started today with our excellent sanitation solutions.