There’s nothing like the shock of a first bidet experience. Everyone has heard of these types of toilets but so many in the world have yet to use one. In fact, an overwhelming majority of Americans fall into that category.
Once you get used to how it works, it’s easy to wonder why everyone else has yet to catch on. Getting a clean rinse is an answer to both fewer trees being cut down and a fresher feeling upon exiting the restroom.
If you’ve been curious about how a bidet works and how it could improve your private time, follow along with us as we put away the potty humor and focus on the facts.
What is a bidet?
Before we get into the mechanics of the refreshing experience, let’s talk about what a bidet is. Essentially, it is a toilet upgrade that focuses on a hands-free approach to cleaning up after utilizing the facilities. While it sounds like an accessory of the future, bidets have actually been in use for three centuries.
Indoor plumbing has been around since ancient Rome. Strangely, even though the technology had already existed, many places around the world were still using outhouses 2,000 years later.
That wasn’t the case in France. The first bidet came onto the scene in 1710. If you know anything about the Palace of Versailles, you know that indoor plumbing wasn’t something that it excelled at. When the bidet was installed here, it was desperately needed.
So, how does one go about their business without paper?
How does a bidet operate?
A bidet is part of the toilet or is an attachment that goes with the toilet seat. After you’re finished with what needs to be done, the device sprays water on the parts of your body facing down on the seat.
The idea here is that anything left behind in the process of use will be blasted off gently and thoroughly with the bidet. Don’t worry, you don’t leave the toilet wet. After one’s bottom has been rinsed, a warm, continuous gust of air engulfs the area for a smooth dry.
“Bidets really work. Just like a shower to wash away sweat after a workout or a thorough hand-washing after working on a project, all bidets use the power of water to clean off your skin simply and effectively,” Myomigo explains.
The fun thing about bidets is that the water wand is adjustable, as is the stream itself. Having the option to extend and retract the wand is beneficial for everyone in the house.
After all, there’s no reason to get water where you don’t want it. The water also has unique modes. You can have a solid stream, one that pulsates, and even one that goes back and forth for an overall area capture.
Once everything has been completed to satisfaction, press the dry button. That’s when the air comes out to blow right where you need it. Once you’re ready, all you have to do is stand and the air will stop automatically.
All of these options are controlled from the side panel. As soon as you need it, the actions are just a button away.
Types of Bidets
If you’ve tried it or would love the chance, it’s really simple to have one in your own home or even on the go. Here, we’re going to take you through the types of bidets so you can find the perfect fit for your toiletry needs.
Stand-Alone Bidet
This type of bidet is the most common type. It’s what you’ll find throughout Europe and Asia. If you haven’t grown up around a bidet, this might be an interesting transition. Instead of the bidet cleaning off your bits after using the toilet, the stand-alone bidet requires movement.
You go to the toilet and then get a nice cleansing in a separate bidet unit. This ceramic option is next to the toilet bowl and is mounted in a similar fashion. If you didn’t know any better, you might think there are two toilets, but one is for use and one is for cleaning.
Portable Bidet
When you’re traveling and want to provide yourself with both a refreshing experience and be prepared in case of no toilet paper, this is the bidet of choice. At first glance, it looks like a motorized toothbrush with a bottle attached.
That bottle holds the water and you squeeze it to spray your underside. As long as you can fill the bottle, you can use a portable bidet anywhere.
What about the drying? If you’re taking it on the run, it’s only a wet option since squeezing the air out of the bottle would not provide enough power. How do you make yourself ready to walk out of the stall? “You can dry using toilet paper or a towel.
In most public toilets with bidets, towels are provided on a ring next to it,” News on 6 sharing. So, that might be something to keep in mind if you’re a traveler. Bring a towel to pat yourself dry or use the paper towels located by the sinks, if there are no towels provided.
Spray Bidet
When you’re unable to put an entire attachment on the toilet, this bidet can suffice. This is reminiscent of a kitchen sink sprayer, the kind that extends out and you squeeze the handle for a better stream than you can get from a faucet.
The hose is connected to the toilet plumbing, so no bottles are required. Holding the sprayer gives a user much more control over where the water goes.
Built-In Bidet
In an effort to save room and improve convenience, the built-in bidet is an all-in-one dream. No having to move from one location to the other or pull out a hose. This is a toilet with a bidet built in. This is future living at its finest.
A control panel that goes above and beyond toilet expectations is situated on one side and it’s easy to get to. The buttons come with pictures, extra helpful when you don’t speak the language the toilet commands were written in.
Having a built-in bidet means you’re getting options that the others don’t come with. Some even have music and heated or cooling seats. This is a treat yourself type of toilet combo.
Bidet Attachment
Experienced a bidet but don’t want to spend the money on a whole new toilet? Just attach it! This bidet fits inconspicuously under the toilet seat. The device is pretty easy to put on the toilet yourself. In a handful of minutes, you can start taking advantage.
Is a bidet better than toilet paper?
All around, it is a resounding yes! First, using a bidet means a major decrease in the number of trees we have to cut down in order to produce toilet paper. The US uses toilet paper almost exclusively. Can you imagine how many forests we could save by not using toilet paper several times a day? That’s 330 million people not using it.
Bidets are also cleaner than toilet paper. No matter how hard you try, sometimes the paper sticks around or doesn’t completely get the job done. This applies to people of all ages.
Consider cleaning up a baby after they’ve soiled a diaper. Do we use toilet paper to wipe them up? No. Most often, a wet wipe is needed. These damp cleaning cloths are used because adding water to a messy surface is always the superior way to remove all the debris.
Lastly, there are some instances where toilet paper can actually cause problems. As anyone with hemorrhoids will tell you, toilet paper can be quite painful.
