The bidet has been a common bathroom fixture in many European and Asian countries for decades, but use in the U.S. has increased recently, maybe in part due to the COVID toilet paper hoarding. Installing a one in your bathroom can be an effective way to improve your cleanliness and hygiene. Read on to learn what is a bidet and the benefits and drawbacks of different kinds.
What is a Bidet?
A bidet is a bathroom fixture that lets you use a jet of water to clean yourself after using the toilet. A bidet can be a complete alternative to toilet paper or an additional step. Whatever method you use is a matter of personal preference. People who use bidets choose the method that feels cleanest and most hygienic for them.
Benefits of Using a Bidet
Bidets are increasingly popular not only due to the hygiene benefits they provide but also their eco-friendliness. Using a bidet rather than toilet paper is also much gentler on your skin than rubbing with paper.
Using a bidet can potentially save a lot of paper, too. The average American uses around 85 rolls of toilet paper a year, so a family of four can easily go through 340 or more rolls a year. A bidet can be a great alternative if you’re trying to save money and keep from killing trees unnecessarily.
Another benefit is that cutting down on toilet paper usage may reduce the frequency of toilet clogs. Overusing toilet paper—especially by children—is often a cause of clogs, so cutting down on the need to use paper can help reduce the problem. If you have older cast iron sewer lines, toilet paper can get stuck in areas that the pipe may be rusting.
How Does a It Work?
There’s more than one type of bidet, but all work the same way: the user sits or squats after using the toilet it targets a stream of water at the area to be cleaned. They can differ in terms of the mechanism used to spray the water and in the amount of control the user has over the water spray. Some kinds of bidets allow little control over the water, while others let you control the direction and strength of the spray and even the water temperature. Fancier models may also include things like LED lights, music, air dryers, and seat warmers.
With all types, you can use toilet paper to dry yourself afterward. This step is optional, but many people find it feels better than having wet or clammy skin after they’re done.
Different Types of Bidets
Full Bidet
A freestanding bidet looks like a cross between a washbasin and a toilet. This style is the shape and size of a toilet but has a bowl that looks more like a sink than a toilet bowl. The bowl has controls that let you turn the water on and off. Depending on the model, you may also be able to adjust the direction and strength of the water jet. Some models also let you control the water temperature, so you can wash with warm water if you prefer.
The water control mechanism on a full bidet is typically located in the place corresponding to the back of the toilet, where the cistern would be. You can sit down facing the water controls or with your back to the controls, the same way you’d sit on the toilet. Both ways can work, so which you choose is a matter of personal preference. Most people try it both ways and then pick the option they prefer.
Once you’re comfortable, you can turn the water on. If you want to use the hot water setting, it’s best to turn this on first and check the water temperature before actually using the bidet.
With a full bidet, you can sit on the rim of the bowl, or you can squat above the rim. Choose whichever option is most comfortable and be sure that the water reaches the area you want to clean. Once you’re finished cleaning yourself, you can turn the water off.
You can dry yourself with toilet paper or flushable wet wipes, but full bidets are designed to handle liquids only, so discard the paper in the toilet. Depending on the condition of your sewer lines, you may not want to flush wet wipes because they take a bit longer to dissolve and can stop up a line if the condition of the line is not good or you use too many.
Bidet Seat/Bidet Toilet
A bidet seat and a bidet toilet are two slightly different things, but they are similar in how they work.
This type of seat is a modified toilet seat. It typically comes as a nozzle that you attach to the side or back of the toilet rim. Bidet toilet seats typically have a mechanism that lets you move the spray arm into position when you need it and retract it once you’re finished. Some are powered manually, and others are electric.
A bidet toilet is an all-in-one hygiene fixture that combines both a toilet and a bidet. This style toilet looks very similar to a regular toilet but has a spray arm in the toilet bowl, either to the side or the back. Bidet toilets have buttons that control the bidet’s spray action as well as toilet flushing. And, like the seat option, the spray arm is retractable.
Some electric bidet toilets also include luxury features such as a heated seat, an air dryer for use after the bidet, and a hands-free flushing mechanism—even music to mask the sound of using the toilet.
Hand-held Bidet
A hand-held or travel bidet is like a squeeze bottle with a curved nozzle. The main advantage of the hand-held option is that it’s small and portable enough to fit in a backpack or tote, so they’re useful when you’re traveling or on vacation. But they’re definitely not the best choice for home use. They can leak, and because you have to hold and direct the water yourself, aren’t as easy to use as other options.
Upgrade your bathroom – and your personal hygiene
Installing a bidet in your home can offer a range of benefits, including improved personal hygiene and reduced toilet paper usage. If you’re interested in having a full bidet or combination toilet in your home, give CW Service Pros a call. We would be happy to install your bidet selection for you.