What is a bidet? The Ultimate Bidet Breakdown.
Cultural habits are one of those things that are ingrained from childhood and stick with you your entire life. If you grew up in America, after graduating from diapers, you moved on to a potty. From there, you may have graduated to a little potty seat that sits on top of a regular toilet seat. Finally, you ended up on the toilet.
For as long as you can remember, you have been using toilet paper to clean your bottom after using the bathroom. You may have never seen a bidet, let alone used one. Heck, you may not have even heard of one until recently.
You may not have given much thought to how the rest of the world uses the bathroom. It’s of those private things that people don’t talk about. The thing is, much of the world use bidets. They are as commonplace and engrained in their cultures as wiping with toilet paper is here in America.
The History of the Bidet
Chamber Pots to Toilets
The bidet appears to have been invented in France during the early 1700s. The word bidet is French for “pony” and refers to the way that you sit on a traditional bidet. Although there is no known inventor, it appears as though the bidet was invented by French furniture makers looking for a simpler way to wash one’s private areas without having to fill an entire tub.
The original bidets looked different than what we have today. At the time, they consisted of porcelain bowls that sat in wooden stands or chairs. They were often placed next to matching chamber pots in the bedroom. Since the rich aristocrats of France were some of the early adopters, bidets were often ornate. You could expect to see specially carved, jewel-encrusted bidets in their homes.
Bidets also became commonplace in French brothels. Given the type of work performed there, women needed to be able to freshen up quickly between “clients”. Bidet use was also thought to help prevent pregnancy.
Over time, improvement in plumbing allowed the bidet and chamber pots to be moved out of the bedroom and into the bathroom. Running water allowed for easier filling and draining.
In 1928, American doctor and inventor, John Harvey Kellogg, filed a patent for what we know today as a bidet nozzle. It was described as a device that one attached to a toilet to perform anal cleansing.
By the 1980s, we started seeing more modern bidet devices show up in Japan. These were like the modern bidet attachments that hooked up to the existing toilet water supply. This allowed bidet use without the need for a separate bidet a toilet and was great for saving space.
Bidet Use Across the Globe
Asia
Handheld sprayer bidets are the norm across the south and southeast Asia. Enter any bathroom here, and you are likely to find one hung next to the toilet. Toilet paper use is not common here, so if you visit, you may want to have your own if you want to dry yourself.
Japan
Unlike much of the rest of Asia, bidets in Japan are a little more high tech. Electronic bidets are the norm here, and they can be found in people’s homes as well as businesses. They often come equipped with high tech features such as self-drying, lights, and warmed seats.
The Middle East
Islam plays a role here when it comes to bathroom cleanliness. According to the Hadith, after defecating, the anus must be washed with water using the left hand with an odd number of smooth stones or pebbles called jamrah or hijaarah (Sahih Al-Bukhari 161, Book 4, Hadith 27). Toilet paper has replaced the use of stones, but washing the area with water is still an important step in cleaning up. This is usually done using an item called a bodna.
Europe
Bidet use in Europe is extremely common, particularly in the South. In some European countries, including Italy, Spain, and Portugal, bidets are required to be present in any room that contains a toilet. This was made law in the 1970s to curb the use of toilet paper and to ease the burden on an aging sewer system. Northern European countries will often use handheld bidets.
South America
While bidet use in South America is not as common as in Europe, you can still expect to find bidets here. Centuries ago, many Europeans settled here, and the bidet came with them. Argentina has deep Italian roots, so bidets are commonplace in cities like Buenos Aires.
North America
Bidets have a long way to go when it comes to being a part of American culture. Toilet paper is king, but I expect bidet use in North America to slowly increase. As America becomes more culturally diverse, I think that bidets will become more normalized.
The toilet paper shortage from spring 2020 had many Americans Googling bidets. As people learn more about them, they will realize that they offer a superior cleaning experience to toilet paper. Luckily, bidet attachments are relatively cheap and can pay for themselves by reducing the amount of money spent on toilet paper.
Bidets and the Environment
The environmental impact of bidets should not be overlooked. If bidet use became widespread, the production of toilet paper would be greatly reduced. It’s estimated that 15 million trees could be saved annually if everyone used bidets. Throw in 473 billion gallons of water from toilet paper production and the environmental impact adds up.
Bidet Benefits
Despite the obvious benefit of having a cleaner bottom after pooping, many other types of people can get additional benefits from having a bidet.
Hemorrhoid Sufferers
Bidets are great for those who have to deal with hemorrhoids. They are far less irritating than wiping with dry toilet paper, which can make them worse. The cool water of a bidet can offer a refreshing feeling to ease discomfort.
The Elderly
Cleaning with a bidet can be easier and safer for elderly people with poor mobility or balance.
Children
Small children and butt wiping can be a recipe for disaster. With a bidet, you can be more confident that they are leaving the bathroom with a cleaner bottom.
The Disabled
People with certain physical disabilities may have difficulty reaching their anal area to wipe. A bidet can help provide better cleanliness as well as independence.
Women
Vaginal health is important to women. Some bidets come with a front washing feature for women. This can help women feel more clean and confident when menstruating.
Three Types of Bidets
There are technically more than three types of bidets, but some designs are so similar that they can be grouped together. The result is three main categories of bidets that you are likely to come across or consider purchasing.
Toilet Seat Bidets
These are the most common type of bidet use in North America. Toilet seat bidets are simply toilet seats with an integrated nozzle that emerges from the back of the seat and sprays water upwards towards your butt.
There are all sorts of features that these seats can come equipped with depending on how much you are willing to spend. Some of these include warm water spray, heated seats, air drying, frontal spray, and pressure controls.
Bidet Seat Attachments
These are similar to toilet seat bidets, however, they are installed with your existing toilet seat. They are placed between the current toilet seat and your toilet water tank.
These types of bidets typically don’t have as many features as a toilet seat bidet as they usually are not electric. They are great if you aren’t too worried about being high tech and don’t want to replace your existing toilet seat.
Hand Held Shower Bidets
These are the least expensive option and also very easy to install. They are very similar to a removable shower head that you may have installed in your shower. Because you manually aim the spray of water, they offer maximum control.
How to Install a Bidet
Bidet installation will differ depending on the type of bidet being installed. They will also differ from manufacturer to manufacturer, so be sure to check the official instructions. However, for the most part, the installation will be similar across types.
Toilet Seat Bidet Installation
These will require you to replace your toilet seat as the bidet is built into your new one. You will have to hook it up to the water line that feeds your toilet tank. You will also have to calibrate to spray to make sure it will hit the desired location.
Some toilet seat bidets need to be hooked up to electricity. If you go this route, make sure that there is an electric outlet nearby in your bathroom. Otherwise, you will need to install one or run an extension cord.
Bidet Seat Attachment Installation
Like the toilet seat bidets, these will also need to be attached to your existing toilet water supply. To install it, you will remove your existing toilet seat and install the attachment into the same holes used for your toilet seat. Then you simply put the toilet seat back on top.
Handheld Shower Bidet Installation
The easiest to install, the handheld bidet only needs a hanger to be attached near your toilet. Simply hook the attachment up to the water supply and you’re good to go.
How to Use a Bidet
As you can see, bidets have come a long way over the last few hundred years. No longer do you need a separate bidet installed that requires you to get up off of the toilet to go straddle a bidet. You can do your business and be clean all from one spot.
When you are ready to clean up, just find your bidet’s control panel and hit wash.
It might take a few seconds to start spraying as water is moved through the bidet. Depending on the model, the spray will stop after a few seconds or you can hit stop on the control panel.
You may have to make some adjustments to the aim of the spray during cleaning.
Once you’re clean, either pay dry with a towel or toilet paper, or you can use the bidet’s air-drying option if it has one.
That’s it! You’ve successfully used a bidet and are much cleaner than had you simply used toilet paper to wipe.
Using a bidet is very intuitive and easy. If you have never used one before, you may be a little anxious about what to do or how it feels. If so, just test everything out before you actually use it for real. You can use your hand to block the spray and to get a feel for how much water pressure there is.