If you mention the word “bidet” in casual conversation, you might elicit a few nervous giggles. That’s because for the most part, Americans remain in the dark about bidets and how they work.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. Bidets are actually incredibly common worldwide because they’re ultra-hygienic and they’re good for the environment. That’s because they help cut down on toilet paper use. So what’s stopping Americans from buying a bidet today?
Americans don’t understand how bidets work
Most Americans picture bidets as some sort of miniature water fountain for the rear end. They imagine that to use one, they’d first use a regular toilet, then they would have to stand up and shimmy over to another bowl, squat over it, and try to rinse themselves with tap water.
It sounds so arduous that they dismiss the bidet as something they don’t have room for in their bathroom or, quite frankly, the time for. However, in actuality, most modern bidets, like the Bio Bidet BB200 Bliss, are a replacement for your regular toilet seat.
People can easily install them in about 20 minutes – no plumber required – and they hook right up to the water line already in your bathroom.
Electric bidets do require an outlet, but that’s the only hardware you need. In terms of how they work, on the most basic level, you do your business in the toilet and then you press a button on the bidet seat and a nozzle appears that shoots out a stream of water that washes you clean.
Now, on a more nuanced level: most bidets offer you a plethora options when it comes to that wash. Do you want the water heated? To exactly what temperature?
Do you want a high-pressure wash, or a gentle, soothing wash? Do you want an oscillating spray? An enema wash? Would you like the toilet seat heated while you use the restroom? Would you like an air dry after you wash?
The options are endless, and some bidets even let you program your selections into a remote control so that when you sit down your smart bidet knows your preferences.
The mistaken notion that bidets are unsanitary
This belief couldn’t be further from the truth. Bidets are more sanitary than toilet paper – and the main reason for that is because when you use a bidet, you’re eliminating the possibility that your hand will come in contact with your waste, like so often occurs with toilet paper use.
Women sometimes ask if bidets will spray fecal matter into their vaginas. This is again a mistaken notion.
The nozzle on your bidet is positioned to spray in the proper direction, and many bidets even offer users the option of selecting between “feminine wash” or “posterior wash” so you can further specify the exact position of your wash.
Menstruating women can particularly benefit from the cleansing wash of a bidet. Furthermore, bidets are better at washing away bacteria that cause UTI’s for women, bacterial prostatitis for men, and colorectal issues for both women and men.
Dry toilet paper often can’t eliminate all the bacteria on our sensitive areas, whereas a powerful bidet wash is more likely to keep your nether-regions bacteria-free and out of the doctor’s office.
People worry using a bidet might be uncomfortable
However, they worry in vain. The user has complete control over their wash. As referenced earlier, most bidets allow you to select how gentle or firm you’d like your wash, in addition to the precise water temperature you desire.
Bidet washes are so comforting and comfortable that people with hemorrhoids and constipation actually report that bidet-use has completely changed their aversion to using the bathroom.
If those reasons alone don’t convince you, think about the new moms in your life, or anyone you know with a shoulder, wrist or arm injury. These people all face issues when they use the restroom.
New moms are sensitive down below and abrasive toilet paper only makes it worse. People with arm injuries suddenly find themselves unable to use the bathroom without assistance.
Not so if you invest in a bidet. Bidets such as the TOTO S550e Washlet allow complete bathroom independence with the press of a button. And bidets offer new moms a soothing bathroom experience instead of one that induces anxiety.
Whether you’re young or old, male or female, bidets are a hygienic, comfortable bathroom accessory that can benefit you. So catch up with the rest of the world and buy one today!
Author Bio: Jensen Lee is the Founder and Managing Member of bidetsPLUS, an online retail store specializing in bidet toilet seats. Prior to bidetsPLUS, Jensen held management positions in technology-related fields, in both the U.S. and Europe. He has held the position of Product Manager of Global Network Services for British Telecom. Most recently, he held the position of Executive Director of Product Marketing at AT&T Interactive, AT&T’s internet advertising division.
