Bidet's The Way: Benefits of a Bidet
You’ll Never Need to Buy Toilet Paper Again
We’re serious. You will never need to buy toilet paper again if you invest in a bidet. Bidets (pronounced bih-days, french for a pony) are used to clean the undercarriage portion of our bodies after using the toilet.
No need for toilet paper as bidets are extremely hygienic, even more so than using toilet paper. It’s like taking a mini shower after relieving yourself.
Business Insider provided the best imagery to explain how effective bidets clean. If you stepped in dog doo-doo, would you use only a napkin to clean your foot? No. You would go to the nearest bathroom to wash your foot off.
Why wouldn’t you do the same with your bottom?
Taboo Playing Havoc in Our Bathrooms
Well, there’s a reason. Stigma explains why Americans haven’t bought into bidets, even though they’ve been in other parts of the world since at least the 1600s.
When soldiers from America marched through Europe during World War II, many were seen in brothels. Hence, the bidet became associated with prostitution. Even before the war, during a puritanical time, doctors in the 1930s endorsed their use as a contraceptive. Repulsed by all thoughts, Americans continued using toilet paper for cleaning.
Bidets are common in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and other areas of the world not part of the United States. But the COVID-19 Pandemic is changing this.
One in four Americans is now in a shelter-in-place order. Many of us plan when we will venture out for necessities, and use the time to stock up so we don’t have to risk going out too many times. With toilet paper scarce, we’re beginning to consider bidets as an alternative. It’s also one more way to save money now and in the future.
Save Money, Stay Clean
Installing a bidet will save you money because you won’t be buying toilet paper. Americans spend more than $30 million every year on TP. On top of that chunk of change, it takes 15 million trees, 4.7 billion gallons of water, 253,000 tons of chlorine, and 17.3 terawatts of electricity annually.
Benefits of a Bidet
Let’s recap:
- Be cleaner ☑
- Save money ☑
If that’s not convincing enough for you, there are plenty of other reasons why a bidet is better.
Bidets are one home modification we recommend if you have mobility issues. Especially for those who struggle to turn around or move their upper body, this makes bathroom time much easier.
They also promote good hygiene. Bidets clean you better than regular toilet paper. Imagine going through a car wash after using the toilet — that’s how clean it will make you.
You can also count on better bottom health. The few studies we have about the effect of bidets on relieving certain afflictions, such as hemorrhoids, show that warm, medium water pressure helps alleviate symptoms. Some patients who experienced surgery in that region used a bidet instead of a sitz bath. Respondents said the area healed just as healthy as if the sitz bath had been used.
How To Use a Standalone Bidet
The standalone versions, where the namesake was born, typically sit near the toilet. They have levers or knobs similar to a sink.
Users straddle the bidet (the sink-like basin) while adjusting the temperature of the water, the flow, and the angle of the stream. The water may spray vertically or horizontally. You can move the nozzle on the back of the bidet bowl to spray exactly where you need it.
Once you feel clean, you dry off with a designated towel or toilet paper (if available). If you choose toilet paper to dry off, you’ll still use less than you would use it as the sole cleaner. However, you’ll still be negatively impacting the environment and wasting money.
The Pony Has Left the Stable
Bidets have come a long way in technology, almost removing themselves from the traditional fixture mentioned above. It can be built into the toilet or it might be the toilet seat in itself. Kohler is the leader in bathroom tech and doesn’t disappoint when it comes to “smart” toilets. They not only build the bidet into the toilet, but the toilet itself features a foot warmer, heated seat, and lights to help you navigate the bathroom in the middle of the night.
Americans typically opt for the seat or built-in bidet. You’ll see more of the standalone bidets in Europe, Asia, and other countries around the world. The toilet seat bidets are the easiest to install but still provide the same benefits as a standalone bidet. Toilet seat bidets have some great technology for ease-of-use and comfort.
Remote-controlled actions remove any unnecessary turning. This is especially important for anyone with mobility issues. There’s no need to turn around to adjust settings while sitting, which can be difficult if someone has limited mobility.
One thing you do want to make sure of is that your bidet has controls on the side of the seat aside from the remote. If you take the remote with you, thinking it’s the TV remote, and return to the bathroom without it, you’ll need those buttons on the side to control your seat. Look for a control panel to the side of the toilet rim to see if your seat has built-in controls.
Warm Water and Heated Seats
A very important feature you’ll want to make sure you include in your system is warm water. Some bidets do not come with warm water by default. Unless you want to wash a very sensitive area with cold water, it’s imperative you ensure your bidet runs warm water. Some have continuous warm water, so you won’t have to wait for the water to warm before spraying down.
Having a heated seat is also a nice perk that comes with most bidet seats. Especially in the cold months, a warm seat in the bathroom is something we’ll never turn down. However, all of this electricity will require an outlet. If you’re happy without modern amenities and able to operate the system manually, there are base-level options that do not require any sort of electricity.
Top Four Bidets Home for Life Recommends
When you’re ready to purchase, what brand should you buy from? Consider your budget first. Depending on how much money you would like to spend, you can get a mid-level toilet with a remote, heated seat, and warm water all for a few hundred dollars.
Remember, your money will go a long way. The amount you invest in a bidet toilet seat will be a one-time occurrence, saving you from buying toilet paper forever.
We supply our clients with a variety of brands including Kohler, Toto, Signature Hardware, and American Standard. Giving our clients a choice of brands allows us to work with any budget. From low-end affordable to high-end luxury, our specialists can help you choose a model that works perfectly in your home and for your wallet.
To help you start thinking, below is a shortlist of mid-level models we recommend:
- Kohler C3-155
- Toto C100 or 200
- Signature Hardware Burwell
- American Standard SpaLet Advanced Clean 2.0
Each brand offers high-end models on top of its mid-level selections. With luxury models, you will enjoy more features like instant heated water, warm air dryer, and foot warmers. The mid-level models, however, will still give you a seat warmer and all of the warm, hygienic sprays you need to stay healthy.
Need Help Installing Your Bidet?
Installing a bidet can be a challenge. If you’re unsure or struggling to install your new bidet, give us a call and one of our trained professionals will be happy to assist.
Want to buy local? We can help with that as well. We can help you choose the right bidet that suits your needs, fits your budget, and install it for you. Visit our bidet page for more!