During COVID-19, while truckloads of people were stockpiling toilet paper in the U.S, Britain, and Australia, there was no mad panic in Asian countries. Why? The key difference is probably related to the use of the bidet.
The bidet is widely used in Asian countries, yet in the west, particularly in the States, it has struggled to gain popularity. So, what is a bidet? What are the attractions and benefits of using one?
In this article, you will find the answers to those questions, and by the end of this article, even if you aren’t ready to buy one you will at the very least be curious about having a bidet experience.
What Is a Bidet—Overcome the Confusion
There is a giddy array of bidet options that can lead to much confusion as to what exactly is a bidet. Let’s start with the language and root origin of the word as this gives us the clearest idea. Bidet comes from a french word that means pony and a similar word which is a verb for ‘to trot.’
The purest would define a bidet as a device that you sit on (or straddle like a pony) that contains a pool of water that can be used to wash the nether regions. Of course, since the early development of the bidet, there have been multiple revisions and improvements so that nowadays the word encompasses all forms of devices that generate a stream of water to clean your intimate parts.
The Bidet Experience
What can you expect to experience if you use a bidet? Nothing unpleasant. It is like taking a shower but for a specific area of your body.
In fact, some may say that it is a pleasant and refreshing experience, once you get used to it. An important factor in how pleasant or unpleasant the experience isn’t the presence of water but the temperature of the water. If you live in a hot country, cool water can be quite refreshing, yet the same water in a cold country can be very unpleasant.
Bidet Benefits
The most obvious benefit of using a bidet is that it saves you having to use your hands to wipe your bottom. That is progress on the hygiene spectrum. It also means you’re not in contact with tissue paper that other people have also been handling.
Besides the natural hygiene benefits, it also means you use about 80 percent less toilet paper. Last year that may have seemed like a fairly inconsequential financial saving, yet during COVID-19 it may also have saved you from a mad dash to the supermarket. There are few things more unpleasant and inconvenient that running out of vital toilet paper.
How to Choose a Bidet for You
There are many considerations. Like most things in life, as the features increase so does the cost. The first consideration is whether your bidet should be electric or not.
If you opt for a standard non-electric option then the features will be limited. That said it is the easiest to install and most likely more robust in the long run. Many Asian countries are quite content with a standard non-electric option.
If you opt for an electric model, you can expect to pay several hundred dollars. However, your bidet world will open up to the possibility of heated water, adjusting the nozzle angle and spray width. Also, the water pressure and delivery pattern can change so that it is even pulsed.
There are also drying options and self-cleansing mechanisms that can all add to the hygiene and pleasantness of the experience. The best thing to do is take a little time to learn more and carefully think about which options appeal to you.
Where to Buy
There is no shortage of places you can buy a bidet. You can buy one from many home stores, you can even buy online. The most important thing is that you have decided on what type you want with the functions that will suit your needs. Make sure your bidet has a proper warranty so that if you experience any problems you can quickly resolve them.
Installing a Bidet
It may look like a complicated device to install on your toilet but that needn’t be the case. The truth is, most bidet sets you can install yourself fairly easily. In fact, many bidets are designed to be installed by the homeowner.
The bidet will sit on your toilet and connect to the water tank in the toilet. That said, if you’re opting for the ‘Mercedes Benz’ bidet that has all the bells and whistles and sometimes a separate water tank then it may just be easier to hire a professional to make sure all is as it should be.
The Bottom Line on Bidets
Excuse the pun but at the end of the day, bidets have been around a long time and for good reason. Once you’re converted you will wonder why you didn’t buy one years ago. In this article, you have read about what is a bidet and some of the things you should think about when considering purchasing one.
Before buying, why not find some places where you can use a bidet at your own leisure. This is by far the best way to dip your toe (or bottom) in the water so to speak.
Lastly, don’t stop reading there, you can read many more articles that will meet with your interests on our site.
