What is a Bidet?
Bidets are sanitary bathroom fixtures that use a sprayer and concentrated stream of water to clean up after toilet use. Originating from France, bidets have evolved throughout the hundreds of years they have been in use, being moved to the bathroom with the rise of indoor plumbing in the 1900s and going electric in the 1980s. Though bidets have been widely used globally, they haven’t quite taken root in the United States, with only about 6% of the population having bidets installed within their homes.
How Do Bidets Work?
Bidets use your home’s water supply, the same water source that your bathroom shower and sink use and is controlled by a knob, button, or remote control. Utilizing the water pressure of your home’s pipes, bidets come in various forms to best fit your space, budget, and preferences.
The Three Types of Bidets
Bidet attachments can be added to your existing toilet to extend its function. Bidet attachments require little effort and time to install, making them a quick and inexpensive addition to your bathroom.
Bidet toilet seats replace your current toilet seat while retaining your existing toilet. Taking the middle ground, a bidet toilet seat offers many of the high-end features a bidet toilet offers without having to install an entirely new toilet.
If you’re looking for a complete change, a bidet toilet is the way to go. A bidet toilet comes with all of the bells and whistles that a bidet offers, making for a more comfortable and cleaner bathroom experience. Due to plumbing adjustments, a bidet toilet can cost more than other alternatives to install.
Hygiene
Studies have shown that bidets can be more hygienic than toilet paper as they allow for a nearly hands-free cleaning process. A bidet’s water stream provides a more thorough cleaning than toilet paper. This can help reduce the risk of infections and prevent the spread of germs. The Kohler PureWash® E930 Bidet Toilet Seat includes a self-cleaning stainless-steel wand that utilizes UV light for automatic cleaning.
Gentler Cleanse
While use of toilet paper can cause chafing and irritation, a bidet’s water stream soothes and gently cleanses sensitive skin. Many bidets also include pressure control, allowing you to adjust the water pressure to your comfort. The Moen 5-Series Electronic Bidet Seat offers adjustable temperature and massage options to ensure a comfortable toileting experience.
Environmentally Conscious
Bidets are a great environmentally friendly alternative to toilet paper. A bidet uses considerably less water than the manufacturing process of toilet paper. Globally, the production of toilet paper consumes 27,000 trees daily. Using a bidet can help you cut down on your paper waste and do your part to protect the environment.
Cost-Effective
By switching to a bidet, you’ll be using little to no toilet paper, saving you money in the long run. Annually, you stand to save between roughly $180 and $350 on toilet paper by making the switch to a bidet.
Elevate Your Experience
Features such as heated seats, drying fans, and customizable sprayers elevate your toileting experience and bring luxury and comfort to your bathroom. The Kohler Innate™ One-Piece Smart Toilet boasts a variety of high-end features including dual-flush, hands-free lid, automatic flushing, heated seat, temperature control, and more.
Accessibility
A bidet’s near hands-free experience allows those with disabilities and mobility challenges to maintain independence and dignity by aiding in the toileting process. This Moen 3-Series Electronic Cleansing Toilet offers front and rear cleansing, remote control operation (including lid control), temperature-controlled dryer, and ADA compliant height to aid in making a comfortable and independent toileting experience accessible to most.
As you can see, bidets offer a wide range of benefits to your health, cleanliness, and comfort. We hope that this quick guide to bidets has given you the information you need to decide if a bidet is right for you and your home. If you are considering implementing a bidet, bidet seat, or bidet attachment into your bathroom, contact or visit our showroom today to find the perfect bidet for your needs.