Americans may be willing to openly discuss a wide range of topics, but one area that still makes us clam up is toilet hygiene. For instance, with the dawn of the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020, many people switched to bidets due to nationwide toilet paper shortages.
Other people heard about the massive migration to bidets but had questions they were too embarrassed to ask. So here you go: answers to your most awkward bidet questions.
How does a bidet even work?
Okay, the best way to think about bidets is that they are mini-showers for your butt. After you use the restroom like normal, you hit a button to turn on your “mini-shower.”
The nozzle appears precisely angled to your nether regions, water comes out and sprays you until you are clean. Then you can either pat yourself dry with a tiny bit of toilet paper, or use the warm-air dryer on your bidet (assuming you purchased a bidet with this feature).
Please keep in mind, this explanation of how bidets work is the most basic explanation possible. High-end bidets, like the Bio Bidet BB200 Bliss, offer myriad options from water pressure settings to water temperature settings. So we’re really just scratching the surface here to give you an idea of how bidets work.
And in case it wasn’t clear from above: bidet seats are replacements for your current toilet seat. You can change them out in about 20 minutes all by yourself with a few simple tools. The only “hardware” you need is an outlet to plug your bidet in.
Do bidets actually get you clean?
Yes! They’re more hygienic than wiping with toilet paper. Consider these two points: One, using a bidet means your hand never accidentally comes in contact with your waste – which is the number one health-related problem associated with toilet paper wiping.
Two, if you were picking up dog poop and some dog doodoo got on your hand, would you dab it with dry paper or clean it with water? We hope it’s the latter! And your restroom experience should be no different. Washing is better than wiping. The cleanest bottoms are cleaned with water.
I’m a woman, will using a bidet spray fecal matter into my lady parts?
No. The nozzles on your bidet are angled in such a way as to avoid that happening. Many bidets offer you options like a front wash, a posterior wash, or an oscillating wash. Meaning, you can specifically choose how you want that nozzle aimed.
Additionally, many bidet models like the TOTO S550e Washlet offer automatic nozzle cleanse between each use so if you’re worried waste could fall on the nozzle and sully it, you can let that worry go. The fact is, water washing is a more sanitary choice than smudging your waste around with dry paper.
That’s why most of the world uses bidets. Yup, that’s right: the U.S. is one of the toilet paper hold outs! It’s sad but true that bathroom hygiene is an area where Americans are far behind the rest of the world.
Will using a bidet hurt me?
Absolutely not! From new mothers with sore bottoms to people suffering from chronic hemorrhoids, bidets similar to the Brondell Swash 1400 converts will tell you that all the wash settings and choices on modern bidets make cleaning up such a comfortable, soothing experience that they actually can’t wait to use the restroom.
Now that you’ve read this article, we hope you feel less embarrassed and more informed. Do yourself a favor and become a bidet-convert 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.
