Bidets, which originated in France in 1600 as an upper-class way for personal hygiene, are quite popular in parts of the Middle East, Europe, Australia, and Asia & have now turned out to be a popular installation across the world.
They make all the sense in the world - the bidet shooting a stream of water at our private bits to wash them after we relieve ourselves. But, like in the US and UK, bidets aren't commonly used here in Australia. We've never developed a culture of using them, instead opting for multi-ply toilet paper instead.
In Europe, the country that uses the bidet the most is Italy. There is even a law in Italy that says that every home has to have a bidet in it. There are a few other countries where they have become popular.
Europeans think it's unsanitary to use a restroom without a bidet. Conversely, many Americans think of bidets as unsanitary. There's a lack of information and knowledge around bidets and their use — and it's likely to remain that way for many years to come.
A bidet seat comes with a backflow prevention valve to avoid any contamination of the main water supply. As per the Australian standards the specified requirements for a bidet seat is provided under AS/NZS3500.
To be legally installed in Australia, certain plumbing and drainage products, including bidet products, must be certified through the WaterMark Certification Scheme, which is administered by the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB).
Bidets can arguably be considered more sanitary than traditional bottom-cleaning methods. Quite simply, a bidet can provide a better hygiene experience compared to toilet paper. It starts with the basic fact that water can top a few squares of dry TP in removing trace amounts of fecal matter after you poop.
If you are using the bidet properly, and if your bidet is of high quality, you should not have to use toilet paper to wipe yourself clean. A high-quality bidet will clean your backside more thoroughly than any amount of wiping. However, you may want to use a small amount of toilet paper to dry yourself.
Using a bidet instead of toilet paper provides a thorough cleansing that wiping alone cannot. Water is more sanitary than toilet paper because it gently cleans the area instead of just rubbing it with toilet paper.
Bidets haven't ever been widely embraced in American culture. A common origin story for this reluctance is that bidets were seen as lascivious because they were used in brothels as a form of emergency contraception.
Not all homes in the UK have bidets because these are a fashion item. If one isn't available, we recommend having your own jug or bottle of water to use over the toilet. If you would rather use water than toilet paper you must ensure that you have sufficient equipment to be able to clean yourself over the toilet.
A bidet is an essential part of a washroom in Muslim countries as Muslims are obligated to wash their genitalia, perineum, inner buttocks, and anus. While on the toilet, a Muslim must remain silent. Talking, initiating, or answering greetings are strongly discouraged.
With a bidet toilet seat, you are cleaning yourself with water for a more sanitary and refreshing clean compared to wiping.
OUR BIDET SERVICES
Pricing for a new bidet toilet seat ranges from cheaper models available from $700 to all in one complete bidet units around $1900.
Ask for bidet permission
This fixture is very much a personal care item. And some homeowners might not be keen to let a guest mess around with it, especially a first-timer. So when you see a bidet and feel like trying it out, take the homeowner aside first.
Try flushing the bidet and/or using the spray nozzle to see where the stream of water is coming from so you know where to position yourself. This will also help you gauge the pressure of the water so you're not in for a big surprise. The bidet is used after using the toilet.
Use a bidet after you poop, but before you wipe.
This is because the water pressure will adequately clean your bottom without the need for toilet paper. Some people like to wipe with toilet paper after using a bidet, but it's a matter of personal preference.
Bidets help with hemorrhoids by keeping the anal area much cleaner than toilet paper ever could, and in a much gentler way. Many people already wipe too hard in an attempt to get clean. Unfortunately, this habit only increases itchiness and discomfort, especially if you have hemorrhoids.
The toilet seat bidet nozzle mounted below the rim is dangerous because it could cause backflow into the home's drinking water. For example, if a toilet would clog and the waste water rise up in the bowl submerging the nozzle while the toilet is in the filing cycle, there could be an actual backflow occurrence.
For light dust and dirt, wipe the seat and crevices that you can reach without removing the bidet using a soft, slightly damp cloth. You can also use a mild cleanser, like the ammonia-free version of Windex or Simple Green. Some bidets have germ-resistant plastic, but you should still wipe off dirt daily.
Warm water is one of the most highly sought-after features of bidet seats and bidet attachments. Warm water makes the clean and refreshing feeling of the bidet spray feel even more luxurious and if you haven't had the experience yet, you are missing out! Both electric and non-electric bidets devices offer warm water.
They can be installed regardless of the size of your toilet tank or toilet bowl and can use the existing water supply and water supply hose. So yes, you should add a bidet to your toilet.