A 'bidet' (pronounced bee-dáy ) is a personal cleansing method utilising a stream of water, which is more hygienic and beneficial to the use of toilet paper.
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.
Plumbing work and WaterMark certification
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).
The Australian Standard for bidet seats, ATS 5200.051 requires bidet seats and attachments to have approved backflow protection. A backflow prevention device certified to Australian Standard AS/NZ 3500.1 can provide suitable backflow protection.
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.
Always clean a public bidet nozzle off with toilet paper (or whatever you have available) before you use it, if you can. If you have a vulva, always direct the stream of water from front-to-back, the same way you would if you were using toilet paper to wipe.
Pat dry with toilet paper
Since you're already clean from your bidet, you won't need much toilet paper to do so–just enough to remove any excess water. Use a gentle pat-dry motion instead of a wipe to avoid any irritation. That's all there is to it.
Bidets are decidedly not for everyone, and if you have a weakened immune system, you might want to wait a bit before trying one out. If you have male genitalia, using a bidet before having a bowel movement could result in an itchy feeling on your anus.
Position yourself onto the bidet by either sitting on the rim or squatting over it. (Unlike toilets, freestanding bidets do not have a seat you sit on.) Depending on which area you need cleaned, select the setting or mode that will get the job done. To clean after urinating, select our feminine wash setting.
When it comes to benefits, bidets are a no-brainer. They're cleaner, gentler, and more eco-friendly than toilet paper. And wiping less means you'll be saving money on your shopping bill, as well. So go ahead and give one a try.
In the United States, bidets recalled all kinds of feminine failings: women's sexuality, women's unwanted pregnancies, and women's biology. As such, they were shunned. Meanwhile, other countries continued to embrace the bidet. As it spread into northern Europe and southern Asia, the design morphed a bit.
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.
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.
Handheld bidets can be mounted to the wall, and depending on the brand, design and colour selection installation can vary between $300-$1000.
France, Portugal, Italy, Japan, Argentina, Venezuela, and Spain: Instead of toilet paper, people from these countries (most of them from Europe) usually have a bidet in their washrooms. A bidet like a toilet, but also includes a spout that streams water like a water fountain to rinse you clean.
The appliance itself can be expensive and its technology may date quite quickly. Also, because smart toilets are so sophisticated, the costs of servicing, repairs and parts replacement can be high. Electronic bidets start from about $250, but more premium models can cost well over $1000.
Let the water do the work and wash your rear free of every schmear. Spray away for 30-60 seconds.
Straddle the bidet, sitting on the rim and align the anus with the column of spray water. Note that most bidets don't have seats, but are still meant to be sat upon; you just sit directly on the rim. Gradually open the spray valve until adequate pressure is achieved to flush the remaining feces from the anus.
Toilet paper is a standard clean-up tool after pooping, but it's not the healthiest way. Bidets are gentler and more hygienic than toilet paper, which just smears around your poo. Bidets spray a small stream of water onto your butthole, rinsing off leftover fecal matter.
Instead of excretions making the plunge straight into the water, this toilet has a prominent shelf midway to catch everything. The natural question is why, oh why!, would Germans create this? And Germans have a practical, disgusting answer. I m told that the shelf is indeed to catch one's leavings for examination.
“If bacteria or virus particles get into the water tank or on the nozzle, everyone who uses the bidet could be exposed to those germs,” says Dr. Lee. “Don't touch the nozzle to your body. Clean it regularly and rinse it well.” If you accidentally get your bidet dirty, clean it so it's safe for the next use.
They also are commonly found in Middle Eastern countries and throughout East Asia, especially in Japan. According to estimates, bidets are present in about 80 percent of bathrooms in these areas.
To use it, fill it up with warm sink water, screw on the nozzle, hold it under your butt, and squeeze away. Once you've blasted the poop away, rinse off the bidet in the sink before washing your hands.
If you cannot reach behind your back, reaching in between your legs from the front is fine as long as you wipe from front to back,” says Dr. Posina. You can also use wipes. “Wiping until you're clean is important – meaning you don't see streaks on your toilet paper,” says Dr.
Is it bad to wipe back to front? It depends. While it might feel easier than wiping front to back, this motion could increase your risk for transferring bacteria to your urethra.