While bidets were first developed in Europe (where they are also widely adopted) they were popularised in Japan because of their high tech gadgetry. The Toto Zoe Washlet is likely the most recognisable of these smart bidets.
Japanese Toilets Offer Medical Benefits
In fact, that's part of the most prominent reason they're so popular in Japan and other health-conscious cultures. While dry-wiping doesn't remove harmful and potentially infectious bacteria, using a bidet does.
One thing you should definitely try out when using Japanese toilets is the washlet bidet function. Although not available with all toilets, these functions are common in Japan.
There are few reasons why most Australians do not use a bidet in their bathroom. The first reason is their geographic location. Australia does not get a lot of rainy days so water preservation is a must for everyone and so using a bidet could be seen as wasteful in times of drought.
When did bidets become popular in Japan? Japan originally began importing bidets in the 1960s from Western countries for medical purposes. In 1967, Inax developed the first Japan-made bidet. That was followed in 1980 by Toto's Washlet series, which boasted heated seats and a warm water wash.
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.
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.
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).
Ask for bidet permission
So when you see a bidet and feel like trying it out, take the homeowner aside first. Then politely ask if guests are allowed to bidet or not. Many homeowners are proud of their bidet, so don't be shy!
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.
Alternatively, bidet spray nozzles and hoses are attached to the sides of the commodes. The lota, according to Islamic rules, is held with the right hand, while the left helps pass water over the anus. The objective behind this practice, Muslims believe, is the emphasis of Islam on keeping the body adequately clean.
Overall, Japanese bidets are designed to provide a more thorough and hygienic cleaning experience than traditional toilet paper. They're also more environmentally friendly since they reduce the amount of toilet paper used.
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.
Japan's bathing ritual is a moment for relaxation and for mental and physical well-being, going above classical hygiene requirements. The usual habit requires cleaning the entire body before going into the bath's hot water. Therefore, the bathrooms in Japan have developed specific arrangements due to this tradition.
Unlike their sitting counterparts, squat toilets allow for quick and easy bowel movements, as leaning forward in a squat with the legs apart exerts minimal pressure on the intestines and rectum. The difference in posture also shortens the time spent in the stall, speeding up the turnover rate in public restrooms.
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.
Again, the only time you should have to use toilet paper with a bidet is to properly dry yourself – not to clean your backside. If you need to use toilet paper to clean yourself after using a bidet, there is a good chance you are not using the bidet properly.
Use a bidet after you poop, but before you wipe.
Some people like to wipe with toilet paper after using a bidet, but it's a matter of personal preference. The bidet should do a good job at cleaning your bottom, so toilet paper isn't necessary.
This is a self-cleaning feature that gives the nozzles on your bidet a sanitary rinse at the touch of a button. That way, you can have confidence that the water in your bidet is completely safe and clean to wash with. Yes, in fact, bidets are sanitary.
However, excessive bidet use potentially causes anal pruritus and anal incontinence (AI). Physicians are advised to instruct patients with anal pruritus to avoid excessive cleaning of the anus and those with AI to discontinue bidet use.
Historical antecedents and early functions of the bidet are believed to include devices used for contraception. Bidets are considered ineffective by today's standards of contraception, and their use for that function was quickly abandoned and forgotten following the advent of modern contraceptives such as the pill.
Bidets use water to cleanse and wash away any leftover urine or fecal matter – no wiping required. While some users dry themselves with toilet paper after rinsing with a bidet, the fecal matter has already been washed away. Therefore, users are less likely to get bacteria on their hands, even if they do wipe a little.
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.
Its popularity spread from France to all across Europe and other parts of the world, except for America. Part of the reason is that bidets got a bad reputation. Americans first saw them in World War II in European brothels, so, many associated them with sex work.