Understanding Bidets: What To Know Before You Go

Discover essential tips for using a bidet for the first time, including step-by-step guidance and insights into their popularity around the world.

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Cassidy Rush is a writer with a background in careers, business, and education. She covers local and international finance news for Remitly.

A bidet helps you feel fresh and clean in the bathroom because it uses water instead of toilet paper. You can find the bidet as a standalone unit, a toilet seat add-on, or as a sprayer you hold. People use these all over the world, like in Japan, Italy, many places in Asia, and now more in the United States too. The most important things in a bidet are that you can change the water pressure, set the water temperature, and use a remote to make things simple.

Understanding Bidets

A bidet is a thing you use in the bathroom to feel fresh and clean after you use the toilet. It does not use toilet paper. A bidet cleans you with a small stream of water instead. This helps with keeping your body clean and feeling good. A bidet is also easy to use and better for the earth because it helps cut down how much paper people throw away. Bidets are good for people of any age or background and help make people feel comfortable and clean.

Different Types of Bidets

There are several popular types of bidets:

  • Standalone Bidets: You will often find these in Europe. These bidets are their own fixtures, and they look like low sinks. They sit next to toilets. You need to get up from the toilet and go to the bidet to use it.
  • Toilet Seat Attachments: These are built right on top of your current toilet. The attachments are easy to set up and simple to use. They often come with features like changeable water temperature and some have remote controls. A lot of people in the world use them, mostly in new homes.
  • Handheld Spray Nozzles: These sprayers are small and very useful. You can use them in many ways. They let you get the water where you want. A lot of people have these in bathrooms in Asia and the Middle East.

Essential Bidet Features

Modern bidets often have settings that you can change to feel more comfortable:

  • Adjustable Water Pressure: Lets people choose if they want a light spray or a stronger one, based on what they like.
  • Temperature Control: Users can pick warm or cool water. This helps to feel good no matter the weather or what you like.
  • Remote Controls: Some bidets have remote controls. This lets you change the spray settings and drying options without the need to stretch or turn in any awkward way. You can use the remote to make things simple and more comfortable.

Preparing to Use a Bidet

To feel good about using a bidet for the first time, you should get to know how its buttons work. See if you can use the features right on the fixture or if you need to use a remote control. Learn how to change the water pressure and temperature. This way, there will not be any surprises, and you can feel comfortable.

Keep toilet paper or a clean towel close by to dry yourself, especially if your bidet does not have a drying feature.

Setting Up Your Space

Setting up your bidet the right way will make it be easy and feel more comfortable to use.

Place standalone bidets near the toilet so it is easy for people to use. Before you add any attachments, check that your toilet seat will work with them. Make sure there is enough space by the bidet so you can move around without any trouble. Keep drying materials nearby so you can get them when you need.

Step-by-Step Guide to Using a Bidet

Getting used to a bidet gets easy after you try it a few times. Here is how you can start and feel at ease with it:

Step 1: Sitting Correctly

For standalone bidets, sit right over the fixture. If you use seat attachments, stay seated on your toilet.

Step 2: Adjusting Settings

Slowly change the water pressure and temperature with the controls that are there. Start with low settings. This way, you can see if it feels good before you turn it up more. Relax and let the water wash over you. Change the water temperature if you need for your own comfort.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I dry off after using a bidet?

You can pat yourself dry with toilet paper. You can also use a towel that is for this purpose only. If the bidet has a built-in warm air dryer, you can use that, too.

Are bidets better for the environment?

Yes, bidets not only use less toilet paper, but they also help the environment. This is because you use a lot less paper, which means there is less waste and less cutting down of trees. Using a bidet can be a good way to help the planet.

Can anyone use a bidet?

Anyone can use a bidet. The bidet is good for people of all ages and all genders. You can change the settings to be comfortable for you.

Where are bidets most popular?

Bidets are most used in Japan, Italy, and many other places in Europe and Asia. Now, you can also find them more often in the United States.