None of the 12 days of Christmas involves your true love giving you a bidet. However, while the original authors from the late 1700s may not have included it, we think any modern version should.
We’re going to go out on a limb and state that a bidet is one of the best Christmas presents you can give any adult.
Today, we’re going to share some reasons why we think you should add a bidet to your Christmas list. If not, you will surely find yourself on Santa’s naughty list!
Let’s take a look!
What Is a Bidet?
Bidets come in many shapes, sizes, and colors, but they all do the same thing: wash an individual’s most private parts.
A bidet sprays a gentle stream of water to help clean up after someone uses the restroom. While they’re not common in the United States, they’re one of the most popular ways people worldwide clean up after using the toilet.
Is a Bidet More Sanitary Than Wiping?
While many of us use toilet paper to clean up after pooping, it’s often not the most sanitary way of cleaning up after doing our business. Toilet paper typically smears the poop and, as many find out, can leave poop behind without you knowing.
However, a bidet will use a small stream of water to rinse your butthole completely clean and free of any remaining fecal matter.
Dr. Evan Goldstein, a rectal surgeon from New York City, said, “Charmin and all these brands have done a great job making us think that toilet paper is hygienic. It’s not.” Goldstein explains that wiping with toilet paper is equivalent to stepping in dog poop and only wiping your foot off with paper. If you want to get your shoe clean, you’re going to need to wash your shoe.
How Much Does a Bidet Cost?
Realtor.com states you could be spending anywhere from $30 to $6,900. However, it’s not just the cost of the bidet itself. There’s a good chance you’ll also have to make some modifications to your current bathroom setup during installation.
Depending on what adjustments need to be made, installing your bidet could cost $200 to $1000 or more. However, some people feel that the price of a squeaky clean bum is worth every penny.
Benefits of a Bidet
There are a few reasons why you might want to consider adding a bidet to the top of your Christmas or home improvement project list. Let’s take a look!
Less Toilet Paper
Did you know the average American uses 28 pounds of toilet paper in a year? This equates to approximately 141 rolls of toilet paper in a typical year. Americans use twice as much toilet paper as those in France, Italy, and China. That’s a lot of waste (pun intended!)
Installing a bidet helps use less toilet paper, which means cutting down fewer trees for those looking to minimize their environmental impact. Installing a bidet could help you to save more than 384 trees annually.
Reduced Clogs
Some people want to purchase the thickest and softest toilet paper to ensure it’s doing the job. However, having someone come along and use too much of this thick toilet paper can result in a clog. While a plunger can solve some backups, that’s not always the case.
Using a bidet can help you avoid frustrating blockages that could cause you to end up with a mess on your hands. Consider installing a bidet in your bathrooms to prevent clogs in your home.
Keeps You Fresh
Wiping after using the restroom may feel like you’re clean, but that’s not always the case. Wiping smears the poop instead of washing it away. If you want your parts to stay as clean as possible, it’s hard to beat the freshness that a bidet provides.
Negatives of a Bidet
While bidets can be a great addition to a bathroom, they’re not always perfect. Here are a few negatives you may want to consider before deciding whether to add one to your bathroom.
Requires More Space
While there are bidet toilets that combine a toilet with a bidet, they’re costly. As a result, many opt for a separate bidet. However, many American bathrooms aren’t big enough to accommodate a separate unit. This can make it practically impossible to get a bidet in some bathroom spaces.
May Require Renovations
Even if you have the space, you may be looking at an expensive and challenging renovation. As we stated earlier, the bidet isn’t typically cheap, and the upgrades necessary to make it work aren’t likely to be easy or inexpensive either.
In these types of situations, many homeowners will opt for some bidet alternatives. Instead of opting for an entirely new toilet, they’ll use attachments or specially designed toilet seats that provide a similar experience.
Can Be Tricky to Use
If you’ve never used a bidet before, it can be intimidating. It’s not the type of situation where you want someone in the room to show you how to use it properly. The fear of making an embarrassing mistake can be enough for some people to stick with standard toilet paper for their bathroom needs.
Tips for Using a Bidet
If you’re new to using a bidet, here are a few tips to ensure you have the most comfortable experience. You may find that some of these steps are unnecessary or common sense once you get comfortable using a bidet. However, they’re worth mentioning since we all have different comfort levels with bidets.
Use Toilet Paper First
Depending on the quality of your bidet and your comfort with using it, you may want to start with whipping with toilet paper first. Get yourself clean, and then use the bidet once you’ve finished cleaning. However, many find that once they get comfortable or set up their bidet correctly, they eventually don’t need to use toilet paper or only require a minimal amount.
Keep Clothes Out of the Way
You want to ensure your shirt tails and other garments are not near the bidet when using it. You don’t want to leave the restroom soaking wet or feel like you simultaneously washed your butt and clothes.
Direct Water from Front to Back
Those with female body parts know it’s essential to avoid getting bacteria or germs from their anus into their vagina. This can cause infections and lead to many frustrating, painful, and annoying situations. Using a bidet requires the water to go from the front to the back when rinsing off.
Use Towels to Dry Hands Only
If hand towels are available, they’re only for your hands. If you feel like you need to dry your butt or private parts, use toilet paper. You should never use towels available to dry anything except your hands. We’ll say thank you on behalf of anyone using the restroom or hand towels after you.
Are Bidets Worth It?
A bidet can be a great addition to a bathroom and help keep your sensitive parts clean. They are better for your plumbing system and positively impact the environment. We think a bidet is one Christmas present that every adult should have on their Christmas, birthday, or even anniversary gift list.
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