On April 19th of 2020, almost half of all grocery stores across the United States (48 percent) were out of stock of toilet paper. Since the current Covid-19 pandemic began, demand for this vital bathroom staple has grown by over 27 percent. The question of whether or not stocking up on toilet paper is a necessity during a global pandemic can be left for others to debate. However, for homeowners wanting to avoid running out of this bathroom essential, investing in a bidet might be a worthwhile consideration.
In many European countries, bidets are a common feature in both public and private bathrooms. At least 97 percent of homes in Italy have a bidet. In Portugal, bidets have been mandatory installations in bathrooms since 1975. In North America, however, bidets are still relatively unknown and seen as an oddity.
Simply defined, a bidet is a small receptacle usually made out of ceramic or porcelain. It is placed next to the toilet and has a separate plumbing connection where water is dispersed for washing the human backside after using the bathroom. Small streams of water are activated either by pushing a button or lever or with the use of a handheld device for cleaning purposes.
Traditional bidets were separate bowls or receptacles that sprayed vertical jets of water for washing. Today, many modern bathrooms in European countries install toilets and electronic bidets, placed side by side, or bidet sprayers. These are similar to the handheld nozzles standard in many of today’s showers.
Add-on bidets, which are often marketed as “combined toilets,” include electronic switches for turning on and off the streams of water. Some of the more advanced bidets even include elements that blow warm air for drying, have heated seats, illumination, and activated carbon filters for odor removal.
This electronic bidet, by BioBidet, comes with a heated seat, a warm air dryer, heated water, a night light, and even a remote control or ease of use.
Who Invented The Bidet?
Certain types of water dispensers for washing after using the toilet have been used in Arab and Muslim cultures for hundreds of years due to cleanliness rules and guidelines. However, the bidet in its current form is widely considered to be a French invention. The word “bidet” is most commonly attributed to a French word that translates as “little horse.” The most common way to use a bidet is to straddle and squat over the porcelain bowl, which perhaps is reminiscent of a horse-riding position.
Christophe de Rosiers is credited with creating the first bidet for the French royal family back in 1710, much before indoor plumbing and flush toilets became conventional fixtures in homes. This first bidet prototype was most likely simply a porcelain bowl placed within a wooden chair and placed next to the chamber pot. Over the years, the bidet received several upgrades, including a pump for spraying the water. In the 1960s, Arnold Cohen founded the American Bidet Company. Cohen wanted to help his elderly father find a more natural way to clean himself after using the bathroom. Sales were slow, however, and the use of the bidet didn’t garner popularity in North America.
What Are The Sustainable Features Of A Bidet?
Despite our unfamiliarity with bidets, there are several important sustainability and health benefits that homeowners should take into consideration. Andrew Lee, director for the leading environmental organization World Wide Fund for Nature, stated that upwards of 27,000 trees are cut down every day for the toilet paper industry. The toilet paper industry claims that they rely heavily on recycled sources of paper. But, a report in The Guardian finds that significant brands were using less recycled paper than in 2011 for toilet paper manufacture. Flushing virgin forests down the toilet is not a prime example of sustainable management of our quickly diminishing forest resources.
Furthermore, using a bidet might result in lower water and electricity usage. An article in Scientific American finds that 36.5 billion rolls of toilet paper are produced every year. This requires the pulping of over 15 million trees. Furthermore, the intensive manufacturing process using almost 500 billion gallons of water for production and over a quarter-million tons of chlorine for bleaching the paper into those white rolls we know so well. In terms of energy usage, over 17.3 terawatts of electricity are used each year in the manufacturing process alone.
The average person uses about one-eighth of a gallon of water (0.5 liters) when using the bidet for cleaning. So, switching to a bidet might even reduce the overall demand for water when it comes to cleaning up after using the bathroom. Another analysis finds that just one roll of toilet paper requires 37 gallons of water, 1.3 kilowatts/hours (KWh) of electricity, and some 1.5 pounds of wood to manufacture.
In terms of our health, most conventional toilet paper relies on large quantities of chlorine bleach for pressing the paper and turning it a bright white color. Some toilet paper manufacturers might even include formaldehyde in their rolls. The chlorine residues in toilet paper can lead to local irritation and might contribute to yeast infections in women. Formaldehyde is a known skin irritant and a carcinogen in high doses, so it is not something you want to use to clean up after using the toilet.
Frequently Asked Questions on Bidets
Installing a bidet in your bathroom, then, might lead to less deforestation, improved hygiene, and better health. For homeowners interested in switching to a bidet, below Rise offers some straightforward answers to your most common bidet-related questions.
How To Pronounce Bidet?
If you head to your local hardware or home improvement store and ask for a “bid-et” (rhymes with cadet), you will probably only confuse the store attendant. Since the bidet is a French word, it is phonetically pronounced as “buh-day.”
How To Install A Bidet?
Installing a free-standing bidet in your bathroom will require dedicated plumbing lines, and the extra space necessary for a device about the size of your current toilet. If you don’t have any plumbing experience, you will most likely want to hire an experienced plumber and can expect to pay around $200 in installation costs. For homeowners with DIY plumbing skills, this video instructable will guide you through the step-by-step process.
How To Install A Bidet Attachment?
Bidet attachments or bidet seats are much easier for homeowners to install on their own. Mainly because they do not require a separate plumbing fixture or any sort of pipework. Just follow these easy steps:
- To begin, you will need to shut off the water valve to your toilet.
- Remove your current toilet seat with a wrench.
- Attach the bidet seat mounting plate according to the instructions for the particular model you choose.
- When the mounting plate is secured, attach the bidet seat.
- Detach the water supply hose from the bottom of your toilet tank.
- Attach the bidet t-valve to that tank, and subsequently attach the water supply hose.
- Last, connect the free end of the bidet hose to the bidet seat.
How To Install A Handheld Bidet Sprayer
For a handheld bidet sprayer, installation is similar to the attachment above. The main difference is that you will have to attach one end of the sprayer hose to the upper connection of the t-valve that is connected to your toilet tank.
How To Properly Use A Bidet
For standalone bidets, you will need to straddle the bidet once you finish using the toilet. It is usually best to face the water control levers/buttons so you can better control the flow of water when cleaning up. But, this depends on the direction of the water jets/sprayers. Most bidets today have both temperature controls and jet strengths that you can adjust for maximum comfort when cleaning.
For toilet seat bidet features, you simply have to push a button when ready to clean up. This will activate the water stream. For more advanced bidets, you can subsequently enable the drying process that will send warm air to dry your behind when you are finished.
How To Use A Bidet Hose
Using a handheld bidet sprayer is similar to using the spray nozzle in your shower or attached to your kitchen sink. You may have to open the shut-off valve to allow water to flow towards the spray nozzle. Simply squat, aim, and spray until your backside is clean. For all different types of bidets, new users might want to check for cleanliness with a backup roll of toilet paper until they grow used to using a bidet.
How Much Does A Bidet Cost
Standalone bidets are the most costly option, costing between $250 and $700 with installations costs, probably raising the total cost another $200 to $300. Bidet seats and spray nozzles are less expensive, with many options starting at under $50.
How Much Is A Bidet Toilet Seat
Bidet toilet seats are an increasingly popular option for homeowners. They are relatively easy to install and come with multiple “comfort features” that make them easier to use for the average American homeowner. Home Depot sells a vast range of bidet toilet seats that range in price from $75 for a simple bidet seat to almost $2,000 for a high-end bidet seat with heated air and water features.
Where To Buy A Bidet
Today, bidets can be found in the plumbing and toilet aisles of virtually every major hardware and home improvement store. Amazon also has a massive selection of both standalone bidets and bidet toilet seats.
The sustainability and health benefits of bidets are one way to improve the overall sustainability of your bathroom. As an added benefit, you also will not have to fight with other shoppers for that last roll of toilet paper on the shelves of your local supermarket.
