Bidets: Worth it?

[tuvor]

We're going to remodel our bathroom, and although we probably won't install one, I'm curious about what the thoughts are out there.

Any DUers have one? (I don't think I've ever seen one in real life myself.)
Are there advantages?
Are there disadvantages?
Would you be more or less likely to buy a house with a bidet?

Like I said, just curious.

[Heidi]

1. They're pretty common in this part of Europe . . .

but all of the bidets have been removed from our home, and last summer, my sister-in-law had flower plants growing in the bidet in her main bathroom. Since then, she's had her bidet ripped out to create extra space in the bathroom.

[tuvor]

3. LOL. Not exactly considered a necessity over there, huh?

You don't seem too concerned either! :)

[Heidi]

4. I think they take up a lot of space.

People shower or bathe every day now, so having a special "thing" for washing one's "party parts" just seems unnecessary. But the flowering geraniums in my sister-in-law's bidet did look pretty cool!

[TaleWgnDg]

2. Tell you what . . .

.
Tell you what . . .

If nobody uses it for its intended purposes (and for that it's terrific so I'm told), you can always use it as a great place to wash your feet !! LOL

[regnaD kciN]

5. My first experience with one...

I was 7 years old, and my father had been transferred to his company's European division. We had just taken the train from Le Havre (this was in the days when you generally sailed, not flew, across the Atlantic) to Paris, and were checking into our first European hotel room. I took one look inside the bathroom, and thought "Wow...no one told me that Europe was going to have these really weird toilets!" ;-) Fortunately, my culture-shock ended rather quickly, as soon as I noticed the regular "appliance" placed right next to it.

[Heidi]

6. Not to mention those horrible Italian toilets . . .

Well, you had the excuse of being only seven years old. I was nearly 40 when I encountered my first Italian toilet. Frightened by the prospect, I decided I could wait until I got home.

[Radio_Lady]

7. Check out bidets at http://www.froogle.com

(Froogle is the shopping search engine from Google.com, in case you didn't know.) I have a videotape of the Washlet products that was sent to me a while ago.

Toto, Kohler and others have them, but they are quite expensive, especially when you need to get warm water into them.

Wish I could afford a bidet, but all I use is a spray bottle with distilled vinegar, Tucks, or Huggies baby wipes. It's simply archaic to clean ourselves with DRY AND SCRATCHY TOILET PAPER, especially with hemorrhoids (sorry, folks, but this is important).

I love bidets! Wish they were an American institution, not European.

Piss... er-r-r ... peace!

[tuvor]

8. Thanks for the feedback!

I'm almost certain we won't be getting one now, but who knows? This may all come in handy one day.

[TankLV]

9. They're handy for my golden retrievers - they like to drink out of the

fountain in one place I visited awhile back!

Never did use one myself, tho, or known anyone who did, even when I lived in Europe during the 70's. But then again, the building that our flat was in had a common toilet room and bathtub room on the third floor, and the persons from the middle east who resided there insisted to stand on them and crap all over the toilet seat and use newspaper instead of toilet paper!

We had the only in-flat shower!

Never had one in my home, or installed one in even a custom home, and I'm an architect and have done many custom homes in my time. It was hard enough to get some owners to consider a fireplace dammit!

Just never thought about it.

On edit - come to think of it, we've put some in some of the guest room suites in the casino/hotel I've been working on - how's that for a forgettable fixture!

No-one ever really explained how you would "use" one or what exactly it was for (in place of toilet paper or female "cleaning" "down there"?). Do you hop from the toilet to the bidet with your pants around your ankles? Do you bother using toilet paper first?

Inquiring minds, no matter how old, want to know!

[Radio_Lady]

10. You can find anything on the Internet!

From: interhttp://www.ehow.com/how_13097_bidet.html

How to Use a Bidet
A bidet looks like a toilet but has warm-water jets for personal hygiene after you use the toilet. You might appreciate a bidet before sex, during menstruation, or if you have hemorrhoids, problems with bowel movements or physical disabilities.

Steps:
1. Have bidet devices fitted on your toilet, or install a separate freestanding bidet next to your toilet if there's enough room in your bathroom.

2. Sit on your bidet after using the toilet.

3. Turn on the water and adjust the jets so that the strength of the stream is comfortable. The direction of the stream can usually be adjusted.

4. Cleanse anus and/or genitals. Some bidets are equipped with an air-dryer to dry skin afterwards. Otherwise, pat skin dry with toilet paper or towel.

5. Rinse out the bidet if it is freestanding.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
From: http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mbidet.html

How do you use a bidet?
02-Aug-2000
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Straight Dope:

It's been a long time since you've dealt with real-world how-to-do-it stuff so, to get you back on the straight and narrow, try this. Actually, it's two questions, both based on a long ago trip to Europe where a certain lack of knowledge produced giggles, embarrassment, and frustration. But for the sake of world betterment:

a. Can bidets be used by men as well as women?

b. How does one (either sex) actually use a bidet?

--Got to know in Madison

SDSAB guest contributor Cybersybar replies:

What's a bidet? A cleansing device for your naughty bits, a little shower for the nether region. You can buy one as a freestanding unit, looking like a weird cross between a toilet and a water fountain. If you haven't got the space for that, other units can be affixed to your standard toilet seat and controlled using a hand lever. This swings the unit down from its resting place under the seat rim and allows you to direct the flow of water back and forth.

How do you use a bidet? It's easy to find instructions on the Web, but here's a summary. While sitting, you simply turn on the water. When the temperature is to your liking, you increase the pressure to direct a stream of water towards those spots in need of cleansing.

The bidet can be used by both men and women. Some folks think a session with one should be an integral part of your daily hygiene. Bidets offer the user a hands-free and supposedly superior water wash in place of the wiping and occasionally irritating action of toilet paper. (Sorry, Mr. Whipple.) Bidets are commonly used to relieve inflammation due to hemorrhoids, prevent recurrence of cystitis and vaginitis, and ease soreness associated with diarrhea. The bidet is also recommended for cleansing during menstruation and postpartum recovery. Post operative irrigation following colorectal surgery or fissure repair is another application. I imagine they are great for reducing the incidents of skid marks too, but I digress.

I have long known that Europeans were big on bidets. However, not being much of a world traveler, I first encountered one at one of those romantic/honeymoon hotels for couples. I was initially startled to see what I thought were two toilets in the bathroom and wondered if I hadn't stepped onto a Saturday Night Live set (remember the Love Toilet)? Upon closer inspection I realized there was a fountain where the poop chute should be. Given the carnal nature of the visit, I surmised that an appropriate ad slogan for this device might be, "If he kissed it once, will he kiss it again? Be certain with a bidet!" I wonder if you can get one with a combination hot air dryer?

--CyberSybar
Guest contributor
Straight Dope Science Advisory Board

[RedCloud]

13. And what if your genitals are regrowing on your left forearm???

Stupid instruction book doesn't cover basics like that!

[Book Lover]

11. I think so

When I had my encounters with Italian holes ...er, toilets, I found them to be necessary. I've been spoiled with desire for one ever since.

[wideopen]

12. I have removed and installed lots of them

I'm in the bath remodeling business and have had clients that wouldn't even move into their house until they had one installed. Mostly people who had spent time in, or came from, other countries. Most americans I encounter don't want them,but if you ever try it you will like it.

[welshTerrier2]

14. two words: Squirt King

"just fill it with water and let 'er rip ..."

[TaleWgnDg]

15. LOL . . . n/t

[Radio_Lady]

16. Use water bottles with sports caps (no kiddin') for "intimate cleansing"!

Doctor suggested it and it works great! Also, the bottles get through airline security better than fake guns!