4 ms·

I would encourage anyone who has never used a bidet to go out and try one. Most modern bidets are Japanese style (built into the toilet itself or replacing the

I would encourage anyone who has never used a bidet to go out and try one. Most modern bidets are Japanese style (built into the toilet itself or replacing the toilet seat) rather than European style (discrete units which sit next to your toilet) and thus are much easier to install and use outside of a new construction. I had never used a bidet until I visited Japan a few years ago and I was instantly hooked after one use. Washing away excrement using pressurized water as opposed to smearing it around using toilet paper is more efficient, more hygienic, more pleasant, and results in a cleaner outcome. Bidets effectively let you perform a less-invasive enema which you cannot replicate with toilet paper. The one downside to using them is that the nice ones do require electrical power to produce heated water, so you need to employ an extension cord or get an outlet installed next to your toilet to use them. I personally have a Biobidet 6800U which goes on sale for 50% off at Costco pretty regularly.

ghaff 5y ago
I got a replacement seat version when I had my bathroom redone. I figured that, if it breaks down I can simply replace it rather than potentially have to have some specialist come to the house. (And, as it turned out, it did stop working properly post-warranty although as I replaced it I was suspicious the plumber just didn't install it properly. Which given the plumber's work generally would not have been a surprise.) But, yeah, the big cost for most people outside of a remodel situation is the need to have a proper outlet installed.
Osiris 5y ago
I bought a simple $80 one at the start of the pandemic and now that's the only toilet in the house I'll use.
ginko 5y ago
I also got to try those when visiting Japan, but I have to say it didn't seem like a significantly better experience than just cleaning with toilet paper to me. Maybe I'm completely mistaken, but I do think I do a reasonable job cleaning myself with just paper so I didn't feel significantly cleaner. But IMO the worst problem was that you now have a wet bottom, which you again need paper to dry. Combine that with the not-so-great quality of toilet paper in Japan and now you have small pieces of dissolved paper all over you. Maybe I did something wrong, I guess some of the fancier washlets have a dryer, but that didn't really work all that great for me.
- keepper 5y ago
  When your hand is full of lets say chocolate... do you feel you can do a "reasonable" job cleaning your hands with dry paper towels? Think about it for second... That's why bidet seats ( and the often overlooked spray bidets ), are vital to good bum hygiene :)
  - emerged 5y ago
    I don’t really understand in what scenario a bum needs to be the level of clean a jet of water provides vs the level of clean a towel provides. I mean in both cases it’s not being disinfected but you’re getting enough off to prevent underwear stains. Convenience makes sense as a selling point, but I’m not really convinced the cleanliness difference matters in a practical way.
    - keepper 5y ago
      I guess you need me to list them. ( this is just getting funny.. telling people that cleaning their bum after number two is a positive thing.. i thought we covered this in pre-school, next up.. why you should use a washcloth or equivalent and not stick the bar of soap up your... crevices ) - smells - dirty laundry - Comfort (not wallowing in your own filth) - sweat does tend to flow.. bringing with it.. you guessed it. But onto your point about "disinfection". I don't know which alcohol baths you take, but full disinfection isn't the goal. But since you need evidence.. "How effective is soap over plain old water? It works, but all else being equal, water has a greater marginal effect. " [1] [1] https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/06/soap-how-much-cleaner-does-it-actually-make-your-hands/258839/ https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/06/soap-how-...
      - smhost 5y ago
        If you actually cared about hygiene you'd be using something like wet-naps, since bidet nozzles aren't sanitary (would you rinse your mouth with a bidet nozzle?)
        5y ago

ghaff 5y ago

I got a replacement seat version when I had my bathroom redone. I figured that, if it breaks down I can simply replace it rather than potentially have to have some specialist come to the house. (And, as it turned out, it did stop working properly post-warranty although as I replaced it I was suspicious the plumber just didn't install it properly. Which given the plumber's work generally would not have been a surprise.) But, yeah, the big cost for most people outside of a remodel situation is the need to have a proper outlet installed.

Osiris 5y ago

I bought a simple $80 one at the start of the pandemic and now that's the only toilet in the house I'll use.

ginko 5y ago

I also got to try those when visiting Japan, but I have to say it didn't seem like a significantly better experience than just cleaning with toilet paper to me. Maybe I'm completely mistaken, but I do think I do a reasonable job cleaning myself with just paper so I didn't feel significantly cleaner. But IMO the worst problem was that you now have a wet bottom, which you again need paper to dry. Combine that with the not-so-great quality of toilet paper in Japan and now you have small pieces of dissolved paper all over you. Maybe I did something wrong, I guess some of the fancier washlets have a dryer, but that didn't really work all that great for me.

keepper 5y ago
When your hand is full of lets say chocolate... do you feel you can do a "reasonable" job cleaning your hands with dry paper towels? Think about it for second... That's why bidet seats ( and the often overlooked spray bidets ), are vital to good bum hygiene :)
- emerged 5y ago
  I don’t really understand in what scenario a bum needs to be the level of clean a jet of water provides vs the level of clean a towel provides. I mean in both cases it’s not being disinfected but you’re getting enough off to prevent underwear stains. Convenience makes sense as a selling point, but I’m not really convinced the cleanliness difference matters in a practical way.
  - keepper 5y ago
    I guess you need me to list them. ( this is just getting funny.. telling people that cleaning their bum after number two is a positive thing.. i thought we covered this in pre-school, next up.. why you should use a washcloth or equivalent and not stick the bar of soap up your... crevices ) - smells - dirty laundry - Comfort (not wallowing in your own filth) - sweat does tend to flow.. bringing with it.. you guessed it. But onto your point about "disinfection". I don't know which alcohol baths you take, but full disinfection isn't the goal. But since you need evidence.. "How effective is soap over plain old water? It works, but all else being equal, water has a greater marginal effect. " [1] [1] https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/06/soap-how-much-cleaner-does-it-actually-make-your-hands/258839/ https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/06/soap-how-...
    - smhost 5y ago
      If you actually cared about hygiene you'd be using something like wet-naps, since bidet nozzles aren't sanitary (would you rinse your mouth with a bidet nozzle?)
      - 5y ago