Bidets and High Tech Toilet Seats

Bidet (rhymes with “relay,” “filet,” and “hooray”) is a French word and the name of basin-like fixtures, or devices, that propel a gentle stream of water toward your genitals and anal and peri-anal area for the purpose of cleaning them. Bidets are common in Europe, Latin America and Japan, where people use them because they are regarded as the best way to stay clean — but are relatively unknown in America, Australia and New Zealand.

For decades other cultures have looked to Bidets to make sure they are fresh, clean, and hygienic in some very important areas. But for the uninitiated, the bidet is something of a mystery; many don’t have a grasp of what they’re supposed to do with it. Folks unfamiliar with bidets have been know to confuse them with a urinal, toilet, or even a drinking fountain! I remember the first time I encountered one, I was totally clueless and had to ask a hotel employee what it was for, and how to use it. Talk about embarrassment!

Bidets are primarily used to wash and clean the external vulva and the anus, as well as the skin near these areas, including the perineum. They are especially useful for the elderly, or anyone with mobility problems, and for people with hemorrhoids. In fact, the right bidet can also help relieve stress, and constipation problems (on the flip side, a poor quality bidet will have you gritting your teeth with more headaches than you bargained for).

For anyone suffering with hemorrhoids and problem bowel movements, diarrhea, rashes, or infections — conditions which toilet paper can exacerbate and easily aggravate — bidets can be a huge help and welcome relief.

Women especially might appreciate a bidet during menstruation, before sex, or after sex (bidets are excellent for cleaning up the female genitalia after intercourse). Interestingly, in countries where the bidet is common, people commonly believe anyone who doesn’t use a bidet is dirty — and that it’s disgusting to have sexual intercourse with a person who doesn’t use a bidet!

But times and toilet habits are a-changing…

More new homes in the U.S. are starting to come equipped with bidets due to increased travel, immigration, and availability of information about genital hygiene and the hardware that promotes it. And bidets are now available as an “add-on” to your existing toilet… generally as a unit that replaces your existing traditional toilet seat. Installation should be a breeze for any competent plumber. Or if you’re somewhat handy, makes a pretty simple “do it yourself” project.

The most important thing in choosing a bidet is having the right features and quality that suits you and your existing toilets. Electronic bidet seats are cleaner, more versatile and more convenient than traditional European bidets. Some are even equipped with an air-dryer to dry skin afterwards. Actor Will Smith raves about his bidet seat; after installing one in his home he started going to the bathroom “for no reason at all”