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Why aren't bidets more popular in America?
It's rare to find a bidet in the United States, despite an almost obsessional level of cleanliness on other fronts. I can't figure out why.
Mon, Apr 23 2012 at 2:45 PM
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Photo: Dell Aqua/Flickr
The U.S. has long prided itself on being a cleanliness-first nation. All throughout my childhood, I heard about "dirty" Europeans and "smelly" French folk. My school friends, and sometimes even their parents, would joke about how women in other countries didn't shave legs or armpits and how glad they were that kind of behavior didn't fly in America — unless one was a "dirty" hippie, that is.
We have been through the toxic wringer and back in attempting to keep our homes not only sparkling clean, but germ-free (which very well might be contributing to supergerms and auto-immune diseases per the "hygiene hypothesis"). And we spend tons of money in pursuit of that elusive state. Thankfully, many of us have realized the irony of bringing a plethora of chemicals into our homes to make it "clean," and nontoxic product use is on the rise. Nonetheless, we are still a dirt- and germ-avoiding nation.
Which is why it has always surprised me that bidets — which can be separate basins or integrated into a regular toilet (if one is lacking space) — are so uncommon in America.
Also on MNN: What's better, toilet paper or bidet?
After all, what could be cleaner than actually washing oneself after using the bathroom? Relying on toilet paper is often insufficient, and not only does extra TP usage mean toilet clogging is more common, it is clearly wasteful to use TP for a job that's beyond its powers. Bidets are a far greener solution to using reams of extra toilet paper to make sure you're clean.
And ironically, bidets save water too (even though they use it). How? Well, think about how many times you have taken a full-on shower when you didn't really need one, because you felt a bit sweaty (after sports), uncomfortable (from wearing restrictive clothing), or just not clean down below (after sex)? (Or for women, while menstruating?). Not only is it a hassle and a time-waster to take more than one shower a day, but it's a waste of water and fossil fuels for all that extra hot water.
Bidets are found throughout Europe, the Middle East and Asia (especially Japan) and pretty commonly in South America (basically everywhere besides the U.S., Canada and Australia), but I know exactly one person who has one, and he is originally from South Africa.
But bidets are growing in popularity in the U.S. - the Toto Washlet being a specific brand that is popping up in all kinds of home renovations and new buildings. (I've seen them featured on house-hunting shows on TLC as well as in listings for NYC apartments; for now they are always considered a "perk" or "extra.") Here's one trend I hope will trickle down — pun intended.
The next time I know I'll be living somewhere for more than a year, I'm going to invest in an in-toilet unit bidet for myself and my partner. How about you: would you consider a bidet during your next bathroom upgrade?
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But let's be honest, the TOTO washlets are ugly and look like something you'd see in a nursing home or hospital. They are very clinical. And personally, you wants to sit on a heated toilet seat. I mean, it feels like you're sitting somewhere someone has just warmed up for you.
I would LOVE one. I've also never understood why they aren't popular here, they are SO convenient and useful.
An attachable bidet device can be added to any toilet for about $150. It leaves you clean and avoids the need for all that TP. I think Americans (particularly men) are frightened by it because they're afraid of anything that tickles them in places they've learned straight men aren't meant to be tickled.
You wouldn't rub yourself down with a dry towel and call it a shower so...
no soap = no clean. Try flushable wipes.
Flushable wipes don't breakdown like tiolet paper and just end up as one more thing in your land fill.....not very "green".
flushable wipes are ok, but there is no comparison when it comes to cleanliness.
My children have been won over by bidets when traveling. I think that Japanese all in one toilets (with heating! Drying!) were the souvenir my son would have most wanted to bring home from his trips to Japan. I would love to have one especially in my mother's bathroom--she has mobility issues and it would make things much easier for her.
Tarrant - I can't believe I never thought about how useful they would be for those folks with mobility problems - what a great point. And with the Baby Boomers beginning to age, I think this will become even more relevant in the future.
I would love to have one!! (sorry for the prev. posts! laptop issues)
You are 100% correct and I have supported that same position evfer since I was introduced to the bidet many years ago.. What we do in place of a bidet is absoluteky ridiculous for obvious reasons! CRW
We use Bidet4me Toilet Seat Attachment at home. It's non-electric require and very easy to install. They have 2 model MB-1000 (Fresh Water Spray) and MB-2000 (Warm Water Spray, Dual Nozzles). I install one each at home and both work GREAT and We save some money on Toilet Paper spend plus it's GREEN
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