Bidet

A modern bidet of the traditional type

A bidet (US ⁱ/bᵻˈdeɪ/ or UK /ˈbiːdeɪ/) is a plumbing fixture or type of sink intended for washing the genitalia, perineum, inner buttocks, and anus of the human body, and is typically installed in a bathroom. Lower-cost add-ons combining a toilet seat and "electronic bidet" are becoming increasingly popular as well. "Bidet" is a French loanword.

Applications

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A 20th century bidet (foreground)

Bidets are primarily used to wash and clean the genitalia, perineum, inner buttocks, and anus. Traditional designs may also be used to clean any other part of the human body, such as the feet. Despite appearing similar to a toilet, a traditional bidet may be more accurately compared to a sink.

They are not necessarily meant to replace the use of toilet paper. Often they are used after some paper to achieve full cleanliness without immediately having to take a shower.

Historical antecedents and early functions of the bidet are believed to include devices used for contraception. Bidets are considered ineffective by today's standards of contraception, and their use for this function was quickly abandoned and forgotten with the advent of modern contraceptives such as the pill.

Types

Conventional bidet

A bidet is a plumbing fixture that is installed as a separate unit in the bathroom besides toilet, shower and sink. Some bidets resemble a large hand basin, with taps and a stopper so they can be filled up; other designs have a nozzle that squirts a jet of water to aid in cleansing.

Bidet integrated with toilet (or electronic bidet)

Toilet seat bidet

In the past, getting a bidet meant installing a completely new unit in the bathroom. Newer bidets are often no longer standalone units: A bidet may be a nozzle attached to an existing toilet, or a part of the toilet itself. In this case, its use is restricted to cleaning the anus and genitals. Some bidets of this type have two nozzles, the shorter one, called the "family nozzle", is used for washing the area around the anus, and the longer one ("bidet nozzle") is designed for women to wash their vulvas.

Such attachable bidets (also called combined toilets or bidet attachments) are often controlled electronically with a remote control rather than with a traditional tap, that is why they are also called "electronic bidets". Washing is carried out automatically without the use of hands. There are models that have a heating element which blows warm air to dry the user after washing, that offer heated seats, wireless remote controls, illumination through built in night lights, or built in deodorizers and activated carbon filters to remove odors. Further refinements also include adjustable water pressure, temperature compensation, and directional spray control. Where bathroom appearance is of concern, under-the-seat mounting types have become more popular.

The attachable bidets may be manufactured of plastic, chrome plated metal, or stainless steel to accommodate many tastes and budgets. An add-on bidet typically connects to the existing water supply of a toilet via the addition of a threaded tee pipe adapter, and requires no soldering or other plumbing work. Electronic add-on bidets also require a GFCI protected grounded electrical outlet.

Bidet attachments are sometimes included on hospital toilets because of their utility in maintaining hygiene.

They are also becoming increasingly popular with the ageing community or for use among people with physical disabilities. These combined units make independent toileting possible for many people, affording greater independence. These are often special units with higher toilet bowls allowing easy wheelchair transfer, and with some form of electronic remote control that benefits any individual with limited mobility or requiring assistance.

Bidet shower

A bidet shower (also known as bidet spray, bidet sprayer, or health faucet or colloquially called "bum gun") is a hand-held triggered nozzle, similar to that on a kitchen sink sprayer, that delivers a spray of water to assist in anal cleansing and cleaning the genitals after defecation and urination. In contrast to a bidet that is integrated with the toilet, a bidet shower has to be held by the hands. Cleaning does not take place automatically. Bidet showers are common in countries where water is considered essential for anal cleansing.

Health aspects

Bidets are beneficial for those who suffer from hemorrhoids or other medical conditions. Toilet paper can be irritating to the sensitive skin in the perineal area, and warmed water provided by some bidets can offer relief. This is also true for older people who have less mobility, or very young children who cannot wipe themselves.

Further mentioned benefits of electronic bidets are helping to alleviate discomfort associated with constipation and providing soothing and comfort to mothers before and after natural child birth.

Environmental aspects

From an environmental standpoint, bidets can reduce the need for toilet paper, saving households money on paper products and allowing users to reduce their carbon footprint by reducing their paper waste over time. On the other hand, they may modestly increase the amount of heated water used in the bathroom.

Electronic bidets are said to reduce water usage by 75% compared to mugs or faucets. They also eliminate the need for toilet paper and therefore reduce waste. The most advanced electronic bidets include a power saving function, which is designed to calculate when the bidet is used the most frequently during the day, and turns off when not in use, leading to maximum energy savings.

Costs

In countries where bidet are common, their prices are much lower than in countries where they are not common. In Italy, for example, the price for a bidet seldom exceeds €150 (about US$200), and bidets may cost as low as €40 (about US$60).

In Middle Eastern countries, bidet attachments are much cheaper, being priced at around the equivalent of US$10–20, which is attributed to their popularity and availability.

Additional features like warm air dryer, heated seats or wireless remote controls make bidets more expensive.

Attachable or add-on bidets are cheaper than standalone units. The expense of remodeling a typical North American bathroom to accommodate a traditional bidet fixture is large, in the thousands of dollars, while an add-on electronic bidet can be purchased for around US$300.

Society and culture

Prevalence

Bidets are common bathroom fixtures in many southern European countries, especially Italy, where they are found in 97% of households (the installation of a bidet in a bathroom has been mandatory since 1975), Spain, and Portugal. Additionally, they are rather widespread, although not standard, in France, and are often found in Albania, Croatia, Hungary, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Malta, and Greece. In northern Europe (with the exception of Finland), bidets are rare.

They are also common in the Middle East, in countries such as Armenia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan.

Bidets can be found in some countries in the Americas, especially in the Southern Cone of South America, and are a standard feature of homes in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay; however, they are rare in North America except for diverse cosmopolitan cities such as Miami and Montreal. However, in recent years, toilet-integrated bidets have started to become much more popular in North America. One reason is the lower cost of attachable or add-on bidets.

Bidets can also be commonly found in East Asia, particularly Japan, Philippines, Bangladesh, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and South Korea, and in South Asia, namely India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives.

In South-East Asia, Muslim countries, and Finland, bidet showers or health faucets are used, no separate fixtures, but small hoses with a nozzle that are connected to the toilets.

In countries like India Bidet toilets have been popular since British colonial days, as the use of only dry toilet paper to clean the peri-anal area is considered unhygienic. The nozzle is sometimes controlled with an external tap within the reach of the hand. Traditionally, local style squatting toilets have been more common in India and are more convenient to most Indians, especially of the lower income groups. But with the rise of westernization, western style bowls have started becoming more common, and the most convenient way to wash the perineal area with these bowls is simply to attach a bidet nozzle.

In 1980 the first "paperless toilet" was launched in Japan by manufacturer Toto, a combination toilet and bidet which also dries the user after washing. Combination toilet-bidets with seat warmers, or attachable bidets are particularly popular in Japan and South Korea, found in approximately 60% of households. They are commonly found in hotels and even some public facilities. These bidet-toilets, along with toilet seat/bidet units (to convert an existing toilet) are sold in many countries including the United States.

In the UK toilet-integrated bidets with drying facility are becoming more widespread in the UK for use among people with physical disabilities.

Etymology

Bidet is a French word for "pony", and in Old French, bider meant "to trot". This etymology comes from the notion that one "rides" or straddles a bidet much like a pony is ridden.

History

The bidet of Queen Maria Carolina of Naples, in the Royal Palace of Caserta, Italy

Bidet, Museo de Carmen de Patagones, Argentina

The Bidet is possibly associated with the Chamber pot and the Bourdaloue, the latter being a small chamber pot like object specifically for the use of ladies on long trips.

The bidet appears to have been an invention of French furniture makers in the late 17th century, although no exact date or inventor is known. The earliest written reference to the bidet is in 1710 in Italy.

The "bidet" term is older. The word bidet was used in 15th century France to refer to the pet ponies that French royalty kept.

By 1900, due to plumbing improvements, the bidet (and chamber pot) moved from the bedroom to the bathroom. This was common in French palaces.

In the United States in 1928 John Harvey Kellogg applied for a patent on an "anal douche". In his application, he uses the term to describe a system comparable to what today might be called a bidet nozzle which can be attached to a toilet to perform anal cleansing with water.

The early 1980s saw the introduction of the electronic bidet from Japan, with names such as Bio Bidet, Biffy, and Gobidet. These devices have attachments that connect to existing toilet arrangements, and can be used for bathrooms lacking the space for both a separate bidet and toilet.

See also

• Toilets in Japan
• Toilet seat
• Washlet