Have you ever encountered a peculiar fixture in a bathroom that left you wondering about its purpose? Perhaps during travels abroad, you spotted what looked like a low sink next to the toilet and questioned its function. This intriguing appliance is a bidet, a bathroom feature gaining popularity worldwide for its hygienic cleansing benefits. While standalone bidets were once the standard, modern innovations have introduced a variety of bidet options to suit contemporary bathrooms and lifestyles. Let’s delve into understanding “What Is A Bidet” and explore the different types available today.
Understanding “What is a Bidet”: Definition and Core Benefits
In its simplest definition, a bidet is a bathroom fixture or an attachment integrated with your toilet designed to provide a refreshing and hygienic wash after using the restroom. Instead of relying solely on toilet paper, a bidet uses a stream of water to cleanse, offering a superior level of cleanliness.
The advantages of using a bidet extend beyond just a fresh feeling. Bidets are recognized for promoting better personal hygiene and significantly reducing the need for toilet paper, contributing to environmental sustainability. Research also suggests potential health benefits, such as providing relief and improved hygiene for individuals dealing with conditions like hemorrhoids. Furthermore, for postpartum care, bidets offer a gentle and hygienic cleansing method compared to traditional toilet paper.
While bidets have long been a staple in personal hygiene routines in many cultures, their adoption is rapidly increasing in North America and other regions as people discover the enhanced cleanliness and comfort they provide.
Exploring the Standalone Bidet
The standalone bidet represents the classic European style fixture, often seen as a separate porcelain unit installed beside the toilet. These traditional bidets are distinct bathroom fixtures requiring dedicated space and plumbing connections. Installing a standalone bidet typically involves a more significant bathroom renovation project, often necessitating professional plumbing services and consequently, a higher installation cost.
Beyond the installation complexity, standalone bidets have a practical consideration: they require you to move from the toilet to the bidet for washing. This step can be inconvenient for some, leading many to favor bidet options that are integrated with the toilet itself, allowing for washing without changing position.
Discovering the Convenience of Bidet Toilet Seats
A bidet toilet seat offers a modern solution by integrating bidet functionality directly into your existing toilet. As the name suggests, a bidet toilet seat is a replacement toilet seat with a built-in bidet system.
Installation is generally straightforward, involving replacing your current toilet seat with the bidet seat. The unit connects to your toilet’s cold water supply using an adapter and hose included with the bidet seat. While plumbing connections might sound complex, the setup process is often comparable to assembling flat-pack furniture in terms of DIY difficulty.
Compared to standalone bidets, bidet toilet seats are significantly more cost-effective and easier to install as they do not require separate plumbing. An additional advantage is the convenience of using the bidet while remaining seated on the toilet, eliminating the need to move to a separate fixture.
Many bidet toilet seats also come equipped with advanced features, such as warm water cleansing, heated seats for comfort, integrated nightlights for nighttime convenience, and deodorizers to neutralize odors.
It’s important to note that these feature-rich bidet toilet seats typically require electricity to power their advanced functions. Therefore, they need to be plugged into a GFCI outlet to operate safely and effectively.
Exploring Non-Electric Bidet Options
Non-electric bidets provide a simpler and more affordable entry point into bidet usage, offering toilet-integrated washing without the need for electrical connections.
This category primarily includes two main types: bidet attachments and handheld bidet sprayers. While non-electric bidet toilet seats exist, they are less common. Non-electric bidets are generally characterized by their affordability, ease of installation, and user-friendly operation.
Understanding Bidet Attachments
Bidet attachments are among the most popular bidet choices, converting your existing toilet into a bidet by installing discreetly underneath your toilet seat.
Users appreciate bidet attachments for their hands-free washing experience. Operating a bidet attachment typically involves simply turning a dial or lever located on a sidearm control panel to initiate the water spray. Many users find this hands-free operation more convenient and hygienic compared to handheld sprayers that require manual aiming.
Most bidet attachments utilize ambient temperature water, meaning the wash water is the same temperature as your cold water supply. For those desiring warm water washes, dual-temperature bidet attachment models are available. These models include the necessary components to connect to your bathroom’s hot water supply, typically found under the sink. However, the toilet needs to be positioned close enough to the hot water connection for these models to be feasible.
Discovering Handheld Bidet Sprayers
A handheld bidet sprayer, also known as a bidet shower or shattaf, resembles a kitchen sink sprayer and is designed specifically for personal cleansing.
To use a handheld bidet sprayer, you simply hold the sprayer, direct the nozzle as desired, and activate the water flow. After cleansing, the water supply is turned off using a T-valve plumbing adapter, and the sprayer is stored in a holster mounted on the wall or toilet tank. Installation hardware is generally included with the sprayer.
Beyond personal hygiene, handheld bidet sprayers offer versatile utility. They can be used for tasks like cleaning shower walls, washing pets in the bathtub, or even rinsing cloth diapers, adding to their practicality in the household.
Becoming a Bidet Connoisseur
This guide aims to clarify “what is a bidet” and demystify the various types available. Equipped with this knowledge, you are now better informed to understand bidets and their benefits. The next time someone asks, “what’s a bidet toilet,” you’ll not only have the answer but also the insight to guide them towards a more hygienic and comfortable bathroom experience.
