Are Bidets Better Than Toilet Paper?
Posted by ilker Duymaz on
Using a bidet to clean yourself after going to the bathroom may feel better and cleaner, but is it healthier? At the end of the day, if you were walking in a park barefoot and you stepped in dog excrement, would you use a couple of tissue squares to wipe yourself and leave it at that? Probably not, you’d use some water as well.
The same concept applies to cleaning yourself after you go to the bathroom. In the Middle East, Asia, Western Europe and America, bidets are incredibly common. They are also far more environmentally friendly when compared to normal toilet paper. The word “bidet” translates to “small horse” in French and this is because the act of using a bidet can be compared to straddling a pony. It was actually in France where the first bidet appeared too. This surfaced in the 1700s but it’s important to know that using water for cleansing purposes was around for a number of years before this. People in South Asia and the Middle East often used small vessels of water to clean themselves after going to the bathroom.
Common Misconceptions about Bidets
Some believe that bidets have a bit of a bad reputation. People in the US saw bidets for the very first time in the Second World War. They were often seen in brothels across Europe, and therefore a lot of people saw them as being part of sex work. Meanwhile, in Japan, bidets were really taking off. Toto, a top company in Japan were even going as far as to pursue electric bidets. A lot of people have grown up using toilet paper, and many of them don’t even know about bidets at all. The main thing to take from this is that using a bidet can make a monumental difference to your hygiene habits.
Why Bidets are Great for the Environment
Using a bidet is far more environmentally friendly when compared to toilet paper. In terms of water usage, a bidet uses 0.4 litres of water. It takes 168 litres of water to create one roll of toilet paper. Brits alone use well over 3,115,437ft of toilet paper every year. If more people were to invest in a bidet or a bidet attachment, then this would lower the cost that a household spends on toilet paper by around 75%. You can also do your bit to save 384 trees, that are chopped down to make a lifetime supply of toilet paper for one person. Now you may be wondering, if water is the way to go, what about wet wipes? At the end of the day, if you wipe constantly, then this can irritate your skin and it can lead to rashes. Wet wipes are incredibly harmful to the environment, and they can also lead to a lot of damage in sewers.For this reason, it is far better for you to avoid them if possible.
Washing with a bidet can help you with cleanliness, and it can also lead to less UTIs, haemorrhoids, and rashes. Bidets also use clean water, like what you get out of your sink, so it’s truly the best way for you to clean yourself.
Bidets and Water Supply
If you are flushing everything down the toilet right now, then why not consider a bidet instead? Generally speaking, the energy, water and time that goes into making paper products is more than the resources that are required to run a bidet. The main thing that you have to think about when deciding to invest in a bidet is the water situation in your country. If you are hit with water restrictions then toilet paper may be the way to go, but if you don’t have restrictions, then there’s no reason not to go for it. If you want to get the best of both worlds, then why not invest in a combined bidet toilet? Or look into Turkish toilets so you can get the experience you’re looking for.
Remarkable Benefits of Using a Bidet
Did you know that 77% of people who live in Japan use a bidet? Bidet users have said time and time again that a bidet leaves them feeling cleaner, not to mention that it comes with its own set of benefits too. If you want to find out more, then simply look below.
They’re More Hygienic than Toilet Paper
One thing that you need to know about bidets is that they are far more hygienic when compared to toilet paper. Studies have found that if you use a bidet properly, then this can decrease the amount of bacteria in your urine. Using soap and water to clean yourself after going to the bathroom is way better than just wiping yourself with paper.
Bidets Limit Germ Spread
Another thing to take note of is that bidets are great at limiting the spread of germs. When you use a bidet, your hands don’t come into contact with your faeces. This helps to stop germs from spreading far more than you realise. You can even choose between wall hung bidet toilets and back to wall bidet toilets too, so there’s something for every household.
Lowering the Risk of Haemorrhoids
Did you know that using a bidet could significantly lower your risk of developing haemorrhoids? Using a bidet that has low or medium water pressure can help to take some of the pressure off your anus.
Enhancing your Experience
Bidets are ideal if you want to take your bathroom experience to the next level. Studies have shown that using a wash and dry bidet can help you to provide a better experience to the people who come and visit your home. Want to find out more about bidet toilets? Maybe you’re not sure if a bidet toilet combo is the best option for you. Either way, one thing that you can do is contact us today. When you do, you can then trust in us to give you the help and support you need.