bidet

A toilet (left) and a bidet (right).

A bidet is a low-mounted plumbing fixture or type of sink intended for washing the genitalia and the anus. Originally a French word, in English, bidet is pronounced (IPA): [bɨˈdeɪ] (US), [ˈbiːdeɪ] (UK).

History

An 18th century etching of ladies 'mounted' on bidets

Bidet is a French word for pony (and in Old French, bider meant to trot).

Marc-Antoine JACOUD is known as the inventor of the bidet. This etymology comes from the fact that one bestrides or rides a bidet much like one does a pony. The bidet appears to have been an invention of French furniture makers in the late 17th or early 18th century, although no exact date or inventor is known. Theories exist that its inventor is Christophe Des Rosiers, furniture maker for the French Royal Family. The earliest written reference to the bidet is in 1710. By 1900, thanks to plumbing improvements, the bidet (and chamber pot) moved from the bedroom to the bathroom. 1960 saw the introduction of the electronic bidet, an attachment which connects on to existing toilet arrangements — ideal for bathrooms lacking the space for a separate bidet and toilet.

Usage

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 may also be used to clean any other part of the body; they are very convenient for cleaning the feet, for example. Despite appearing similar to a toilet, it would be more accurate to compare it to the washbasin or bathtub. In fact, the bidet is used by some for a baby bath, though there are some who recommend against this. [1].

Users who are unfamiliar with bidets often confuse a bidet with a urinal, toilet, or even a drinking fountain. The user should use the toilet before using the bidet; its purpose is to wash afterwards. It is generally understood that the user should sit on a bidet facing the tap and nozzle to clean the genitalia, or with their back to the tap and wall to clean the anus.

Bidets are made in several different designs. They may have one tap which pours (usually warm) water into a china basin. The basin can be plugged and filled if necessary, or the water can be allowed to drain away. Other bidets have a nozzle which propels an arc of water up into the air. This jet of water is angled to easily attain the perianal and genital area.

Another design of bidet

A bidet may also 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 vulva. These bidets are often controlled electronically rather than with a traditional tap, and some have an element under the seat which heats up to dry the user after washing. These bidet toilets have been popular in countries like India, and Sri Lanka since British colonial days, as the use of just dry toilet paper to clean the perianal area is considered dirty and unhygienic in these tropical regions. 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 classes. But with the rise of westernization, western style pots have started becoming more common, and the most convenient way to wash the perianal area with these pots is simply to attach a bidet nozzle.

Some bidet users feel using a bidet is more sanitary than toilet paper.^{[citation needed]} However, most people who have access to a bidet usually use both, wiping with toilet paper before washing with the bidet. Bidets are very useful for the elderly or anyone with mobility problems and for people with hemorrhoids. People usually use toilet paper or a small towel that they hang next to the bidet for drying, and which is usually changed daily.

Bidets are common bathroom fixtures in some European countries (especially Greece, Italy (where practically all the houses and hotels have it), Spain and Portugal), some Latin American countries (especially Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Venezuela; there they are found in approximately 90% of households), the Middle East and some parts of Asia (particularly in Japan and South Korea). Although France is the country where the word bidet originated, not every house there is equipped with one, especially the smaller or cheaper flats.

Residents of countries where bidets in private homes are rare may be totally unfamiliar with bidets and have no idea how to use them if they encounter them. It is said that many American men first encountered bidets in French brothels during WWII and thought they were designed for the prostitutes to douche (inside the vagina) after sexual intercourse^{[citation needed]}. These attitudes may be difficult for bidet manufacturers to dispel if it is taboo to discuss toilet habits and personal hygiene in public, as is the case in many societies.

Another possible source of resistance to bidet usage in the United States is the perception of the uncleanliness of the device. The nozzle in some designs is often in the path of the returning (dirty) water. The concern being that the user might be contaminated with the fecal matter and detritus of the previous user. In contrast, toilet paper is seen as a less effective, yet more hygienic solution.

In contrast, residents of countries where the bidet is found in almost every private residence, find it difficult to change their habits when they travel in countries where bidets are rare. The only alternatives to a bidet in such cases is to use the bathtub or a showerhead (if it can reach the toilet).

Toilet Seat Bidet Attachment

In 1980 the first "paperless toilet" was launched in Japan, a combination toilet and bidet which also dries the user after washing. Combination toilet-bidets with seat warmers, or "washlets", 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. For details see toilets in Japan.

Bidet attachments are sometimes included on hospital toilets because of their utility in maintaining hygiene. Currently (2007) in the U.S., bidets are not widespread due in part to their cost ($400+).^{[citation needed]}, but are becoming increasingly popular, as witnessed by the increase in Toilet Seat Bidet market offerings and companies involved. In countries where the bidet is very common, prices are much lower. In Italy, for example, the price for a bidet seldom exceeds €200 (about $260 USD), and it is not uncommon to find bidets priced as low as €40 (about $52 USD), especially in do-it-yourself stores. An alternative in the USA would be buying a bidet attachment for regular American toilets. Many bidet retailers now offer toilet attachments that range from $79 to $650. In Middle Eastern countries, bidet attachments are much cheaper, being priced at around the equivalent of $10-20 USD, which is attributed to their popularity and availability.

Toilet seat bidet attachments are also becoming increasingly popular with the aging community. Many companies make bidet seat attachments that include remote controls to activate the water jets and air dryer. These conveniently placed remote controls may particularly benefit any individual with limited mobility.

See also

• Toilet paper
• Lota (vessel)
• Toilet
• Domestic water system
• Hygiene
• Washlet

External links

• Modern Bidets
• What's a bidet? from GoAskAlice.columbia.edu
• Health Benefits of using a Bidetzh-yue:智能廁板

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