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There are still many prevalent misconceptions and questions surrounding bidets throughout the world. It is natural to wonder about something that may seem foreign to you. Wiping is the most normal ending to a human waste disposal experience – but the purpose is to clean off and make sure any unsanitary remains have been discarded.
This begs the question, is wiping still a necessity with a bidet? The answer is – often, but not always. Occasionally, bidets, particularly public ones, still require a moderate wipe to dry off or dispose of waste. However, most modern bidets are equipped with a drying function that extinguishes a warm, gentle breeze from an air dryer that assists in making your experience more simple, sanitary, and comfortable.
In their entirety, bidet dryers tend to be imperfect, though many of the newest ones work well. Keep in mind that the air dryer is a feature that is constantly being improved, especially as the bidet increases in its popularity throughout the world. Wiping can still be (and still commonly is) necessary with a bidet, and it is important for a user to know when.
When and Why Do I Need to Wipe With a Bidet?
There are three common reasons you would still need to wipe when using a bidet rather than a traditional toilet. The first and most common reason is when a bidet is not equipped with a drying function at all. In this scenario, the owner of the restroom will supply either bathroom tissue or small cloths to wipe afterward. These cloths can be used for hands, extremities, or even to clean any splashing that may have occurred. (Note that splashing is typically held to a minimum due to other built-in features.)
The second most common reason you would need to wipe is a pre-rinse wipe. This will be used in the case of bidets that are detached from the toilet and are unable to accommodate any waste. If this is the case, toilet paper is usually provided. It is polite to wipe once, first, to make sure nothing too large is going to be washed into the bidet. This paper should be discarded into the toilet or waste bin depending on which is provided.
The final reason you would still need to wipe when using a bidet is to finish up the drying job. Ideally, all bidets will still have a possible means of wiping. Many drying functions are imperfect, so it is common for the person using the bidet to want to wipe lightly to ensure there is nothing still wet. This will decrease the possibility of spreading bacteria and other unsanitary circumstances associated with the human body and waste disposal. Though rare, another situation that wiping is important is when the drying function may not be working at the moment of use. Not only does this become a sanitary necessity but it also increases the comfort of the user following the spray of the bidet.
As you can see, wiping with a bidet is common, though getting less so, but the function of the wipe serves a variety of different purposes. Unlike with traditional toilet wiping, wiping after using a bidet normally serves to make sure everything is dry. It is not an attempt to clean or sanitize.
Does the Drying Function on a Bidet Work Well?
Manufacturing of modern bidets continues to progress, and the technology around the entire user experience continues to improve. The drying feature on these bidets is not different as it is continually improving. That being said, the drying function is probably the aspect that has progressed the least on modern bidets. While some companies have perfected this feature (like this one by company_name), many still fail to fully dry off the user, thus leaving the user slightly damp.
Irritation vs. Sanitation
A benefit that most people do not consider when wondering about bidets versus toilet paper is the irritation difference. Although you may splurge on bathroom tissue in your own home (double ply a necessity), it only takes one trip to a local grocery store or university bathroom to realize that not everyone values a smooth ride between the cheeks.
Of course, it is not only in public places that this fact remains true. Even compared to some ultra-soft bathroom tissue, water is much less irritating for your skin. The gentle stream can even be therapeutic, assisting with both hemorrhoids and constipation. Therefore, one could argue that the bidet is the leader in the prevention of irritation when compared to the traditional toilet use experience. While sanitation is, of course, an important factor, the limited irritation assists in the comfortability and pleasant user experience.
Do Bidet Seats Save Money?
When discussing the ending process of bowel movements along with modern improvements of bidets, the thought of saving money could be running through your mind. On average, bidet seats can save the user more than $150 on toilet paper per year.
This figure is based on the average person using 50 pounds of toilet paper per year, which would amount to roughly $250. While bidets costs do include electricity, water, and an occasional wipe, the cost is less than half of what toilet paper adds up to. This means that if you begin using a bidet toilet seat, even including the seat cost, you could see savings in less than a year.
Are There Other Perks to Not Needing to Wipe With a Bidet?
One of the largest benefits of using a bidet and not having to wipe (at least not as much or as often) is the targeted benefit to a variety of different demographics. This feature of bidets, even despite the savings, is helpful to the elderly, children, people who are overweight, and pregnant/post-pregnant women. The reasons vary per targeted population.
Elderly:
Probably the most notable of these different demographics, the elderly are assisted greatly by using a bidet. Something common in elderly homes is an alarm system on a rope, for if an elderly person falls in the restroom and is unable to get themselves back on their feet. Although a bidet would not replace this type of alarm for a fall-risk, it does help minimize accidents (via less struggle of wiping) while increasing elderly citizens’ ability to live independently. This is a huge benefit that comes especially from helping elderly persons not have to bend over, stand up, and lean forwards to wipe.
Pregnant Women:
The next most assisted demographic is pregnant women. With flexibility and balance issues due to increased weight gain and displaced weight, the bidet helps pregnant women not have to worry and struggle to wipe. On top of that, the last thing a pregnant woman wants to worry about is falling over.
Not only do bidets give a benefit of ease to pregnant women, but they also can help with medical issues. Both hemorrhoids and constipation are common during pregnancy, and bidets can help prevent these issues by consistent rinsing in the irritated areas.
The bidet is also good for use postpartum. If there was a tear during birth, and even just for the regular healing process, the rinsing aid will help greatly. Doctors recommend for postpartum women to rinse post- defecation and urination for up to 6 weeks following childbirth. The bidet makes this process natural and easy.
Overweight People:
For overweight people, wiping can be incredibly difficult. The reaching and stretching as well as the balancing can match that of pregnancy or elderly if the weight issue is progressed too far. The bidet assists in this process by eliminating the need to extensively wipe and decreases the amount of overall wiping necessary.
Children:
The final large demographic that is assisted by bidets are smaller children. For anyone who has potty trained a child, you know the wiping process does not always come naturally. Think about it- the transition from pooping and peeing in a diaper and having someone else wipe you off to having to think about the wiping process conscientiously can be difficult for a child to adjust to. Once children get used to the bidet, there will be less mess for everyone, and a lot less work for the parents.
Related Questions:
Are bidets good for your septic system?
Bidets are great for a septic system. Using a bidet you are very unlikely to clog your toilet ever again. Clogs in the toilet wreak havoc on pipes and septic systems (and are never a pleasant experience to go through). Cutting down on both toilet paper and water will improve the lifespan of both.
Are bidets cleaner than traditional toilet paper?
Yes. Bidets are usually leaps and bounds cleaner than toilet paper. If you were to get fecal matter anywhere else on your body, would you just wipe it off? Of course not. Using water helps remove all the particles, making everything cleaner and decreasing the possibility of fecal matter being left behind.
