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Human contact contributes to eighty percent of all infectious diseases through the spread of contamination. Only half of the population, in fact, wash their hands after using the toilet. This is one of the reasons why hands-free bidets are actually the more germ-free option all around. When we do not use our hands at all, then there is less or no chance of making contact with a virus.
Does a bidet really get you clean? According to a study by Dr. R. Mark Ellerkmann, director of urogynecology at Weinberg Center for Women’s Health and Medicine, the bidet provides a cleaner wash to the genitalia, most especially more hygienic to the anus, compared to smearing toilet paper alone. Not only does a bidet help to clean you off, but it also prevents further spread of germs through hand to genitalia contact.
There are many reasons why every home should own a bidet. These devices are amazing inventions that promote better lifestyles and health as well as provide economic benefits. A bidet will clean your undercarriage with water that eliminates any residue left on your skin. It will guarantee you to feel clean and refreshed. Water is found by most to be more soothing and comfortable to clean than bleached toilet paper with perfumes and chemicals. What’s more, you keep your hands and fingers dirt-free as well.
How and Who Bidets Help Sanitize
- Demographic Versatility. There are no specific qualifications for you to enjoy a bidet toilet seat. The bidet toilet is not limited to the elderly, people with disabilities, or anyone with limited mobility in their hands, arms, or shoulders. By limiting the twisting motion of rigorous wiping, the bidet provides a safer option available to all demographics. A small nursing-home study found a positive review on bidet use as providing “improved resident comfort,” compared to the traditional toilet and toilet paper use.
- Hygienic health practices. Bidet toilet seats are not only safe but are also more sanitary. You might say, the bidet takes the “throne” for most hygienic human waste disposal system. Nothing beats the total sensation of feeling clean and fresh. What’s more, there are no hands and fingers involved in the cleaning process unlike our traditional way of cleaning and washing after nature’s call.
It’s typical to have doubts when hygiene is involved in the most private and sensitive areas of our body. Bidet technology aims to provide answers to our hygiene concerns. The latest bidet toilet seat models highlight some of the most sanitary self-cleaning systems anyone can find. - Feeling fresh and clean. Bidet washes with water that allows the user to experience an immaculate feeling much sooner. It’s much more effective than wiping your undercarriage with toilet paper. Water is more hygienic as it mildly cleans the area. The out-and-out scrub-down at bidet tails-off the extent of poop left sticking to butt, and the many impurities as well.
It’s vital to note that bidets discharge only a small amount of water and not a looming jet spray as many people assume. More so, the water that comes out from the bidet toilet seat doesn’t come from the dirty toilet bowl. The water that sprays from a bidet comes from tap water. It’s the same water we use when we wash our hands. So, no dirty, contaminated toilet water will spray to clean you after nature’s call. - Health benefits. Bidets offer essential health benefits like improved overall cleanliness. This can be especially helpful if your undercarriage is particularly sensitive. For example, the beneficial outcome of water on damaged skin like hemorrhoids and rashes can help to maintain a clean surface area without the feeling of pressure from wiping.
- Personalized experiences. Some bidet toilet models let the user regulate the water pressure to the amount at which they are most comfortable. This, among other modern accessories and technological advances, makes everything in the bidet experience stress-free.
An electric model will even allow the user to adjust the water temperature they are most comfortable with to wash their behind. Want to feel like you are jumping in a lake on a warm summer’s day? Adjust to the warmer setting. Want to reminisce on a breezy day at the beach? Adjust to the cooler setting. The experience is totally up to you! - Environmentally friendly. Bidets are also less stressful to the environment than using traditional toilet paper. The bidet toilet is beneficial in that it functions without having to depend on the water needed to flush toilet paper or the disposal systems needed to break down the waste product. Environmentalists consider bidets as the “key green technology” as it gets rid of the use of toilet paper.
Analysis reveals that Americans exhaust 36.5 billion rolls of toilet paper every year. That means they pulp about 15 million trees annually. That waste also spoils 473,587,500,000 gallons of water to yield the paper. Also, it requires 253,000 tons of chlorine for bleaching. More so, the manufacturing of the paper needs about 17.3 terawatts of electricity every year. The substantial volumes of energy and materials are consumed in packaging and transportation to their retail outlets.
Typical bidets only use 1/8th of a gallon compared to the regular toilet consuming about four gallons per flush. Treehugger reports that manufacturing a single roll of toilet paper needs 37 gallons of water, 1.5 pounds of wood, and 1.3 kilowatts/hour (KWh). Not to mention, toilet paper is also a public bother as it blocks pipes and increases a hefty load onto city sewer systems and water treatment plants.
- Reduce overall costs. Reducing the amount of toilet paper used is one of the most significant benefits of bidets. Toilet paper may not be expensive in individual purchases, but it can add up quickly. What’s more, is that its production is very costly for the environment. Greener Ideal presented an infographic on how bidet toilets save more money than using toilet paper. The infographic revealed that around $6 billion per year is spent on toilet paper in the US.
Over time, the result of using less toilet paper can save you substantial amounts of money. You would be surprised at the astonishing savings which come from reducing the amount of paper you buy!
But, there’s even more to save! You’re not only saving from cutting off toilet paper usage. You also save money with decreased water usage. Larger families, frequently having guests, or sharing house expenses with roommates can make having a bidet even more cost-effective.
Yes, there’s a primary investment in the bidet seat itself. Still, over time, it will save you hundreds of dollars not only with reducing toilet paper usage but also with water and electricity.
Related Questions
Can I Transform an Existing Toilet into a Bidet?
This question can be a bit tricky, as the two devices serve similar purposes but are constructed far differently. You cannot, with the current models of toilets and bidets, transform an existing toilet into an electricity-requiring bidet by attaching or adding certain pieces. You can, however, transform an existing toilet into a bidet that does not require electricity by swapping out the two seats. For a bidet which requires electricity, you can use the plumbing that is already installed for a toilet for a bidet toilet by swapping out the two devices. With a few stress-free steps involving only a few essential hand tools, you will be able to install your bidet toilet seat making the switch almost effortless.
Every bidet provides a spray of water from the rear of your toilet seat. If you opt for a bidet that needs electricity, then you will need an electric outlet near your toilet bowl. These types of bidets are, in general, the ones with air dryers and heated water.
Many bidet toilets do not need electricity. These models will only use and spray cold water. However, most bidets have a regulation knob. This knob lets you control the extent of the water force that sprays out of the nozzle and does not require electricity. Be sure to pay attention to the model you choose and verify if it is the right fit for your bathroom.
How to Transform a Toilet into a Bidet?
When you decide to mount a standard cold-water bidet seat that does not require electricity, you will just have to remove your old toilet seat. You will need to bolt-on the new bidet toilet seat as a replacement for your old standard seat. Then, connect the water supply to your bidet. How you connect your water supply depends on the model and brand of your bidet seat. All the adapters and hardware you need to set up your new bidet come together on most bidet toilet seats you purchase. You should not need expensive tools to be able to position your bidet within minutes. Some of them can even be hooked up and tightened with an adjustable wrench.
