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Because bidets are foreign to many people, questions abound in the specifics of their usage. Questions about the feelings, safety, and effectiveness are common among many new users. This is to be expected, and there are some questions that tend to come up more often than others.
A common question is, how do you dry off after using a bidet? There are several methods. Often, the newer model bidets provide a drying function which will expel a burst of warm air that will take care of most of the drying. Some people will first use a tissue or toilet paper to pad dry some of the moisture and reduce the amount of time necessary for the warm air to completely dry one’s nether regions. If the air-dry method is not available, the final method is to dry with a tissue, toilet paper, or paper towels.
With all these options on how to dry off (sometimes with or without choice), it is important to consider each and see how they are beneficial. We will explore each of these options and break down the benefits, as well as some drawbacks that are caused by them.
Drying Function Ability
As with most industries, bidets continue to improve in everything from user experience to technology enhancement. The drying feature, which is usually provided with newer models, tends to be most effective on drying the user. However, this function still has its limits. While there are improvements being made, there are always some aspects which are not the best.
Dryers tend to be one of the improvements that are often neglected with bidet technology which causes this part of the toileting process to be more uncomfortable for the user. The drying process has versatility with the inclusion of a drying mechanism providing a range of options for the user to choose from when choosing how to dry their “downstairs regions”.
Are bidets’ drying functions good?
Typically, bidet drying functions are not the most effective and can leave the user feeling damp in areas that need to be dry for sanitary and comfort purposes. In order to compensate for the strength of the air dry, the drying function takes a prolonged period of time (1-3 mins) to fully dry off the user. It can be compared to an air hand dryer – it takes more time to reach the same result as a paper towel.
Despite this, bidet manufacturers are constantly improving and the drying functions are getting more effective. If you are in the market for a bidet and want to take advantage of this feature, make sure you research this on any you are considering. Reading user reviews can be one of the most effective ways to do your research!
Eco-Friendly, Towel Drying
In the case that the bidet you are using does not have a drying feature, a very earth-friendly way to dry off is to keep a stack of clean washcloths near the bidet. At hotels and private homes, this may be a common way of drying off. A basket will be kept to the side, in which you can discard your drying cloth.
It is easy to keep these clean, once the bin or basket is full, just run a load of laundry bleaching the small towels. Since the waste will have already been disposed of through the spray function, there is limited bacteria or unsanitary fecal matter remaining on the user. Bleaching helps to kill any remaining bacteria which could have passed from surface to surface. Using a soft towel or washcloth is also a more comfortable way to dry off, as opposed to rough paper.
Paper Towel/Toilet Paper Drying
Similar to the washcloth method, this is the one way of drying off after using a bidet that does not save a lot of waste. While using toilet paper will not be as necessary for the wiping purposes, you can still use a paper towel or toilet paper for drying off the rinsed surface.
Of course, using toilet paper, you must be careful. Toilet paper, and less well-built paper towels, will be likely to get too wet and tear when rubbed on wet skin. Further, you will want to monitor the amount of paper towels or toilet paper used so as to avoid clogging your bidet’s plumbing.
What Do You Do With the Waste From Drying After Using a Bidet?
The waste from drying after using a bidet has several possible routes of disposal. The first way (and most obvious) is disposal by putting it into the bidet or toilet and running a small amount of water to help it find its way down the plumbing. This capability is not available in all bidets, however, so there are other ways to dispose of the paper waste.
Oftentimes, a wastebasket will be provided as an alternate (or primary) means of disposing of the trash generated by wiping. This will be the ideal method in most cases, as it is supported anywhere, and does not cause any issues with the plumbing. Be sure to look for signage near a bidet to know what to do before tossing your toilet paper in the bidet; when in doubt, toss in the bin.
Do Bidets Help Prevent Paper Waste Production?
For the average user, bidets will help decrease waste of paper. The average American home uses approximately 50lbs of toilet paper per year. This could cost you up to $200-$250. If you are only using the air-drying function on a bidet, that means you save 100% of that money. If you are using the eco-friendly wiping way of drying, you will still be saving over $150 a year and many pounds of toilet paper. This not only helps reduce the amount of toilet paper used (directly), but it also reduces the energy and resources used to produce the paper in the first place.
Does Having a Bidet Seat Save Money?
A bidet seat attachment for your toilet costs about $150. While you do have to factor in the cost of electricity, water, and the occasional wipe, it is still likely that a person using a bidet will recover the cost of the seat and see savings within a year. Over time, a bidet is a cost-saving investment for anyone.
Another, less considered, way that bidets save you money is with repairs. If you are used to a normal toilet, you know that having family, friends, or other guests over can wreak havoc on the plumbing. Time and energy gone into unclogging toilets can be saved with an investment into a bidet. On top of this, a bidet can save your septic system. Toilet paper and paper towels can cause septic systems to fill up exponentially faster than not using them. Therefore, it is a huge saver when considering that you do not have to drain the septic tank as frequently, either.
Benefits of Using Bidets?
One major benefit of using a bidet versus bathroom tissue of any kind is the decrease in irritation caused by wiping. Even ultra-soft bathroom tissues can irritate the skin. The gentle stream of warm water is soothing to the skin and can even be perceived as therapeutic. Like the sitz baths employed to minimize pain after childbirth and hemorrhoids, as well as to promote healing, a bidet can provide relief to those who suffer from conditions affecting the private areas. There are even some arguments that suggest that bidets are more beneficial to preventing irritation than are traditional toilets, and this is a benefit that most people do not consider.
Related Questions
What are the differences between bidet seats, bidet attachments, and bidet hoses?
Bidet Seats:
These replace your existing toilet seat and are the most expensive of the three. They may also require electricity and they will have more features (heated air drying, remote control, power settings).
Bidet Attachments:
These are pieces that clip onto your toilet bowl, usually are thin around the rim and fit under the existing toilet seat. They often have fewer features than a seat, but newer models can include most of the same controls. These are less expensive than toilet seats and are more readily installed to any pre-existing toilet.
Bidet Hoses:
These are attachments that connect to the existing water supply. Much like real hoses, these are manually controlled and held by the user. Although affordable, they do not allow for any customization.
Will using a bidet spray a mess everywhere?
This is rarely a necessary concern, although it is a common one. Modern bidets are often adjustable, both in angle and force of the water spray. This minimizes the risk of water spraying outside of the toilet. Even with minimized risk, there is usually a towel to the side that is there specifically to clean if any spray does make it out of the toilet bowl area.
