<p>Why is it, that in this, the (supposedly) most advanced nation (not to say civilization) in the world, use of that most civilized, and certainly cleanest, form of personal hygiene (cleanliness being next to godliness and all that, that the progenitors of this great country espoused) – the bidet – has never been adopted for general use? There appears to be a paradox there…</p>
<p>Anyone?</p>
<p>Beyonc</p>
<p>I grew up in upstate NY and had a friend whose home had a bidet in the master bedroom bath. As teenagers we were fascinated by the device though we did not get to take it for a test drive.</p>
<p>Didn’t the bidet originate long ago when people weren’t used to daily bathing? I think a daily shower makes bidet-ing obsolete.</p>
<p>dke - Bidets are obsolete? – only if one bathes or showers after each seating! Otherwise, they are most assuredly a necessity, unless of course one’s cleanliness does not extend to all areas, in which case that person’s “cleanliness” becomes a tad suspect. </p>
<p>I rather expected some responses to my op to be of the, er, pooh-poohing sort! lol</p>
<p>How to be delicate about this…If the bidet is not sanitized after each use, then the previous user’s germs are being sprayed on the next user. I’ll skip that, thanks!</p>
<p>Oh, you mean those things are for sanitary reasons? Knowing the French, I thought…</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>I was always under the impression that a bidet was like a water fountain type dealy that shot up water so you could wash your undercarriage after dropping the kids off at the pool, but when I visited Spain and Portugal, it was like a small basin next to the toilet that was basically just a low sink that was impossible for my 6’ 3" frame to use. Kinda useless really.</p>
<p>Shock - It is really no different than using a toilet. Is yours “sanitized” after each use? Also, a properly designed bidet is arranged so that one’s posterior is not directly on top of the spout but rather well in front of it (thereby allowing all the wash to land directly in the bowl and hence down the drain), with the spray of sufficient force to reach the target. Really…do thing have to be spelled out for you?!</p>
<p>joev - I am sorry to hear that your size prevents you from utilizing a most civilized amenity. Surely there are size variations in bidets. The ones I am familiar with (from my years in Italy) are about the same size as a toilet.</p>
<p>The Japanese have developed toilets that not only dispose of the waste, but wash and dry afterwards. One of these days I’m going to get one!
<a href=“http://www.mybidets.com/daelim-cleanlet.html[/url]”>http://www.mybidets.com/daelim-cleanlet.html</a></p>
<p>I am so sorry but this last has me laughing so hard I almost broke something. Didja look at the link? OMG that’s soooooooooo funny. “Computer self diagnosis” - huh??? I hope these things come with an owners manual…scroll to the bottom and then it says “sold out” which is just over the top hilarious…</p>
<p>This is more like a Robert E Lee thread rofl…</p>
<p>Edit: if I owned one, I’d likely get stuck in it or get the instructions all confused, have to call for help lol</p>
<p>LOL, newmass dad. It’s true that when one thinks of hygiene, the French don’t instantly come to mind. </p>
<p>leanid, I’m familiar with bidets & they are very different from toilets. I still maintain that they spread more germs than they control. If you have such an affinity for them, why not have a few installed? They are sometimes showing up in the McMansions around these parts.</p>
<p>latetoschool, I’m afraid to ask what the self diagnosis feature is. And I thought the butt-warmers in my H’s car seats were high tech!</p>
<p>Shock - Well, I guess there IS something good to be said about “McMansions”.</p>
<p>Your concern about spreading germs is nonsense. But, if you insist on that view, then you should really like a box of disposable moist towelettes – the poor man’s bidet. ; )</p>
<p>Virtually every toilet in Japan has one built in – this includes a fair share of public toilets. The device never touches you, and “used” water falls in the bowl. Takes some getting used to IMHO.</p>
<p>I can’t believe we’re posting about washing tailfeathers on collegeconfidential…what next??</p>
<p>Italians have combo toilets and bidets. One handle flushes, the other sends out a shoot of water. It’s good to get the right one.</p>
<p>Weenie - lolololol did you have to post that -</p>
<p>Got my mother a bidet seat about 5 years ago. Works great. I assure all those who try it a few times, that even charmin is too harsh. BTW save some trees.</p>