# Bidets **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 8, 2002, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bidets/122950 "2002-08-08T13:30:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bidets/122950/1 "2002-08-08T13:30:31Z")
I have a few questions about bidets. In which areas are they most commonly found? I saw lots when I was in France, but when I was in Spain I only saw one and it didn’t work. Why did they never make it to North America? ---
**Author:** ![Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myron_Van_Horowitzski)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bidets/122950/2 "2002-08-08T13:46:54Z")
My SO stayed with a family in Venezuela that had a bidet. They kept the cleaning supplies in it, though. ---
**Author:** ![Drum\_God](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drum_god/32/44_2.png) [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bidets/122950/3 "2002-08-08T14:02:22Z")
May I add a question? Be it ever so tactful, but, well… How does one properly use a bidet? ---
**Author:** ![Morgainelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Morgainelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgainelf)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bidets/122950/4 "2002-08-08T14:21:30Z")
My brother lived in Italy for several years and had a bidet. When I visited and traveled the country with him, every hotel we stayed in had one. When he moved back to the US and built a house, he had one installed (I think they’re addictive…) So, my impression is that they’re used in Italy. Sorry **Drum God** , no insight there for you. I haven’t had the nerve to ask - I just don’t really want to know this about my brother. ---
**Author:** ![Tansu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@Tansu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tansu)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bidets/122950/5 "2002-08-08T14:31:24Z")
You sit on it facing the taps, run warm water into it, and wash your arse. Some fancy bidets have a squirty tap in the bottom that squirts water at your underneaths. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bidets/122950/6 "2002-08-08T15:01:54Z")
You mean that’s not a baby washer? ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bidets/122950/7 "2002-08-08T15:02:24Z")
And what would one dry one’s arse with afterwards? white towel? What if the cleaning had not been as effective as expected? They scare me. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bidets/122950/8 "2002-08-08T15:06:34Z")
I’ve used bidets in France and Saudi Arabia. They are addictive! My wife and I are building a new house and it will have a bidet in the master bath. I prfeer the kind with the “squirty tap” in the bottom as **Tansu** puts it. I can hardly wait to once again experience the “dancing waters”. ---
**Author:** ![EmbarrassingDad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/embarrassingdad/32/5441_2.png) [@EmbarrassingDad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmbarrassingDad)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bidets/122950/9 "2002-08-08T15:12:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tansu \* > \*\*You sit on it facing the taps, run warm water into it, and wash your arse. Some fancy bidets have a squirty tap in the bottom that squirts water at your underneaths. \*\* “…and wash your arse.” How? With your hand? With a rag? With TP? Do you use soap? I thought all bidets were the fancy kind with a “squirty tap”… Do you still use TP after this? How effective are they? It seems you would still need to do some wiping… ? And yeah, how do you dry your ass afterwards? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Tansu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@Tansu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tansu)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bidets/122950/10 "2002-08-08T15:22:34Z")
I’d say wipe first, than wash, then dry. They’re also useful if you just want to wash your underneaths. Useful for menstruating women (especially those who use pads), or for those who like to wash before/after sex. They can be used for washing the feet, too. And it is the washer’s own responsibility to ensure thorough washing of his/her arse/vulva. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bidets/122950/11 "2002-08-08T15:25:47Z")
I used TP to dry with. Don’t know if that’s “correct”. When my house is completed maybe a few dopers could come by and we could run some comparisons! All in the name of science of course. Female dopers preferred if I have a choice.