I’ve used both a “tub” bidet and a “shower” bidet, in Paris and in Japan. The shower bidet was built into the toilet, and had two jets, one in the front and one in the back. The tub bidet looked like a very shallow toilet, except it was designed so you sat in the water and washed your nether parts.
I liked both. Both left me feeling fresh and clean. The tub bidet was in a cheap hotel that only had one shared shower for the whole floor, (but a toilet, sink, and bidet in the room) and on most days, that was enough, and I didn’t feel the need for a shower. The shower bidets in Japan was heated and especially nice when I had tourist tummy. Not only did it clean me up, the warm water felt really good on my aching muscles. I seriously considered buying a Japanese toilet when I returned home, but it was going to be hard to buy, hard to install, and I had a bad feeling that if anything went wrong, the plumber and the electrician would each point at the other and say “his problem”.
Speaking of Japanese plumbing, am I the only westerner who likes squat toilets? I used them in Japan. They were clean ceramic affairs that flushed, and I found them very comfortable. (No bidet, though. :() I liked both that my cheeks were farther apart, so I didn’t get as dirty, and also that I didn’t need to touch anything. And squatting feels very natural for defecating, at least to me.
One of our local doctors invented an attachment for toilets called the Biffy, and they have them on display at all their clinics, due to their alleged medical benefits. You attach it to the side of the toilet, plug it in to the water supply, and an arm swings out into the toilet to give you a nice spray clean. I tried it out, but unlike other posters, I definitely found the cold water to be highly unpleasant, so I upgraded to a model that has a tiny water heater and spray hose attached. Sadly, the water heater coil has been burned out for years now, so I don’t really like it now. Still much cleaner and faster than toilet paper, in my experience.
Not regularly, but I don’t wash myself by wiping myself with a paper towel, either.
Is this really that difficult to understand? Pretend you are covered in shit. What do you think will get you cleaner, hosing yourself off or wiping yourself off with paper towels? Soap really isn’t that necessary.
It’s less wasteful for me. If using paper or wipes only, I go through quite a lot of them. With a bidet or spray, just one at the end, if I even bother.
That’s the thing. I don’t want to get too graphic, but sometimes I have to go through so much toilet paper when wiping that I have to flush the toilet in between so it doesn’t clog up. It sometimes takes me eight or more wipes before it looks to be clean, and even then I’m not 100% sure. With a bidet, it’s just give it a good spray and wipe. You can ask my wife who does the laundry, if you want, between pre-bidet and post-bidet laundry days.
And staying on the not too graphic track it sounds like you need to add some more fiber to your diet. Otherwise you will end up with the grapes of wrath. And that’s the gift that keeps on giving.
Don’t know how they do it but the bidet toilets I’ve used in Japan have warm water right from the get go.
Also–
I remember a SDMB thread not that long ago about the refreshing joys of bidet toilet seats. I was really surprised that so many Dopers found the idea of a bidet toilet seat so icky and undesirable to them, and that so many Dopers proudly stated they are just fine with toilet paper, thankyouverymuch.
I just don’t understand that point of view. It is SO much cleaner, hygienic, healthier, and comfortable to use a bidet toilet seat. How is it that so many North Americans are willing to go around so odiously unclean?
Really… these wonderful things are not that mystifying or difficult to use, folks. Seems to me that any American that had a chance to use one for a few days would never go back.
Hmm, a wet wipe (I use Tucks) is probably as good as a bidet for poop, but not nearly as good for other cleansing of the nether regions – perhaps that matters more for women than for men.
A good-quality wet wipe or two works okay. That’s what I use at home, since I don’t have a bidet. I do feel a little dirty if I don’t have anything wet to clean with after I poop. (although it varies based on, well, you know.)
I’ve been using a Japanese washlet for the past 15 years. I simply do my business, take a wipe, stay seated, use the water spray (temperature and strength-controlled) for about 10-15 seconds. I can adjust the angle and width of the spray as well. Then dry off using the air-blowing function or another quick wipe. Easy-peasy Japan-easy.
