# Why are butt cleaning toilet attachments not more popular in America/the west? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 7, 2014, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-butt-cleaning-toilet-attachments-not-more-popular-in-america-the-west/680727 "2014-02-07T02:53:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![jrsone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jrsone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jrsone)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-butt-cleaning-toilet-attachments-not-more-popular-in-america-the-west/680727/41 "2014-02-07T16:29:58Z")
Will someone think of the children! ---
**Author:** ![ashtayk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@ashtayk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ashtayk)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-butt-cleaning-toilet-attachments-not-more-popular-in-america-the-west/680727/42 "2014-02-07T16:37:53Z")
I had to jump in here. I have [this](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003TPGPUW/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) attached on my toilet at home. It converts your toilet into a bidet too. I have serious issues when I travel and I am stuck with TP. TP alone makes my butt burn. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-butt-cleaning-toilet-attachments-not-more-popular-in-america-the-west/680727/43 "2014-02-07T16:45:14Z")
> [@CrazyCatLady](#): > > Yeah, I don’t even like to share a bath towel with my own husband, and that’s before considering the possibility he dried his ass crack with it. > [@Chandler Bing](#): > > Think about the last thing I wash and the first thing you wash. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-butt-cleaning-toilet-attachments-not-more-popular-in-america-the-west/680727/44 "2014-02-07T16:46:42Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > With a small towel hanging nearby specifically for the purpose, the size of a hand towel. And before you get all grossed out, remember your arse is sqeeky clean so it’s really no different than when you get out of the shower. You mean that’s not a face towel? 😮 I fully intend to install a bidet once I settle down. I use flushable wet wipes now but they’re a luxury. ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-butt-cleaning-toilet-attachments-not-more-popular-in-america-the-west/680727/45 "2014-02-07T17:23:20Z")
I do kind of want to try it, just because the converts are so enthusiastic. But at this time, I still consider bidets as one of those solutions in search of a problem. Maybe if I pooped peanut butter, I would need this more, but I don’t. Apparently my diet keeps me on the dryer/less sticky side. I do not have skid marks. I don’t have problems. Why do I need this again? ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-butt-cleaning-toilet-attachments-not-more-popular-in-america-the-west/680727/46 "2014-02-07T17:38:31Z")
> [@bldysabba](#): > > It really isn’t hard. Try it and see. There may be a learning curve, although I don’t think so. Human proprioception is more than equal to the task of pointing a jet of water at your own backside. Especially when it becomes something you do everyday. > > And cmon. do you have a shower in your house that runs both hot and cold water? Is it that hard to imagine that a hand shower next to your WC could have a similar setup? Then it would have to have a mixer valve, like faucets and showers do, and get water from both hot and cold lines. It would be easier just to have an electric heater with adjustable temperature like the Toto Washlet. Your responses seem a little strange to me. You say you want to find out why more people don’t have these things. My first answer is I never saw or heard of anything like that in your first link before this thread. You say you want information, but you belittle every reason given, and just say “try it a few times, you’ll like it.” In the meantime you have no idea how plumbing actually works. How can one “try it a few times” without actually installing one? What is really going on here? Roddy ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-butt-cleaning-toilet-attachments-not-more-popular-in-america-the-west/680727/47 "2014-02-07T17:44:35Z")
> [@spazurek](#): > > I can’t believe I’m the only one who has mentioned this… > > If I saw an attachment next to toilet that other people had used to spray their anus, I wouldn’t touch it with a 10-foot pole. Pathogen playground. Even if I had exclusive use of it, I’d be wary. > > That’s aside from all the practical issues: (1) Water temp – either it’s freezing cold, or it’s warm but god forbid someone flush the toilet downstairs!!; (2) Accidentally dousing myself while on the toilet, as I’m a spaz (see username); (3) Yeah, a water toy in the bathroom for use by my son and all his friends. > > I’m a skilled wiper. (Seriously, ask me for tips!). Works for me. In Japan the toilets in many fancy hotels have this. And the spray arm isn’t next to the toilet; it’s built into the toilet bowl itself. It took some getting used to, but I liked it. As for the temperature, that wasn’t an issue. I’m not sure how it was done, but the temperature of the spray responded instantly to any adjustment I made on the control. It was a super-fancy, high-tech, electronic toilet, with many other features beyond the spray wash. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-butt-cleaning-toilet-attachments-not-more-popular-in-america-the-west/680727/48 "2014-02-07T18:14:21Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > … It was a super-fancy, high-tech, electronic toilet, with many other features beyond the spray wash. Hmmm… if it is a dishwasher too …! ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-butt-cleaning-toilet-attachments-not-more-popular-in-america-the-west/680727/49 "2014-02-07T18:27:03Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > In Japan the toilets in many fancy hotels have this. And the spray arm isn’t next to the toilet; it’s built into the toilet bowl itself. > > It took some getting used to, but I liked it. As for the temperature, that wasn’t an issue. I’m not sure how it was done, but the temperature of the spray responded instantly to any adjustment I made on the control. It was a super-fancy, high-tech, electronic toilet, with many other features beyond the spray wash. It was probably a Toto Washlet or something similar (they have a lot of different brands and models to choose from). They are _de rigeur_ in hotels, and most homes have them as well. Roddy ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-butt-cleaning-toilet-attachments-not-more-popular-in-america-the-west/680727/50 "2014-02-07T18:30:43Z")
> [@spazurek](#): > > I can’t believe I’m the only one who has mentioned this… > > If I saw an attachment next to toilet that other people had used to spray their anus, I wouldn’t touch it with a 10-foot pole. Pathogen playground. Even if I had exclusive use of it, I’d be wary. That’s the first thing I thought of. No way I’d touch the thing. And the communal towel to wipe your butt next to the toilet??? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-butt-cleaning-toilet-attachments-not-more-popular-in-america-the-west/680727/51 "2014-02-07T18:31:50Z")
I’ve kind of wondered this myself. I just installed one last year after spending some time in India and getting quite used to them. They really cut down on my toilet paper usage and I feel a lot cleaner. They are great. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-butt-cleaning-toilet-attachments-not-more-popular-in-america-the-west/680727/52 "2014-02-07T19:01:59Z")
> [@spazurek](#): > > Woah, are you serious? If you wipe the anus with a towel, however well-washed the anus might be, there will be pathogens on said towel. > > Are these multiple-use anus towels?? I can imagine few things more disgusting and dangerous. They do make [fancy paper towel](http://lmlifestyledesign.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/disposable-guest-towels.jpg)s for bathrooms … do what my mom tended to do and salt the trash bin with one that was obviously used to dry hands [or butt in this case] with a little note that the paper towels were to be disposed of in the trash can. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-butt-cleaning-toilet-attachments-not-more-popular-in-america-the-west/680727/53 "2014-02-07T19:25:10Z")
Wait a minute, you people wash your own asses!? What do you pay your servants for? Sheesh! ---
**Author:** ![bldysabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@bldysabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bldysabba)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-butt-cleaning-toilet-attachments-not-more-popular-in-america-the-west/680727/54 "2014-02-07T19:28:57Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > Then it would have to have a mixer valve, like faucets and showers do, and get water from both hot and cold lines. It would be easier just to have an electric heater with adjustable temperature like the Toto Washlet. > > Your responses seem a little strange to me. You say you want to find out why more people don’t have these things. My first answer is I never saw or heard of anything like that in your first link before this thread. You say you want information, but you belittle every reason given, and just say “try it a few times, you’ll like it.” In the meantime you have no idea how plumbing actually works. How can one “try it a few times” without actually installing one? What is really going on here? > Roddy What’s going on is the reason sounds like a weak rationalisation rather than any actual analysis of the product. Look at all the responses from people who’ve tried it, including your own, and compare them with those who haven’t. This thread has unfortunately turned into something quite different from what I was hoping for, and perhaps I’m to blame. I think I was actually hoping that someone with a good understanding of both the product and the culture would offer insight. Perhaps I framed things wrongly in the OP and the rest of the thread has devolved into a little bit of the usual “Your method is stupid” “No it aint” back and forth. ---
**Author:** ![bldysabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@bldysabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bldysabba)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-butt-cleaning-toilet-attachments-not-more-popular-in-america-the-west/680727/55 "2014-02-07T19:30:24Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I’ve kind of wondered this myself. I just installed one last year after spending some time in India and getting quite used to them. They really cut down on my toilet paper usage and I feel a lot cleaner. They are great. Where do you live(roughly, if you don’t mind me asking). What do you do about the cold water problem? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-butt-cleaning-toilet-attachments-not-more-popular-in-america-the-west/680727/56 "2014-02-07T19:31:29Z")
Yeah, and I don’t have some special warm water/cold water thing. It just runs into the same waterline that goes to the tank. Never been an issue. Temp’s fine. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-butt-cleaning-toilet-attachments-not-more-popular-in-america-the-west/680727/57 "2014-02-07T19:32:52Z")
> [@bldysabba](#): > > Where do you live(roughly, if you don’t mind me asking). What do you do about the cold water problem? (My last post was actually before your question, even though it coincidentally addresses it.) I’m in Chicago. The cold water does not affect me at all as in, I don’t notice it at all. Maybe I just don’t have a sensitive arsehole. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![bldysabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@bldysabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bldysabba)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-butt-cleaning-toilet-attachments-not-more-popular-in-america-the-west/680727/58 "2014-02-07T20:16:47Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > (My last post was actually before your question, even though it coincidentally addresses it.) > > I’m in Chicago. The cold water does not affect me at all as in, I don’t notice it at all. Maybe I just don’t have a sensitive arsehole. 😉 Heh. It doesn’t bother me at all either. Since you’ve wondered at the question yourself, what are your thoughts on the matter? You are, presumably, a cultural native, brought up TP only before switching. It’d be nice to hear your thoughts on why these things aren’t more popular. As evidenced by responses in this thread, everyone who has actually tried both systems prefers one to the other, but there’s clearly some sort of cultural inertia at work, but also a potentially large untapped market. How come there’s no company out there aggressively marketing these things? One reason I figured was it’s too much of a commodity. You’d spend a lot in trying to convince people that this was a worthwhile switch, and then they’d just buy whatever was convenient/cheap. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-butt-cleaning-toilet-attachments-not-more-popular-in-america-the-west/680727/59 "2014-02-07T20:24:10Z")
> [@bldysabba](#): > > Heh. It doesn’t bother me at all either. Since you’ve wondered at the question yourself, what are your thoughts on the matter? You are, presumably, a cultural native, brought up TP only before switching. It’d be nice to hear your thoughts on why these things aren’t more popular. As evidenced by responses in this thread, everyone who has actually tried both systems prefers one to the other, but there’s clearly some sort of cultural inertia at work, but also a potentially large untapped market. How come there’s no company out there aggressively marketing these things? One reason I figured was it’s too much of a commodity. You’d spend a lot in trying to convince people that this was a worthwhile switch, and then they’d just buy whatever was convenient/cheap. I don’t know. My guess, and looking through this thread, is that people find it “squicky.” ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-butt-cleaning-toilet-attachments-not-more-popular-in-america-the-west/680727/60 "2014-02-07T20:29:16Z")
> [@August\_West](#): > > Wait a minute, you people wash your own asses!? > > What do you pay your servants for? Sheesh! Well, I don’t, but it’s because I haven’t figured out the three seashells yet. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-butt-cleaning-toilet-attachments-not-more-popular-in-america-the-west/680727.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-butt-cleaning-toilet-attachments-not-more-popular-in-america-the-west/680727.md?page=4)