# Why don't we use bidets in the US? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 19, 2014, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-use-bidets-in-the-us/695925 "2014-08-19T18:49:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-use-bidets-in-the-us/695925/1 "2014-08-19T18:49:54Z")
They’re awesome. Also, you use less paper. Isn’t that a good thing? ---
**Author:** ![Caffeine.addict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f475e1/32.png) [@Caffeine.addict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caffeine.addict)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-use-bidets-in-the-us/695925/2 "2014-08-19T18:56:48Z")
Because, we like to wallow in our own filth. 😃 In all seriousness, I think that our houses aren’t plumbed for it, and it would be hard to fit a bidet in a smaller bathroom. I’ve thought about installing a washlet as a bidet replacement. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-use-bidets-in-the-us/695925/3 "2014-08-19T19:05:56Z")
Doesn’t water just spread around the germs more? ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-use-bidets-in-the-us/695925/4 "2014-08-19T19:37:09Z")
I suspect it may have something to do with the fact the US was originally colonized by Great Britain and the bidet is generally found in France and Southern Europe. Is it common to see them in Canada? ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-use-bidets-in-the-us/695925/5 "2014-08-19T20:10:39Z")
My folks have one and it’s awesome. It’s fits in tiny bathroom. Seems clean to me. ---
**Author:** ![percypercy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8baadc/32.png) [@percypercy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/percypercy)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-use-bidets-in-the-us/695925/6 "2014-08-19T20:12:37Z")
I first saw a bidet in my friend’s house. Her family is from Pakistan(originally a British colony.) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-use-bidets-in-the-us/695925/7 "2014-08-19T20:14:34Z")
> [@MyFootsZZZ](#): > > My folks have one and it’s awesome. It’s fits in tiny bathroom. > > Seems clean to me. _sings_ Ah, bidets are here again. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-use-bidets-in-the-us/695925/8 "2014-08-19T20:20:26Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > _sings_ > Ah, bidets are here again. - slaps **running coach** with a wet trout. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-use-bidets-in-the-us/695925/9 "2014-08-19T20:20:39Z")
> [@MyFootsZZZ](#): > > They’re awesome. > > Also, you use less paper. Isn’t that a good thing? Use less paper, but use more water so it’s a wash. I’m here all week. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-use-bidets-in-the-us/695925/10 "2014-08-19T20:20:44Z")
Tried it, don’t like it, and you still have to wipe. No time savings, not interested. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-use-bidets-in-the-us/695925/11 "2014-08-19T20:54:39Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > I suspect it may have something to do with the fact the US was originally colonized by Great Britain and the bidet is generally found in France and Southern Europe. Is it common to see them in Canada? I’ve been to France twice including this past June. To my utter surprise I didn’t see a single one. Not in the hotel rooms or any public restroom. When we were in northern Italy 2 years ago they were absolutely everywhere. There wasn’t one restroom in any hotel room or business that didn’t have one. ---
**Author:** ![jayrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@jayrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayrey)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-use-bidets-in-the-us/695925/12 "2014-08-19T21:04:12Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Use less paper, but use more water so it’s a wash. > I’m here all week. :takes wet trout from \*\*cochrane \*\*and slaps \*\*madmonk28 \*\*with it: ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-use-bidets-in-the-us/695925/13 "2014-08-19T21:25:18Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > I suspect it may have something to do with the fact the US was originally colonized by Great Britain and the bidet is generally found in France and Southern Europe. Is it common to see them in Canada? I’ve lived in Canada all my life and have visited other parts of Canada, and never seen a bidet anywhere in Canada. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-use-bidets-in-the-us/695925/14 "2014-08-19T21:41:55Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > I’ve been to France twice including this past June. To my utter surprise I didn’t see a single one. Not in the hotel rooms or any public restroom. > > When we were in northern Italy 2 years ago they were absolutely everywhere. There wasn’t one restroom in any hotel room or business that didn’t have one. Well…it is a French word but yeah, now that you mention it, I don’t recall seeing any in France. Italy, yes like you said - _everywhere_. I also saw them in hotels in Belgium and Spain. I don’t recall if our hotel in Amsterdam had one. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-use-bidets-in-the-us/695925/15 "2014-08-19T21:45:34Z")
Could it somehow be related to frequency of bathing—i.e. bidets are more prevalent in cultures where people customarily don’t bathe or shower as often? ---
**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 19, 2014, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-use-bidets-in-the-us/695925/16 "2014-08-19T21:57:17Z")
I made room for one when my current home was in the planning stages. Use it all the time and think it’s great. Look ma , no skid marks! ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-use-bidets-in-the-us/695925/17 "2014-08-19T22:01:34Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > I suspect it may have something to do with the fact the US was originally colonized by Great Britain and the bidet is generally found in France and Southern Europe. Is it common to see them in Canada? Are they used anywhere else, other than France? ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-use-bidets-in-the-us/695925/18 "2014-08-19T22:13:02Z")
> [@Lukeinva](#): > > Are they used anywhere else, other than France? Washlets are big in Japan, according to my folks. When they remodeled their house my mom insisted on getting a high-end (ha ha ha) toilet, it’s got a built-in bidet with all kinds of settings, warm water, blow dryer and even a remote control (I am not making this up). I’ve tried it, it’s pretty nice. I can see installing one when we redo our bathrooms. And I think the remote control would be great for practical jokes, just keep it handy and wait for someone to go to the bathroom 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Trancephalic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trancephalic/32/380_2.png) [@Trancephalic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trancephalic)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-use-bidets-in-the-us/695925/19 "2014-08-19T22:22:25Z")
Seems superfluous; I just jump in the shower afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-use-bidets-in-the-us/695925/20 "2014-08-19T22:31:55Z")
That just ain’t the way we roll. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-use-bidets-in-the-us/695925.md?page=2)