How do you begin a discussion about bidets? If you don't know what they are or have never seen one in person, you might be a little surprised by the idea. They have been used in countries around the world for over three centuries as a way to clean up after going to the bathroom. In some European countries, you will see both bidets and toilets in hotels, although this is becoming rarer in recent years. Asian countries have adopted bidets as a way of keeping clean without the hassle and expense of toilet paper, and as a way to help the environment as well.
So, you may be asking yourself if now is the time to look into bidets for your own bathroom. There aren't a lot of American families that own one of these, although some of the biggest stars are claiming that they use them regularly as a way of being “green”, and using less toilet paper.
In reality, they can result in you using less toilet paper, but then again you are using more water, so the decision is really yours. Some people like the convenience and the feeling of the bidet, while others actually use it for other functions like washing their feet! What you end up using it for will be your own business!
If you ask your local handyman who will be helping you with your bathroom remodel if he knows a good place to get bidets, he will probably have no idea what you are talking about. And, quite honestly, most people who walk into your home won't know what it is, how to work it, or what it's for. But, if you have a desire to have one in your bathroom, they are available.
Most large home improvement stores do not carry bidets, although they can sometimes special order them. You will usually have to look online or in bathroom specialty stores to find more than one style of bidet from which to choose. Either way, they are available in different styles – both modern and antique-looking – that will fit in with the rest of your bathroom. In most cases, they come in white to match most standard toilets, but they are also available in other colors.
Installing a bidet will require additional plumbing as it needs access to both a water line and a drain, but this line can usually be drawn directly from the toilet, next to which it usually sits. A plumber should have no problem installing it, although he may be wondering what it is for!
Believe it or not, there are actually high-tech bidets that offer a variety of functions. You can have an electronically heated seat, or water that is warmed to your liking, both of which would require the help of more than a plumber to install. But for the discriminating bathroom lover, this is a nice addition to a home, and one that will certainly keep conversation going when company comes to the house!
