It's Time for Americans to Get over It and Embrace the Bidet (2015)

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Advocates of bidets argue they dramatically improve cleanliness, comfort, and reduce toilet paper use, with many saying that once adopted, it’s hard to go back to dry wiping. Skeptics raise concerns about hygiene, nozzle contamination, water mess, cold water, installation costs, and basic “how do you use this?” questions, which experienced users counter with practical explanations and comparisons to washing any other soiled body part. The exchange highlights how cultural norms, lack of exposure, and minor infrastructure hurdles — rather than strong technical drawbacks — largely explain why bidets remain uncommon in North America despite widespread enthusiasm from those who adopt them.

Perceived benefits and quality-of-life changes

  • Many commenters call bidets “life-changing”: feel much cleaner, less irritation, far less toilet paper, and no more “endless wiping.”
  • Especially appreciated by people with more body hair or hemorrhoids, and in hot weather.
  • Heated seats, warm water, dryers, and deodorizing filters on high-end models are described as major comfort upgrades.
  • After regular use, going back to plain toilet paper (especially in public restrooms or travel) feels gross or inadequate to many.

Hygiene, cleanliness, and health

  • Common analogy: you wouldn’t clean feces off a hand/face with just dry paper; water is more hygienic.
  • Counterpoint: bidets usually don’t use soap or scrubbing, so some see them as closer to rinsing than full washing; good TP use plus regular showers may be “good enough.”
  • Supporters say bidets reduce fecal residue on skin, underwear, and chairs, and reduce smell and skin irritation.
  • Some note animals often stay clean without this much effort, but others respond that humans wear clothes and don’t lick themselves clean.

Practicalities: installation, cost, and models

  • Electric “washlet” seats can need a nearby outlet and sometimes a dedicated circuit due to built-in water heaters.
  • Many non-electric attachments are cheap (~$25–$40), easy to install on existing toilets, and rely on cold water; several users report cold water is surprisingly fine, sometimes preferable.
  • There are also handheld “health faucets”/spray guns and models that mix hot and cold water if a hot line is nearby.

Usage technique and learning curve

  • Aiming is typically solved within a few uses by adjusting body position or nozzle angle; more advanced units can shift the spray.
  • Most users report minimal splashing outside the bowl because the body forms a seal with the seat.
  • Typical routine: spray for several seconds, then use 1–5 squares of TP (or a towel) mainly to dry and confirm cleanliness.
  • Some Italian-style setups use a separate bidet basin, soap, and a hand wash, then towel drying.

Sanitation and safety concerns

  • Worries include dirty water on the nozzle, bacterial colonization, and aerosolizing feces.
  • Responses: many devices have retractable or self-cleaning nozzles or manual clean modes; some users periodically disinfect them.
  • Limited studies cited show nozzle bacteria in shared/hospital toilets; commenters consider home use risk low but not fully studied.
  • Concerns about water spraying messily around the bowl are mostly described as unfounded in normal use; rare issues arise with very high-pressure handheld sprayers or accidental activation without a person seated.

Cultural barriers and adoption

  • Several argue the main US barrier is unfamiliarity and lack of chances to try one; hotels and public facilities rarely offer them.
  • Visitors to Japan report near-universal availability there and feel “spoiled,” then install bidets at home.
  • Some find the intense focus on anal hygiene odd or unnecessary, or are simply content with showers and TP.
  • A few think if bidets had a more down-to-earth or humorous name, they might have caught on more widely.
  • One commenter notes that if the pandemic TP shortage didn’t trigger a US “bidet revolution,” widespread adoption may be unlikely.

Alternatives and travel solutions

  • Portable bidets (squeezable bottles, collapsible devices, small electric sprayers) are used by enthusiasts while traveling.
  • Handheld bidet sprayers (“bum guns,” “health faucets”) are common in some regions and double as cleaning tools.
  • Some rely on “flushable” wet wipes instead, but others point out these are harmful to sewer systems.
  • A TP-plus-lotion technique is suggested as a partial substitute when no bidet is available.