Why a Bidet Is Better Than Toilet Paper

One of the most real and memorable events since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic was the nationwide toilet paper shortage.

In the year When lockdown restrictions came into effect in March 2020 and citizens were told to stock up on essentials, many people immediately went to their nearest supermarkets to stock up on toilet paper, creating severe shortages that lasted for months. However, others decided to do something smarter instead – they bought auctions.

In a CNN article¹ James Lin, founder of bidetking.com, a site that sells a variety of bidets and accessories, said they sold all of their bidets during the pandemic, which helped their business grow significantly. And every year their sales grow from at least 20% to 30%, which indicates that the awareness of this convenient bathroom device is increasing.

The origin of the bidet – an invention of the 18th century

A bidet works by directing a small stream of water around your nether region to clean out the remaining stool after a bowel movement. Although there is still some debate among historians about the exact origin of the bidet, many lean towards the French as the main inventors of this device.²

The name “bidet” (pronounced “bee-day”) is French for “pony” and was created in 1710 by a French publisher. When using the ancient designs of this bathroom installation, it refers to the amount of space required – like a horse installation. The first auctions were handcrafted ceramic or earthenware bowls supported by wooden legs.

Interestingly, the bidet was mostly used by the nobility. In addition to their chamber pot, as a separate piece of furniture, they typically have a bidet.³ Many Bidets According to the Blog:⁴

After finishing their business, the French rich would sit in a beautiful mahogany chair and clean paintings in a bowl.

This is one of the first beautifully designed toilets in history. Until then, even the richest kings and queens in the world had to use traditional stone or wooden toilets and were lucky if they had extra water for plumbing.

Napoleon Bonaparte brought his own bidet with him on all his travels. It was made of silver, as opposed to clay, silver acts as a natural anti-microbial, maintaining cleanliness and hygiene.⁵

Today, bidet designs have come a long way. While traditional freestanding units still exist, modern versions can now be attached directly to your toilet. Some are simple hand sprays, inexpensive and allow you to point the nozzle at the area you want to clean. Other more sophisticated, fully automatic varieties boast features such as a motion-sensing lid, automatic rinsing, adjustable water pressure and/or temperature, and odor-neutralizing capabilities.

But although bidets are mainstream in many European countries, most Americans are yet to catch up with this trend; Still, there is progress on this as many American adults, especially younger generations, have a growing interest in this cleaning tool.

Americans Are ‘Wonderful But Curious’ About Bidets

Study of 2022⁶ Bemis, a manufacturer of bidets and accessories, commissioned a commission from Bio Bidet, even though Americans may not be familiar with bidets, but now Americans are growing interested in them. The survey, which included more than 1,000 respondents, found that 12% were knowledgeable about auctions, while 71% had never used one. However, notice that:⁷

• 60% prefer to buy from a non-viable token (NFT) bid.
• 45% have recently done some research on different bidet options
• 44% agree that auctions are a “beautiful and luxurious” addition to the bathroom.
• 60% avoid using public bathrooms to flush; 41% would like to see auctions in more public bathrooms

In addition, younger age groups are more likely to associate auctions with wealth and cleanliness, while older people say auctions are “out of the ordinary.” Younger Americans were also more likely to use a bidet. James Amburgey, Business Unit Development Director at Bio Bidet at Beamis, says:

“Bidets are superior hygiene and environmental solutions, that’s why we love them so much. This survey shows that although Americans don’t know much about bidets, their associations are positive – especially among the younger generations.”⁸

Using a bidet gives you a clean and refreshing feeling

But what’s so good about bidets anyway? Think of it this way: Do you simply wipe the bottom of your shoe with toilet paper when you accidentally step on a dog poop? Or do you wash the pumpkin to make sure all the residue is removed? No doubt you will agree to the second option.

A bidet works the same way; Instead of just wiping the bottom with paper, it applies a gentle but pressurized stream of water to remove any remaining feces. This is very different from using toilet paper, which has a dry, rough texture that can irritate your skin (where the skin is more sensitive), especially if it’s made aggressively. Commenting on the HuffPost article,⁹ Health and wellness expert Dr. Farhan Malik says:

“Direct use of water for post-toilet cleaning removes residual feces better than toilet paper. This prevents skin irritation and inflammation in the genital area. A gentle and targeted spray of water reduces excessive wiping and tugging, which can lead to discomfort.”

In some parts of Europe it is common to have a “bead towel” in the bathroom. Basically, it’s a washable, reusable towel that’s only used to dry yourself after a bidet shower. It usually hangs from the bidet (away from hand towels) and eliminates the need to use toilet paper.

“Bidet users frequently report improved cleanliness and hygiene. In general, bidet users emphasize feeling refreshed and rejuvenated after using the device.” Malik says.¹⁰

Using a bidet also eliminates the risk of getting fecal matter on your hands. study in 2022¹¹ Japanese researchers have found that the number of microorganisms transferred to the hands after cleaning is significantly lower when cleaning with a bidet compared to wiping with toilet paper. According to the study:

“The contamination of hands with faecal contamination after toileting can cause infections such as norovirus gastroenteritis, hepatitis A, salmonella infections, severe Clostridium difficile infections, and enterohemorrhagic E.

For example, there have been outbreaks caused by food handlers who were infected or asymptomatically infected with norovirus and did not adequately wash or disinfect their hands after using the bathroom and then handled food. In most cases, common diarrhea outbreaks are usually mainly due to the contamination of the hands.

A basic understanding of how pathogens are spread from the fecal-oral route, the importance of maintaining hand hygiene after toileting, and preventing contamination of hands after toileting are important. as much as possible.

In this study, the use of a bidet toilet was found to be effective in reducing microbial contamination of the fingers after toileting. We present evidence that the bidet toilet is effective in preventing intestinal infections.¹²

There is nothing sanitary or eco-friendly about toilet paper.

Did you know that people use 42 million tons of toilet paper every year, equivalent to 184 billion rubles? To produce this much, 712 million trees are cut down, 1,165 million tons of water and 78 million tons of oil are used.¹³ This means that forests are being destroyed and millions of animals have lost their homes, all to create a product that goes down the toilet.

Moreover, the toilet paper is thrown away to make it look “clean”. Normally, paper made from wood is brown and turns yellow over time, but to prevent this from happening, the paper industry uses chlorine and chlorine dioxide to clean toilet paper.

As a result, carcinogenic chemicals such as furans and dioxins are created. Every time these materials are flushed down your toilet, they contaminate not only waterways, but the soil, air and food supply. According to data from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):¹⁴

“Dioxins and furans can cause a number of health problems. The most well-known members of the dioxin/furan family are 2,3,7,8 TCDD. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has stated that it is a possible cause of cancer in people who are also exposed to dioxins and furans. People experience changes in hormone levels.

A large amount of dioxin caused a skin disease called chloraquine. Animal studies have shown that animals exposed to dioxins and flavonoids have experienced changes in their hormone systems, changes in fetal development, reduced fertility, and suppression of their immune systems.

There are ‘forever chemicals’ hidden in the toilet

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFAS) are endocrine-disrupting chemicals widely used in manufacturing processes. Also known as “forever chemicals”, these are used commercially due to their dirt, water and oil resistant properties.

However, PFAS have been linked to a variety of health problems, including hormonal and metabolic disturbances. In addition, birth, growth and development interventions were found in young children.¹⁵ PFAS are now everywhere, so it’s no surprise that toilet paper contains these toxic chemicals.

2023 study¹⁶ He looked at how toilet paper use contributes to PFAS in wastewater. The researchers analyzed toilet paper and wastewater sludge for 34 different PFASs and found six types in the toilet paper samples. These include:

“6:2 fluorotelomer phosphate ester (6:2 diPAP) was the most prevalent PFAS in toilet paper and wastewater sludge, and toilet paper use is estimated to contribute 6.4 to 80 μg/person/year of 6:2 diPAP to wastewater. – Water systems Our results indicate that toilet paper should enter wastewater treatment systems as a major source of PFAS. The researchers said.¹⁷

Just recently, Mamavation reported on PFAS contamination in toilet paper. They tested different brands for PFAS and found that 4 out of 17 products contained traces of these perennial chemicals. You can read more about their report This article.

A Bidet provides superior cleaning and comfort

It’s clear that bids are on the way to a more hygienic and eco-friendly bathroom routine, but many people are still on the fence about adopting this habit. One reason is that they are concerned about the water splashing on your bottom – it can splash on the floor or on your clothes, which can cause problems.

However, this is a basic problem with a simple solution; You just need to make a small adjustment to your bidet unit to avoid creating a mess. This should not be a problem if you follow proper bathroom etiquette.

Still, these minor drawbacks don’t matter when you consider the long-term benefits of a bidet. Also, with the money you save from buying toilet paper, one auction will pay for itself in a short time. You can rest easy knowing you’re helping to save valuable environmental resources while reducing pollution.

“Usually, bidet sales are word-of-mouth. If someone converts to the new bathroom cleaning method, their friends and family will want to join the club. And many of those customers become established rather than transient.” CNN notes.¹⁸

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