Bidet
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A bidet is a low-mounted plumbing fixture or type of sink intended for washing the external genitalia and the anus.
A French word originally, in English bidet is pronounced (IPA): [bɨˈdeɪ] (US), [ˈbiːdeɪ] (UK).
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[edit] History
Bidet is a French word for pony (and in Old French, bider meant to trot). This etymology comes from the fact that one bestrides or rides a bidet much like one does a pony.
The bidet appears to have been an invention of French furniture makers in the late 17th or early 18th century, although no exact date or inventor is known. Theories exist that its inventor is Christophe Des Rosiers, furniture maker of the French Royal Family. The earliest written reference to the bidet is in 1710.
By 1900, thanks to plumbing improvements, the bidet (and chamber pot) moved from the bedroom to the bathroom.
1960 saw the introduction of the electronic bidet, an attachment which connects on to existing toilet arrangements - ideal for bathrooms lacking the space for a separate bidet and toilet.
[edit] Usage
Bidets are primarily used to wash and clean the external genitalia and the anus, as well as the skin near these areas. They may also be used to clean any other part of the body; they are very convenient for cleaning the feet, for example. Despite appearing similar to a toilet, it would be more accurate to compare it to the washbasin or bathtub. In fact, the bidet makes an excellent baby bath. Anyone who has mobility problems and finds it difficult to get into a bathtub, or is afraid of slipping in the shower, may find a bidet an excellent solution for maintaining personal hygiene.
Users who are unfamiliar with bidets often confuse a bidet with a urinal, toilet, or even a drinking fountain. The user should use the toilet before using the bidet; its purpose is to wash afterwards. It is generally understood you should sit on a bidet facing the tap and nozzle to clean the genitalia or with your back to the tap and wall to clean the anus.
Bidets are made in several different designs. They may have one tap which pours (usually warm) water into a china basin. The basin can be plugged and filled if necessary, or the water can be allowed to drain away. Other bidets have a nozzle which propels an arc of water up into the air. This jet of water is angled to easily attain the perianal and genital area.
A bidet may also be a nozzle attached to an existing toilet, or a part of the toilet itself. In this case, its use is restricted to cleaning the anus and genitals. Some bidets of this type have two nozzles, the shorter one, called the family nozzle, is used for washing the area around the anus, and the longer one (bidet nozzle) is designed for women to wash their vulvae. These bidets are often controlled electronically rather than with a traditional tap, and some have an element under the seat which heats up to dry the user after washing. These bidet toilets are becoming increasingly popular in countries like India, where use of just dry toilet paper to clean the perianal area is considered dirty and unhygienic; however, the nozzle is controlled with an external tap within the reach of the hand. Traditionally, local style squatting toilets have been more common in India and are more convenient to most Indians, especially of the lower generation. But with the rise of westernization, western style pots have started becoming more common, and the most convenient way to wash the perianal area with these pots is simply to attach a bidet nozzle.
Using a bidet is generally more hygienic than toilet paper. However, most people usually use both, wiping with toilet paper before washing with the bidet.
Bidets are very useful for the elderly or anyone with mobility problems and for people with hemorrhoids.
People usually use toilet paper or a small towel that they hung next to the bidet, and is usually changed daily, for drying.
Bidets are common bathroom fixtures in some European countries (especially Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal), some Latin American countries (especially Argentina and Uruguay; there they are found in approximately 90% of households), the Middle East and some parts of Asia (particularly in India). Oddly enough, though France is the country where the word bidet originated, not every house is equipped with one, especially the smaller or cheaper flats. The bidet seems to be losing popularity and, though everyone knows what a bidet is and how one should use it, it is today regarded as optional. In 1980 the first "paperless toilet" was launched in Japan, a combination toilet and bidet which also dries the user after washing. Combination toilet-bidets are particularly popular in Japan, found in approximately 60% of households. They are commonly found in hotels and even some public facilities. These bidet-toilets, along with toilet seat/bidet units (to convert an existing toilet) are sold in many countries including the United States. For details see toilets in Japan.
Residents of countries where bidets in private homes are rare, may be totally unfamiliar with bidets and have no idea how to use them if they encounter them (while travelling abroad for example). It is said that many American men first encountered bidets in French brothels during WWII and thought they were designed for the prostitutes to douche (inside the vagina) after sexual intercourse. It is not uncommon for people who have never used bidets to think that there is something strange or even dirty about them upon seeing one for the first time. These attitudes may be difficult for bidet manufacturers to dispel if it is taboo to discuss toilet habits and personal hygiene in public, as is the case in many cultures and sub-groups of society.
In contrast, residents of countries where the bidet is found in almost every private residence, find it difficult to change their habits when they travel in countries where bidets are rare. The only alternatives to a bidet in such cases is to use the bathtub or a showerhead (if it can reach the toilet). In countries where the bidet is common, people quite often think that those who don't use a bidet are dirty and that it is disgusting to have sexual intercourse with a person who doesn't use a bidet.
Bidet attachments are sometimes included on hospital toilets because of their utility in maintaining hygiene. Currently in the US, bidets are not popular due in part to their cost ($400+). It should be noted, however, that in countries where the bidet is very common, the prices are much lower. In Italy, for example, the price for a bidet seldom exceeds €200, and it is not uncommon to find bidets priced as low as €40, especially in do-it-yourself stores. An alternative, in the USA, would be buying a bidet attachment for regular American toilets. The Bidet attachments are becoming an affordable way for individuals and families to experience increased hygiene from the use of a Bidet seat. Many Bidet retailers now offer bidet attachments that range from $79 to $650. As with any item, the more bells and whistles, the higher the price.
The Bidet attachments are also becoming more popular with the aging community. Many within this community are finding that water is much more effective than toilet paper. Also the technical advancements of the bidet attachments are allowing users a hands free toileting experience. For example, a company called Bio-Bidet makes a bidet seat attachment that includes a remote control. It also includes an air dryer that particularly benefits any individual with limited mobility either due to disease, accident or obesity.
