Explain bidets for me please.

Melatonin@lemmy.dbzer0.com to Asklemmy@lemmy.ml – 216 points –

How do you not drip back onto it? Do you use paper too? How is it okay for me to use the same one right after Typhoid Larry? Doesn't poo go everywhere?

It just seems so weird.

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The actual sprayer nozzle sits towards the back of the bowl and sprays up at an angle so any dripping is going straight down into the bowl not landing on the sprayer nozzle.

It's getting fresh water, not recycling bowl water, I suppose there could be some small risk if Larry has explosive diarrhea all over the nozzle, but its probably no worse than if you have any splashback after using a regular toilet after him. Most of the models I have used also have a self-cleaning feature that will have the nozzle rinse itself (they still do need to be actually cleaned periodically of course)

There is a little bit of splashing, unless you're abnormally small and skinny though most of it is probably just going to get your butt and staying in the toilet, once in a while I'll get a couple drops on the front of the toilet seat and I'm pretty sure that's just over-spray shooting directly between my legs, not poop water splashing off of my ass

I think this is the best response. So many people are answering a seemingly angry way to a question that seems sincere. It's clear OP didn't get how it worked and just wanted some information and wasn't saying it was a terrible idea.

Also a lot of typhoid and stomach flu type pathogens don’t spread butthole to butthole, they spread via the “fecal-oral” route so.. that happens in situations like someone took too small a slice and touches your food (or receipt that you ate to prove they liked your gift) without washing their hands properly.

Okay but are you just using toilet paper to dry afterwards? And does just water actually get it all? You've still got to get in there a bit right?

A few things.

  1. On mine there's a little guard around the sprayer and it peeks down under it when in use. There's also a cleaning mode.
  2. I do use a some toilet paper to dry. Less than I would if I wiped. One day I'll upgrade to one of the fancy units with a dryer.
  3. I don't know about other people but I move around a bit to make sure that the spray gets everything, including "in there a bit". If you dab to dry and your tp has anything other than water on it you didn't do a good enough job spraying.

It depends on your bowel movements and how much fiber you eat. I still have to wipe a little after the water, but far less than without. Others, drying is enough.

After using one for a while now, it seems so uncivilized not using one now.

Most people do, but a couple squares to pat dry is probably less than you'd use otherwise. Some fancier models have blow dryers. Personally, I won't lie, I'm probably going to sit on the toilet for a few minutes scrolling through Lemmy on my phone after I've done my business so I tend to just air/drip dry.

I have some pretty basic models, and they do a pretty good job getting everything clean, they have a pretty powerful jet. Definitely a lot better than I've ever been able to do with TP.

Um...you use more than normal not less. It's not like you want shit splattering all over, wiping is still necessary.

Except you don't, I'm now using damn close to 0 TP since, like I said, I mostly tend to drip dry.

I suppose YMMV depending on the kind of shits you take, and maybe the geometry of your ass or the water pressure of your bidet, maybe your butt is shaped in such a way that stuff is splattering all over, but that certainly has not been my experience.

Okay but are you just using toilet paper to dry afterwards?

Some have built in dyers. Even with it, sometimes it feels a small dab helps some more, but it's not really necessary. Also, that water should be clean at that point... Do you perfectly dry your ass with a towel after showering? Etc

And does just water actually get it all?

Usually. You can also run them more than once. Some have "pressure" settings. Some move back and forth. And you can always check with paper, and see if you need to change something or run another cycle.

You've still got to get in there a bit right?

I've never had to. Occasionally run a second cycle, but no.

Having my ball hair blasted with deflected ass water sounds not so great if I'm being completely honest

My dude, your ball hair lives inches away from your butthole, maybe not even that far depending on how saggy your balls are, how long your hairs are, and how supportive your underwear is. I promise you that nothing that's splashing onto your balls is any worse than what's already there.

Having my ass hair blasted with deflected ass water sounds not so great if I'm being completely honest

Worse than smearing shit all over it with a dry piece of paper and hoping it comes clean?

It’s not that powerful of a jet of water. I mean, I’m sure there is some, but if you’re doing it right, only the parts you want to get wet are getting wet. Besides, the alternative is like using a paper towel to clean peanut butter from a shag carpet.

And the nozzle itself is protected by a little shield so even explosive diarrhea won't get on it

As a lady - it shoots water forward from the back to the front? That seems like a prescription for BV and bladder infections. We had one but it was a handheld sprayer, that was good except in the winter.

Most of the models I have used also have a self-cleaning feature that will have the nozzle rinse itself (they still do need to be actually cleaned periodically of course)

this. the geberit toilet that I have will automatically clean the nozzle before and after use.

many (probs most new ones) have a uv light that's inside the retracted nosel casing which sterilises it between uses, so even typhoid Larry would not be an issue.

There's a lot of options out there, I've seen some really fancy ones with a lot of bells and whistles, but my personal experience is that most of the ones I see people buying and installing are pretty basic mechanical devices hooked up to a water line with no electrical components. Just pieces of plastic and/or metal being acted upon by other pieces of plastic/metal and water pressure.

Most people are retrofitting them into existing bathrooms, often they don't have convenient electrical lines/outlets close enough to their toilet for a clean-looking install and don't care enough to run them, and needing to recharge or replace batteries in their toilet isn't something they're particularly interested in doing (I fall into this category myself)

Personally I have 3 toilets with 3 bidets, all basic cold water models with no other features. None of them have convenient power, I'd have to run a cord to the outlet by the sink, or run a new outlet for them. It's certainly doable in all 3 cases, but more work than I care to put into it, and I'm too stubborn and cheap of a DIY homeowner to hire an electrician for something I could do myself. One of them is close enough to the sink that I could run a hot water line to it without too much bother, but that bathroom is pending a renovation so I'm waiting to see how things look when I get into that before I do it (that bathroom is also furthest from the water heater, so you usually have to run the water for a while before it starts coming out hot from the tap, so kind of less than ideal and maybe not worth it)

On that note, cold water bidets are a little unpleasant at first, but you get used to it really quickly, and if you're kind of a fat sweaty guy like me they're actually pretty refreshing once you're used to them.

yeah we have two toilets, both with bidets, one is a cold water blast retro fit and the other is a fancy Japanese one with power that does everything except buy you dinner afterwards.

I really don't understand the western reluctance for them and their penchant for poo smeared butt holes. one you go bidet it seems primitive to do anything else.

My toilet bidet, the nozzle is covered when not spraying.you can still use a toilet brush and everything.