If you've ever had the pleasure of using a toilet seat bidet, or some other form of bidet, chances are cleaning after yourself was a much more pleasant experience. Although common in countries like Japan, the bidet trend has only started gaining traction in Singapore over the past few years. Even so, only newer homes tend to have them, while you'll be hard-pressed to find bidets in public spaces, such as shopping malls. In all actuality, bidets should be more widely used, as studies have shown. Not only do they come with various health and environmental benefits, they are also available in different types to suit each individual's preferences in the bathroom. If this concept is new to you, read on to find out what exactly a toilet bidet is, and how it benefits you and enhances your bathroom experience.
What is a Bidet?
It's entirely possible that you might have used a bidet before but hadn't realised what it was. A bidet is essentially a fixture in your bathroom that sprays water onto your private areas to clean them after doing your business. Bidets come in different shapes and sizes - from automatic toilet bidets, to smart toilet bidets, to even toilet seat bidets. There are also bidets resembling a toilet bowl or a sink that can be found in some hotel bathrooms.
Benefits of Using a Bidet
There are multiple benefits that come with using a bidet to clean up after yourself, most of which are quite apparent. For one, it's cleaner and more hygienic than using just toilet paper, even more so when you use soap to go along with water from the bidet.
While using an automatic toilet bidet, your hands are not as likely to come into contact with fecal matter as when you're reaching down to wipe yourself. This also minimises the spread of bacteria from said fecal matter to other parts of your body.
Studies have also shown that proper usage of bidets with low-to-medium warm water pressure can relieve pressure on the anus, thus minimising the risk of haemorrhoids. Given that a high percentage of men are prone to this, a bidet could prove to be a timely and necessary investment.
On a more environmental and perhaps economical side of things, bidets help minimise the usage of toilet paper, which not only cuts down paper consumption around the world, but also saves you money as you no longer need to buy rolls and rolls of toilet paper. Additionally, TOTO's Air-in Wonderwave technology featured in their smart toilet bathroom bidets and toilet seat bidets delivers a more thorough cleaning with lesser water consumption.
Maintaining the Bidet
Arguably the most important thing to take note of is the maintenance of the bidet, especially if the bathroom is shared. Due to the close contact that the bidet has with a person's private areas, it's important to ensure the cleanliness of the bidet, preferably after every use. If that sounds like a hassle, consider getting a smart toilet bidet, which often comes with self-sanitising features, giving you a peace of mind.
If you'd rather clean it manually, simply remove the bidet and the toilet lid, and wipe both parts with a soft, damp cloth and a mild cleanser. Ultimately, it's just a little inconvenience for a whole slew of benefits that could change your bathroom experience forever!
For more information on the different types of bidets available and an in-depth explanation of the technology they utilise, check out TOTO WASHLET here.