What's wrong with bidets?

I've only stayed in hotels (long long ago!) that had bidets, but I never knew how to use them. Do you sit on it or squat hovering over it, and do you sit forwards (like on the lav) or face the wall? I think I just brought a chair in and sat soaking my aching feet in it!

I suppose there might be room in my bathroom, but I prefer the bookcase I've got there!

I had a bidet in my bathroom from the moment I was able to make my own decisions in my own property - and insisted on an upward fountain type which really does the job of washing for a woman - however when I moved to my London address the bathroom just wasn't large enough to accommodate a bidet and I really really missed it - having moved again I still have a bathroom which can't take a bidet - I wonder whether it's because men don't use bidets as much as women that houses are designed with tiny bathrooms that don't cater for women's needs

Just love bidets. We lived in France for twenty years, and,"Biddie" came with the house we bought there. When our GP friend came to stay, she was enchanted with Biddie's versatility; saying that if the Government's Building Standards Minister could see what she saw on her daily round of, 'geriatric house calls', bidets would become compulsory for all new-builds, and care homes.
When we returned to UK, my husband, who had Dementia, became doubly incontinent; and then how I missed Biddie's warm and gentle help with the inevitable mopping- up!

They are still quite common in good hotels in Spain and Portugal, (less so in France these days) and sometimes found in Italy too. You are usually provided with flannels and towels just for bidet use (already hanging up or folded by the bidet) so hygiene should not be a problem.
We have had one at home for years, updating through at least three bathroom refurbs; I would never be without one. We also have a separate towel hanger for the bidet towel.
And if/when we move and there is no bidet in place we would re-do the bathroom to fit one in, as a priority. They are just incredibly useful for all the purposes others have stated above.
I also particularly like mine for a good long foot-soak when my feet are tired and aching. So refreshing , with the right Radox salts or whatever. (I'm not a fan of baths and we have a large walk-in shower instead but you don't always want to get wet all over!)

Some of our family live in Lincolnshire where bidets are are very much in use. A lot of the rural properties seem to have really big bathrooms so there is plenty of space to house them. Maybe they just have a penchant for them in that area! The only other time I have seen them is when I lived in Germany in the 70s and I think most people seemed to have them then.

I had a bidet which I used before bed and during periods. Then we had the bathroom redesigned to include a shower and bath separate so could not keep the bidet. We compromised by having a hose on the side of the loo so I can wash down there any time but not my feet!!!

I have just come back from Japan where they have all singing and dancing loos but I am not great on technology so am happy with my hose and its shower head.

By the way, it is the norm in Italy to have a bidet and the bad news is that we Westerners are considered a bit shocking because we don't use them.

Whatever your opinion on bidets, sadly many of us in the UK have no choice but to live in such a small house that there's simply no room for this luxurious item.

I have an 'upwards shower' bidet but when I wanted to replace it with a more modern one I found that the upward shower style is now banned. I kept the old one.

Have always had a bidet in each bathroom. Marvellous!

There have been bidets in a couple of houses when we moved in. They were not replaced when we had better bathrooms installed. I don't believe I'm a grubby person but a good shower does the trick - or am I on my own here?

They are more common than many people believe. We've had one in our previous home but not at present because of space and plumbing problems. I believe that having so many French people employed in the UK has made a difference in perceptions.

I'm still not convinced. And how come you are sitting in the bidet? I've never seen one that is big enough - and even if it was, how would you get in and out? (With a lot of grunting and preferably with the use of pulleys?)

I have been reminded of the tip the midwife gave me after my first birth: An old-fashioned jug of warm water beside the loo, which you poured down over your "bits" to wash afterwards. Found that quite helpful. And no water squirting off in all directions.

This thread is making me .

Firstly, it has spawned TMI in some of the replies. Secondly - A Bidet in Every Bathroom! Soon come the TV series ...

I would love to have a bidet at home but my bathroom is too small. My husband and I used to own a villa in Spain which had a bidet, loved using it, now sold. I often wonder why the UK doesn't have these like other countries. Shame.

I suggested this for our new bathroom but was poo pooed (pardon the pun) by all the family who said no-one has them these days and they are quite unnecessary. I dont find a shower washes you in quite the right direction. And do you all have separate towels for drying your bottom after a shower??!! If not why is a bidet dfferent? From what I recall a flannel is not needed - but Im thinking of the upward fountain type. What do the new ones do?

Is an upward squirt of water healthy? I always think of embolisms or something. I've never used a bidet, but enjoyed reading about them here. They sound great!

It's only a gentle warmish fountain - lovely! Not a hard squirt!

Ah, ok. I think my imagination got the better of me there

My father had one installed in our bathroom way back in 1966. My mother thought he was being stupid and was very critical as I recall!

I'm think lemongrove has hit the nail on the head; we simply don't have room for them in our UK bathrooms. I would love to have a bidet in my bathroom but it's far too small. I've only ever seen them whilst holiday abroad. Perhaps we have a bit of a bum phobia in this country.

We had a bidet in a previous house, but I could never get the water temperature right and nearly boiled myself several times! I once heard my small son explaining its use to a friend and telling him 'Look, you can get it to spray the ceiling!' Yes, it was dripping when I went in there!

A friend went to stay with friends in the US and came across an upwards fountain bidet.
Absolutely thrilled by this they decided to film it.
She sat (wouldn't work if there wasn't a bottom on it) then jumped off so he could get a video. Unfortunately it flooded the room and they had to come up with a reason why the towels were soaking wet!! Normal for Norfolk?

I had one in my last house but can't say I've felt the lack of it since I downsized.