What's wrong with bidets?

Greyduster that's off my shopping list then! I didn't realise they were that costly.

Hello, Beau! I use loo roll to dry off, no need for flannels or towels.

Lemongrove, we do have room for a bidet, that was the annoying thing for me. And yes, of course, we manage fine without a bidet, but it's just one of those things that some people think is nice to have.

I`ve only ever used a bidet on one Spanish holiday in the mid 80s, have never been anywhere with one since then, but would love one if my bathroom was bigger.

I have an original Roca Spanish bathroom with bidet, from 1973 when the house was built. It got used for the usual purposes, but the very best thing about a bidet is the absolute bliss of sitting with your undercarriage in warm water when you are suffering from cystitis, without having to fill a bath.

My first sight of a bidet was in a old hotel in Nice. It was slap dab in the middle of the room facing two single beds. Room enough to walk around it. I was 19 and on a group tour of Europe with one of my high school friends. To say the least it made my imagination soar! The rest of the facilities were down the hall.

I would love a proper bidet, but have to make do with a portable one like this. I use it to wash down below between baths/showers and also as a final clean after every 'number 2'. I use a soapy hand and dry with a face flannel, a pile of which I have on a handy shelf, used once only.

I have piles and frankly have to use running water to feel clean after defecating. Also in spite of my best efforts to eat roughage, due to a sluggish system, I cannot always poo first thing in the morning, neither do I have a shower every day (waste of water I shower and wash my hair every third day). so I may be fully dressed before going to the loo and it is therefore not practical to use the shower to wash afterwards.
I sometimes use a small jug or empty water bottle to simulate a bidet but often make the floor wet! I find it quite difficult when staying away from home - I usually resort to baby wet wipes, then wash them in hot water in the basin before squeezing out and putting in the rubbish, followed by a good hand wash! . I would love a bidet, but bathroom's not big enough.

Shysal. brilliant solution, thanks

A solution to some of the bidet uses is a hand sprayer which can be plumbed into pipe to cistern. www.the-vu.com/2010/12/wash-don%E2%80%99t-wipe-your-butt/
My husband put one in and though I was dubious at first I find it useful, especially as like starbird I have piles. It saves on toilet paper (important with a septic tank) as only needed for quick dry off.
No good for washing feet but handy for watering plants in bathroom!

Yes I have just found on line, sprays that give a narrow flow for use on the toilet - either a bottle with either hand squeeze or electric control, (small and easily portable for travelling) or ones that can be permanently connected to the bath or sink tap, with a lever to change water flow between the spray or the tap. It can be clipped onto a hook hanging from the cistern when not in use.

I ve never used a bidet or ever been in a bathroom with one I ve never felt dirty I shower every morning as a definite and if I felt the need would shower at night too
I ve got nothing against bidets just lived fine without one blimey I grew up without a bathroom but was never dirty

the first time I used a bidet was 46 years ago, in hospital after giving birth. The nurse asked if I knew how to use it. I felt very sophisticated because I had used one in Paris. I leaned over the bowl and turned the tap, only to find the water came up from the centre like a fountain. I was drenched, but oh the bliss of sitting there with warm water spraying my stitches.

pensionpat oh yes 40 years ago after the birth of my first DS. The relief on stitches made me think, 'What a wonderful invention'. I have never used one since but have often wished I could! Maybe I should try shysal's portable solution.

That brings back memories, Pensionpat!

On the general topic, this is also a cultural issue. Other cultures think that merely wiping your nether regions is disgusting and that you can only truly be clean by washing yourself.

If I had the space I'd definitely have one fitted I did have a one many years ago in my other house I don't understand why anyone would be against them

There are lavatories available now which perform the same function. They are a big help to disabled people and take less space.

I would love a bidet. No chance of one for foreseeable future though. ?

I haven't seen a bidet since visiting my French best friend's family in the mid-60s, but would love it in my dream bathroom. However, more essential is a bath! Ours was taken out when council put in a "wet room" for DH and I hate it. While I like a shower, I would give anything to be able to luxuriate in a long hot soak with lots of bubbles, and ideally a whirlpool. Well, a girl can dream, can't she? By the way, what are cupboards? - we have a tiny built in wardrobe in the master bedroom and 6 really cheap and shoddy cupboards with ill-fitting doors and where the shelves keep collapsing in the kitchen. None in the second bedroom, the bathroom (we did hang a medicine cupboard in the bathroom) or the utility.

We have one of those spray things mentioned by Farmor. It sits neatly between the toilet and handbasin, does double duty for the undercarriage and for hair washing over the sink. Recommended by our bathroom supplier. It looks a bit nicer than the one in the link and is incredibly useful. Our installer thought we were mad, then bought one for himself. .

Love my bidet which I use several times a day (medical reasons). Also have a portable one.

A bidet, having used one recently on an overnight stay at a friends house, is on my list of must haves.
Arthritis prevents me taking a bath and showers are ok but not the same in giving certain parts!! that extra attention



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First bidet I saw in anyone's home (had seen one in a showroom where the sales assistant told us it was a 'bottom washer' much to the hilarity of us kids!) was in the Paris flat of my French exchange family. I was 14, and this was the early 60s. I was there for 3 weeks and in all that time I don't think anyone used the bath, which was a small square job permanently used for storage - it was filled with all sorts.

I felt I had to ask whether it was OK to have a bath, and even then I did so with trepidation, since there was no,lock on the door and Monsieur had walked in on me at least once in his baggy Y fronts!
From then on I had to conclude that the reason French people used bidets a lot was that they didn't take baths. (This was long before showers were common). At home we didn't bath every day but used a flannel kept for the purpose for washing our 'bits'.

I've had a bidet for a long time and wouldnt be without it

I'd love the washer dryer type too.

When I was a child, we stayed in a rather up-market hotel in Nice, during the "Battle of the Flowers". My sister and I filled the bidet in our en-suite with "rescued" flowers - much to the amusement of the chamber maid!

We have a bidet at home and i am sure we are not snobs just find it practical and useful. We holiday a lot in Egypt where the loos have a shower hose next to them as the Egyptians think wiping with paper is unhygenic