Do you have limited mobility, and using the restroom has become an issue for you? Or are you trying to improve your hygiene and need a natural way of treating hemorrhoids and constipation? Here is your solution – Bidet.
According to the dictionary meaning bidet is a low, basin like bathroom fixture, usually with spigots, used for bathing the genital and perineal areas. It is use water spray to remove bacteria, excess fecal matter, and any other remains sitting there. When you choose to add a bidet in your bathroom, you’ll dramatically cut the toilet paper waste as it will virtually replace it. According to the word counts, 42 million tons of toilet paper are used every year worldwide. Compared to toilet paper, a bidet can do a cleaner, fresher hinny.
In this article we are going to discuss about how to choose a bidet for your home, i.e. bidet buying guide and its types.
For the past decade, bidet design has seen many novelties. Nowadays, there are two different types of bidets are available;
Types of Bidets
When you choosing a bidet, you’ll notice that they’re of different types of bidets are available. That’s why they’re becoming more popular. Mostly they are slotted into two main categories;
- Traditional Bidets
- Bidet Add-ons
01. Traditional Bidets
Traditional bidets are installed separately from the toilet but just next to it. They resemble toilets, but instead of the bowl and tank, they have a drain and faucet.
Traditional bidets are relatively costly compared to add-on bidets. Besides, they’re also more complex to install and occupy more space. Therefore, before you purchase one, you need to ensure that your bathroom has sufficient room.
Traditional bidets are of two types;
a. Wall-Mount Bidet Toilet
Wall-mount bidet toilet is attached to the wall, making the installation complicated as you need to add new plumbing to the wall. However, the good thing about it that it occupies a little space making the area easier to clean.
b. Floor-Mount Bidets
Floor-mount bidets are the most common bidets. They’re installed on the floor and are the simplest to fit.
02. Bidet Add-ons
Bidet add-ons have no significant difference from the traditional bidets – they do the same job. However, they easily fit into an existing bathroom and toilet space. So, they don’t occupy any extra space, unlike the traditional bidets.
Also, bidet add-ons are more affordable, and installing them is just a piece of cake.
Bidet add-ons come in three types;
1. Bidet Attachment for Toilet
Bidet attachment resembles bidet toilet seats, but its mechanism isn’t combined in the seat- instead, it’s attached between the toilet and the seat. It’s the cheapest and the simplest available bidet. It has standard options, including a directed nozzle and adjustable water pressure.
However, some options like a dryer, warm water, and heated seats are not available as they have no electric connection.
In case you’re looking for a bidet that’s inexpensive and easy to add to your bathroom, the bidet attachment is for you.
2. Handheld Bidet Sprayers
Handheld bidet sprayers are easy to install, affordable, and more flexible compared to bidet attachments. They have got a separate spray wand which you disconnect the holder whenever you want to use it and hold it in your hand.
Handheld bidet sprayers don’t offer other extra features. But if you only need a functionally basic bidet, they can go a long way.
In countries like India and many other Asian countries, people do not use toilet paper. The practice consorts of cleaning with hands only. But the skilled and innovative Indian artisans now connect handheld water sprayers/jets with the toilet and plumbing system, and hence there is no need of bidet anymore at such places.
3. Bidet Toilet Seats
These are toilet seats that have functionally built-in bidet. If you buy the right shape that perfectly fits your toilet, its installation will be just a walk in the park.
Although bidet toilet seats are a bit more expensive than the other add-on bidets, they offer an array of nice-to-have features, including drying functionality, spray options, heated seats, and deodorizing features.
Bidet Buying Guide
You might be thinking of “which bidet should I buy for my home?” So here we have discuss bidet buying guide which will help you to choose the right bidet for your home.
1. Bidet Material
Bidets are available in different materials in the market. Therefore, before choosing the first model you’ve come across, it’s wise to consider the kind of material used to make it. In so doing, go for the one which can last for a long time and sturdy to withstand the different individual weight.
Some bidets are made of plastic, and others are made of wood laminated or treated to resist moisture. In this case, go for plastic, as they are more durable than the treated wood bidets. Ceramics are also equally popular and available as in case of toilets.
2. Bidet Cost
Bidets have different brands, features, and models you can choose from; therefore, choosing the right one. Before you buy best bidet, it’s good to take time to avoid going for a mediocre product. Consider not only its price point but also its features.
If you want to spend as little amount as possible, go for handheld sprayers or bidet attachments without any bells and whistles. They’re affordable and don’t need professional installation. When compared to other types of bidets, electric bidet seats are considered to be more expensive. But do you know that a product’s price has nothing to do with its performance and durability? I think it’s good you know.
3. Ease of Use
It’s normal to take time to get fully used to any new bidets you install in your bathroom. However, they’re generally easy to figure out.
Traditional bidets go a long way in terms of ease of use than the other types of bidets with the necessary attachments. Do you know why? Because they would require you to move from the toilet to squat at the necessary level before cleansing, unlike bidet attachment, where you stay where you’re and move your positioning a little bit in the bathroom.
Remote is the common feature in bidet toilet seats which improves its ease of use. You need to control the settings without even reading the setting on the bidet, making you select what you need with ease.
4. Water Pressure
The water pressure needs to be at the required level for you to be satisfied with your bidet. You’ll have a hard time getting clean enough when the water pressure it’s too high or too low.
Traditional bidets have faucets that allow you to turn up the pressure to the right level as you require. Some bidet attachments and seats have options of adjustable water pressure where you can choose what works best for you.
If you want to know about how to increase water pressure in shower, then read
There are other types of bidet that you have no control over their pressure amount. So when you end up buying them, you’d find yourself pretty stuck on what to do. Although it can be difficult for you to choose a right bidet in terms of pressure control, you can check the customer reviews to see if they had mentioned any issues so that you can know what to expect.
5. Comfort
When it comes to the bidet, many factors influence comfort, including the design and the shape of the toilet seat, pressure, and heating seating. Also, the water temperature plays a role in the comfort of the bidet.
For instance, during the middle of winter, cold water can be unkind to you, whereas warm water can make you feel nice when using a bidet. Most of the bidets have hot and cold water options, so you can choose what fits you at the moment.
6. Ease of Installation
Installing traditional bidets is not a walk in the park. Unless you’re a professional plumber or have installed several toilets before, installing a traditional bidet would be better left to professionals.
However, a bidet attachment is much easier to fix, and you can figure it out with a friend or a family member. It’s good to look for customer reviews on their experience with the installation. The customers would mention how easy or difficult it was for them to fix the bidet.
7. Electrical or Non-Electrical Bidet
Some bidets are non-electrical and have minimal extra features. Some bidet seats’ electrical component allows them to provide fancy features like adjustability, drying functionality and heated seats.
Now you know that going for the electric bidets is the best bet for you they would get an advantage of the nice to have features.
Conclusion
Bidets have been awash in the market; thus, there are so many types of bidet you can choose from – from fully integrated toilet models to the entry-level attachment. Therefore, if you want to improve your bathroom, you have an array of choices. You can now go and get yourself a bidet of your preferences according to your budget.
Apart from this, if you are interested to read more articles, refer following links:
5 Things You Should Never Pressure Wash in Your Home
Tips to Clean Clogged Drain (Toilet, Sink Sewer Pipe)
Image Courtesy: Image 4, Image 7, Image 10, Image 11
Author Bio
Jennifer Kiminza – Jennifer Kiminza is a content writer and content marketing professional at Hub Spot, an inbound marketing and sales platform that helps companies attract visitors, convert leads, and close customers. Previously, Jennifer worked as a marketing manager for a tech software startup. She graduated with honors from Nairobi University with a dual degree in Business Administration and Creative Writing.
