Ever puzzled why the remainder of the world appears to be forward of America with regards to toilet hygiene? Enter the bidet rest room seat – your toilet’s lacking improve that’s lastly catching on in North American properties.
Whether or not you’re uninterested in infinite rest room paper runs or simply interested in a extra hygienic toilet routine, this information will stroll you thru every thing it’s good to learn about bidet rest room seats.
Why Contemplate a Bidet Bathroom Seat?
Let’s be sincere – all of us need a cleaner, extra snug toilet expertise. Bidet rest room seats provide precisely that, they usually’re extra sensible than you would possibly assume. Right here’s why they make sense:
Higher Private Hygiene
Give it some thought – should you obtained one thing messy in your arms, would you simply wipe it off with paper? In fact not! You’d wash with water. The identical logic applies to bidets, which use a mild stream of fresh water to go away you feeling genuinely clear.
Goodbye Paper Waste
The typical American household goes by way of 409 rolls of bathroom paper yearly. By switching to a bidet, you’ll nonetheless use a small quantity of paper for drying (until your mannequin has an air dryer), however you’ll lower your rest room paper use by about 75-80%. That’s each good for the planet and your pockets.
Price range-Pleasant
Whereas the upfront value would possibly make you pause, think about this: a household of 4 sometimes spends $250-300 per 12 months on rest room paper. Most elementary bidet seats pay for themselves inside a 12 months by way of diminished paper utilization.
Completely different Sorts of Bidets: Discovering Your Excellent Match
Non-Electrical Bidets: The Easy Answer
If you happen to’re new to bidets, a non-electric mannequin is a superb place to start out. These mechanical bidets are:
Reasonably priced (sometimes $30-100)
Straightforward to put in with fundamental instruments
Powered by water strain alone
Excellent for renters (straightforward to take away when transferring)
Electrical Bidet Seats: The Luxurious Expertise
Whereas pricier, electrical fashions provide consolation options like:
Heated seats (good for chilly mornings)
Adjustable water temperature
A number of spray patterns
Heat air dryers
Beginning round $200-300 for fundamental fashions
The Large Query: Do Bidets Use Bathroom Water?
That is most likely the commonest concern we hear, and we’re joyful to place this delusion to relaxation: No, bidets don’t use rest room water! Your bidet connects on to the identical clear water line that feeds your rest room tank. It’s the identical water that comes out of your sink faucet.
Right here’s how the bidet plumbing works:
The bidet seat connects to your rest room’s water provide line utilizing a easy T-valve
Clear, recent water flows by way of a devoted nozzle system
The nozzles are self-cleaning on most fashions
The water strain is adjustable for consolation
Select the Proper Bidet for Your Rest room
Buying on your first bidet doesn’t must be overwhelming. Right here’s what to contemplate:
Bathroom Compatibility
First, test your rest room bowl form:
Spherical bowls are sometimes 16.5 inches lengthy
Elongated bowls are often 18.5 inches lengthy
Measure from the mounting holes to the entrance of your bowl to find out which you may have.
Important Options vs. Good-to-Haves
For rookies, give attention to these key options:
Self-cleaning nozzles for hygiene
Adjustable water strain (belief us, you’ll need this)
Good guarantee protection (search for a minimum of one 12 months)
Straightforward set up design
Price range Issues
You will discover high quality choices in these ranges:
Fundamental mechanical bidets: $30-60
Entry-level electrical bidets: $200-300
Mid-range electrical bidets: $300-500
Bidet Set up Information: Simpler Than You Assume
Don’t let set up issues maintain you again – most bidet seats might be put in in underneath half-hour with fundamental instruments.
What You’ll Want:
Adjustable wrench
Phillips head screwdriver
Towel (for any water spills)
Plumber’s tape (included with most bidets)
Fundamental Set up Steps:
Flip off water provide and flush rest room
Take away present rest room seat
Set up mounting bracket for brand new bidet seat
Join T-valve to water provide
Connect water provide line to bidet
Check all connections for leaks
For electrical fashions: plug into GFCI outlet
Professional tip: Take a photograph of your present rest room setup earlier than beginning – it’ll assist if it’s good to reference something later.
High Reasonably priced Bidet Picks for 2025
Greatest Non-Electrical Possibility: Luxe Bidet Neo 120
Value: Round $35
Options: Twin nozzles, self-cleaning spray
Execs: Wonderful water strain management, straightforward set up
Cons: Chilly water solely, no dryer
Greatest Fundamental Electrical: Bio Bidet Slim Zero
Value: Round $250
Options: Heated seat, heat water
Execs: Good function set for value, dependable model
Cons: No air dryer, fundamental water strain settings
Greatest Worth Electrical: TOTO Washlet C2
Value: Round $300
Options: Heated seat, heat water, air dryer
Execs: Dependable model, good guarantee
Cons: Premium options excluded to maintain value down
Often Requested Questions
Is a bidet sanitary?
Truly, bidets are extra hygienic than rest room paper alone. The nozzles are self-cleaning and stay protected when not in use. Plus, you’re utilizing clear water to scrub fairly than simply wiping with paper. Many customers report fewer UTIs and fewer irritation after switching to bidets.
Will it enhance my water invoice?
The water utilization is minimal – sometimes about 1/8 gallon per wash. For perspective, it takes about 37 gallons of water to fabricate a single roll of bathroom paper!
Your minor enhance in water utilization is much outweighed by the environmental influence of diminished rest room paper consumption.
What about electrical energy prices for electrical fashions?
Electrical bidets are surprisingly environment friendly. Most fashions use about 15-25 cents of electrical energy per 30 days when in energetic use, or as much as $1-2 per 30 days should you preserve the seat heating function on repeatedly.
Do I nonetheless want rest room paper?
You’ll want a lot much less, however most individuals use a small quantity to dry off (until your mannequin has an air dryer). Count on to scale back your rest room paper use by 75-80%.
What if I’m renting?
Non-electric bidets are good for renters! They set up simply with out everlasting modifications and might be eliminated in minutes if you transfer. Simply save your unique rest room seat.
Will it spray water in all places?
No – fashionable bidets are exactly engineered to direct water precisely the place it must go. The stream od water is contained and managed, so there’s no mess or splash.
Can I join it to scorching water?
For non-electric bidets, you may technically hook up with your sink’s scorching water line, however this isn’t beneficial. The connection might be difficult, and also you’d threat uncomfortably scorching water.
Electrical bidets resolve this drawback by heating the water internally – they hook up with your common chilly water line and heat it to a cushty temperature you can alter.
Dwelling the Bidet Life: Last Ideas
Making the change to a bidet rest room seat isn’t nearly becoming a member of a rising development – it’s about upgrading your day by day routine with a extra hygienic, environmentally acutely aware, and cozy resolution. Whether or not you begin with a fundamental mechanical mannequin or bounce proper into an electrical seat, you’ll seemingly marvel the way you ever lived with out one.
Issues to Keep in mind:
Begin along with your rest room measurements and finances
Contemplate your must-have options
Don’t be intimidated by set up
Give your self per week to regulate to the brand new routine
Able to make the change? Your future self will thanks for making this easy however vital toilet improve. Plus, you’ll be part of the hundreds of thousands of individuals worldwide who’ve already found that water does a greater job than paper alone.
Care and Upkeep Suggestions
To maintain your bidet performing optimally:
Wipe the seat and nozzles with a mild cleaner month-to-month
Exchange batteries in distant controls yearly (if relevant)
Test connections yearly for any free fittings
Clear nozzles in keeping with producer directions
Trying to purchase? All the time test present costs, as they will fluctuate all year long. The perfect offers sometimes seem throughout main purchasing holidays like Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
