If you’re traveling through Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, or East Asia, chances are you’ll eventually encounter a bidet in the bathroom. But what exactly are bidets, and how do you use them?
Simply put, a bidet is a type of washbasin that uses a stream of water to perform a similar function to toilet paper. To help you prepare for your next bidet adventure, we’ve put together a guide on everything you need to know to use a bidet properly, easily, and hygienically.
1Use the toilet first. The purpose of the bidet is to help clean off after toilet use. You can use the bidet in conjunction with toilet paper, or you can use the bidet on its own. Some people believe that using a bidet is a hygienic substitute for toilet paper, but many choose to use both.
2Find the bidet. Sometimes, the bidet is located near the toilet, attached to the wall: it looks something like a low sink or a toilet with a faucet. However, many modern bidets are built into the toilet seat, so you don’t need to get up to straddle another fixture
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Straddle a standalone bidet. On most standalone bidets, you can choose to face the bidet’s water controls – or you can face away from them, as you would on a toilet. It is usually easier to control the temperature and flow of the water if you face the controls. You will be able to see the water as it comes out, so you might have a simpler time cleaning yourself.
- If you are wearing pants, you may need to remove them to straddle the bidet facing the controls. If you don’t want to completely take off your pants, try stepping out of one leg so that you can swing your legs around the bidet. In add-on bidets, things are much more straightforward. You do have not to take off your pants.
- In standalone bidets ultimately, the way you face may be dictated by the position of the jets, and which area of your body you wish to clean. That is to say: if you need to clean your front, it might be easier to face the jets. If you’re cleaning your rear, try facing away from the stream.