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When speaking with people who have never used a bidet, it seems like there are a lot of misconceptions floating out there.  Since bidet usage is still new in North America, this is certainly understandable. The thought of using water to clean yourself after using the bathroom can be a strange, foreign concept.

The first thing we do when speaking to someone who has never tried a bidet, is highlight the fact they clean with water everyday.  Water is used to wash your hands, wash your face, and to take a shower.  Water is how we clean our bodies so it’s very natural to use water to clean yourself after using the restroom.  Then, we like to educate people on the world’s preference for using a bidet – that it’s not just one country or region but in fact, bidets are the preferred method of cleaning in dozens and dozens of countries.  From Europe to Asia, from South America to the Middle-East, bidets are preferred all over the world.

By the time we get to this point of the conversation, people start making the connection.  We hear comments like, “You’re right, I do use water to clean myself everyday.”  Then we start getting hit with questions.  Many of these questions are good ones such as, “How does the electronic bidet work?” or, “Does it use warm water or cold water?”  Other questions though, seem to come from common misconceptions about the bidet and we'd like to clear up some of them up.  Here they are:   

• Does water go up my butt? – A lot of people seem to think that bidets shoot water up their butts.  This is not true.  The water sprays on the outside surface only, which is all that’s needed for a thorough cleaning.  The bidet’s rear posterior spray is not designed to go up your butt.  (Some electronic bidets do have an optional enema feature, but this is not the bidet’s primary function).

• Don’t bidets use a lot of water?  – Studies have shown that the typical person washes for about 15 seconds.  For the electronic bidet, this translates to about 1/8 of a gallon per wash – less than the amount of water used to wash your hands.  To those who say savings in toilet paper is offset by increased water consumption, it’s not comparable to the amount of water used to create the toilet paper in the first place.  According to Scientific American, it takes several gallons of water to manufacture just one roll of toilet paper.

• Will a bidet fit a small bathroom?  – While it’s true that basin-type bidets require additional space in the bathroom, the modern electronic bidet attaches on top of your existing toilet.  Most North American bathrooms weren’t designed to accommodate an additional fixture next to the toilet.  This makes the electronic bidet easy to install since it doesn’t take up any additional space.

About the Author:  bidetsPLUS is an online presence specializing in the modern electronic bidet. bidetsPLUS provides an array of educational content on the bidet, including video presentations, bidet reviews, and also carries a wide range of bidet products. Visit us at www.bidetsplus.com.

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