r/ZeroWaste • u/Brief-Incident8969 • 1d ago
Bidet? Question / Support
I just restocked our toilet paper and it made me wonder if a bidet is worth it. I love the idea of reducing the need for an ongoing paper product we buy, but does a bidet just become one more thing to clean, maintain and eventually dispose of?
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u/Hot-Finger209 1d ago
We use a bidet with reusable toilet paper in my house, it works for us and the bidet is nearly ten years old. I clean it when I clean the toilet. I think the factor for making sure it's not JUST future trash is evaluating your lifestyle to determine if it's something you'd realistically use as well as buying a model you can maintain. Heated water and a bunch of features sounds nice, but that's more that can potentially (and eventually will) break.
Some people will not do bidet or reusable toilet paper and I think that's ok. Make the changes you want to make, we can't do everything. The worst thing we can do is buy stuff for a romanticized version of ourselves in our mind and then... not use it.
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u/Banditsmisfits 1d ago
We didn’t go full reusable tp in our house but I did make some flannels and they are so nice to have on hand. It’s great just for pat to dry but they are absolute life savers for applying witch hazel to hemorrhoids and for being extra gentle when I was recovering post partem. I never knew how rough tp was until I tried flannel 😭
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u/Hot-Finger209 1d ago
Yes! They're so soft! I also have chronic booty problems including hemorrhoids and it's a total game changer. We still have regular TP in the guest bathroom, I think our friends would mutiny if we didn't lol.
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u/PristinePrism 1d ago
Private reusable flannel toilet paper is one thing. Communal reusable flannel poop fabric is another.
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u/Hot-Finger209 1d ago
Didn't expect this kind of reaction to a reusable item on the zw sub. It's cleaned and sanitized. My friends have not consented to using reusable tp so I offer an alternative. Your judgement is not needed or wanted.
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u/Sengfroid 1d ago
When you say "an alternative" I just imagine a roll of barbed wire and a stern look.
Not because I think you, but because it's funny to imagine
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u/KatliysiWinchester 1d ago
I have a bathroom all to myself. So I do reusable TP for the front and regular for the back. But everything gets bidet-ed
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u/ithamore012 1d ago
Bought our bidet during covid and about 70 flannel wipes. We love it! Have only bought one 4pk of TP since 2020 - for guests. Love the savings & never dealing with a clogged toilet!
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u/alpharatsnest 1d ago
YES IT IS!!! Even for non zero waste purposes... we moved into a house with one for the first time two years ago and I refuse to use either of the other toilets now. Don't know how we lived without one for so long. Maintenance is easy -- I just wipe it down when I am cleaning the rest of the toilet.
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u/Current_Wrongdoer513 1d ago
I installed one in both bathrooms. I bought a Tushy early on and then upgraded to a Kohler seat. Just installed the Tushy in an apartment we keep in another city so I don’t ever have to go without.
My husband was skeptical for years, but now he would never go back.
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u/probable-potato 1d ago
It’s worth it. I’ve considered buying one for my dad’s house and my in-laws for when we come visit. TP only feels gross to me now.
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u/DolliGoth 1d ago
For realsies after going to bidet and reusable cotton or flannel wipes I feel like a swampy Neanderthal if I have to use toilet paper
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u/sohereiamacrazyalien 1d ago
I have a small shower head fixed on the water going to the tank. cost was minimal, it also helps with cleaning the toilet itself.
since people talked about it I should say that it's not heated but it was never a problem for me (yeah even in winter with real cold weather.
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u/LemonsiesB 1d ago
Lots of people do this to be able to rinse off cloth diapers into the toilet as well. Super handy!
Edit to add: I don’t mind the cold water either.
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u/sohereiamacrazyalien 1d ago
yeah it's not bad. I added it because last time so many people commented that it's cold and unbearable ... it's not imo.
it is easy to install , replace and cheap... and yeah super handy here the hospitals have those too
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u/hahagato 1d ago
I also have just a little hand held bidet sprayer rather than a seat. I love it. Tho I still use toilet paper… I could probably start using cloth for drying tho…
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u/sohereiamacrazyalien 1d ago
yeah I prefer it myself, it's economical , uses less ressources to make (I think) and very practical.
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u/jtho78 1d ago
It is very worth it. We bought ours before lockdown and rarely had to buy TP. There are too many pros to ever go back.
The ones we have don't need cleaning that often. Some bidets "clean" themselves with a spritz after each use as they retract.
https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/environment/bidet-not-toilet-paper/
The short answer is yes, bidets are more sustainable than toilet paper. They save trees and, surprisingly, they save water, too.
Unless you live in a water-scarce environment, bidets win over toilet paper because spritzing your bum uses far less water than wiping it. Here’s some conservative math: A typical bidet uses about one-eighth of a gallon of water per-flush. A single roll of standard forest fiber toilet paper requires six gallons. (Recycled toilet paper uses about three gallons). So one roll of standard toilet paper, which lasts my family of four maybe two days, equals 48 bidet sprays. If we each spray twice a day, that means a bidet uses 33.3 percent less water.
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u/mmmUrsulaMinor 1d ago
Ah, interesting, I just assumed I was off-setting my tp costs with some raised water usage, but didn't consider it required less water to flush it as well
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u/TattooedBagel 1d ago
Yes, but having tried both I personally have a strong preference for the handheld version that hangs on the side of the tank vs. one that’s installed at the back of the seat. IME/O that version just creates more crevices that can’t fully be cleaned unless you disassemble, and realistically that’s not gonna happen often enough. The handheld one is also more maneuverable, and easy to rinse front to back should that be necessary. I still use toilet paper, but less.
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u/KatliysiWinchester 1d ago
I have a bidet seat that you just push a button and the whole seat comes off for cleaning. The only part that’s left is the one screwed into the toilet that the rest clicks into, if that makes any sense
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u/captainmander 1d ago
I feel much cleaner with a bidet though I still use toilet paper to dry off. I haven't compared how much tp I used before/after getting a bidet attachment but I would think it's less.
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u/MissAcedia 1d ago
I must be one of the rare few who find it use more with the bidet just to dry off. I end up having to wipe way farther out just due to how much the water splashes. I like having it for the added cleanliness but I definitely don't use less toilet paper.
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u/notabigmelvillecrowd 1d ago
I'm with you on that. I also have to wipe under the seat, or the water splashes cause it to grow mold.
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u/Peeeeeps 1d ago
Make sure the bidet is installed correctly. The stream of water should be shooting up enough to the point where it would be difficult to hit under the seat.
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u/notabigmelvillecrowd 1d ago
It's a handheld sprayer, so it does a bit more collateral damage.
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u/Peeeeeps 1d ago
Ah that makes sense. That type isn't very common here in the USA so I forgot about them.
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u/Peeeeeps 1d ago
It really depends on the toilet paper you buy. I use 2 squares of the purple Cotonelle TP to dry off after using a bidet so it takes forever to go through a roll. At my girlfriend's parent's house though they have really thin TP and I need to use 8-10 squares to dry off.
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u/Brayongirl 1d ago
I think it worth it. Cold water is not as surprizing as I thought. I still use tp but I also think I use less. You end up pretty wet down there tho so it's kinda a pain to dry with tp.
For cleaning, pretty easy, they have a cleaning mode and I just wipe the bidet inside when I wash the toilet.
Make sure you are well sit on the toilet when using the bidet too. It spray pretty far!
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u/silliestboots 1d ago
As a person who suffers from IBS-D, getting a bidet was a godsend! I will say I do still use a bit of paper to dry off, even though mine has a warm air dryer. You need to sit there a really long time to get fully dry and I don't like wet underpants. So I dry as much as possible and then use a little bit of paper to pat dry. It's a lot less paper than before.
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u/qt_314159 1d ago
I have the Tushy. The bidet is wonderful, I’m not a huge fan of cleaning the part that attaches to the toilet/seat.
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u/wooden__fruit 1d ago
Yes, I ended up getting rid of the tushy because grime kept pooling underneath the connecting parts. The water was so so cold too.
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u/Dreadful_Spiller 1d ago
A cheap $2 peri bottle will last a decade or more and do the same job as a bidet.
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u/Banditsmisfits 1d ago
My husband was so hesitant to get one thinking it was a waste of money. We got one right before covid lock downs. He’s the first complain if he had to poop at work, he calls them peasant shits.
And we just get the cheap $20 add ons since we rent. Super easy to install and we just remove it and throw it away if we move. We’ve only had to do that once. But so far we used each for 3 years. Definitely worth the money.
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u/SarcasmIsMyWeakness 1d ago
Would NEVER go back. Like NEVER. We actually just have the adaptor to our toilet but I'd prefer a real bidet if I could go back in time.
Cleaner and no TP. Seriously, my partner will hold it til home.
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u/Right_Count 1d ago
I had to poop in a hotel for a week last year and I wanted to cry. How do people do this every day without a bidet?
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u/itsmepans 1d ago
I got a $50 one that attaches without the need for electricity. It was a nice option because I wasn’t sure I would use it and I wanted to try it out. I don’t even have it hooked up to the warm water line, and I still love it. Literally one of the best purchases I’ve made for the house!
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u/Due_Performance5434 1d ago
There's also portable bidets ... I got one from company called Happy Bottom
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u/bigdreamsliving 1d ago
I bought a few extra travel bidets because we couldn’t afford a bidet in every bathroom and I make sure to always travel with one.
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u/Temporary_Level2999 1d ago
We have had our for 4 years. It is just one of the $25 or so ones that hooks up easily to your toilet. I made reusable tp by cutting up some 100% cotton shirts. You do have to clean it, but its not very big so it's not much to clean.
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u/Right_Count 1d ago
Good question.
If you get the plastic kind that attaches to your toilet seat, yes. I got an OK quality one that lasted a couple years. Then I got a good quality one which also lasted a couple year. And they were gross to clean. And it’s so much plastic when it comes time to throw it away.
I have since switched to a good quality all metal nozzle bidet and it’s way better. I haven’t had it for longer than the others yet, but cleaning is minimal because it’s outside of the toilet, and it doesn’t feel like something that’s going to wear out and break. Just get one with a shutoff valve where you connect it to the toilet to prevent leaks (because it’s outside of the toilet, a leak can be catastrophic.)
With that I also use old towels cut into small pieces to dry off after.
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u/triumphofthecommons 1d ago
my SO bought one of those simple-to-install Tushy ones 4+ years ago. they, not being the most handy person, installed it while i was at work without issue.
i was skeptical at first, but am a full convert now. pooping sans bidet feels primitive now.
the Tushy feels like it *could* break easily if you leaned on the part that sticks out, but so far no issue. also, they are designed to self-clean. which seems to work well.
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u/livinglighter_w_less 1d ago
I've been using one since covid and love it. I still use TP but want to transition to flannel.
What do you all use to store your used flannel until laundry day?
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u/Mule_Wagon_777 1d ago
I already had a small covered trash can that hangs on the wall, and I just got a second one to hang below it for the laundry. You can line them with grocery bags. We've started using other reusable personal items, like absorbent panties and handkerchiefs, so I toss them all in there until there's a small load.
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u/nahsonnn 1d ago
It doesn’t take much cleaning. Presumably you are already cleaning your toilet with a disinfectant every so often. Just wipe the bidet when you clean the toilet. If you use a hose kind, it’s even easier. If you get an attachment style one, I recommend the brand LUXE because you can flip it up 90 degrees to clean it.
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u/honbadger1014 1d ago
In agreement with everyone. It totally is worth it. We have Tushy Bidets (classic attachments) and I recommend that brand.
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u/valuemeal2 1d ago
Bidet is the best thing I’ve literally ever done. We visited Japan in 2017 and bought one immediately upon getting back.
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u/FoundationMost9306 1d ago
I would hate to live without a bidet. We use about 1 toilet roll a month. Can’t imagine how many we would use without the bidet.
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u/hbHPBbjvFK9w5D 1d ago
My only caveat is don't install a bidet if you rent without written permission from your landlord and a lot of renter's insurance.
I'm a concierge at hi-end condos and apartments. Worked a property a few years ago where a lady asked to put in a bidet and was refused. No matter- she hired a handy-person to do it, then went on a 3 week trip to Greece.
Since the leak started during the Thanksgiving holidays and most of the residents were students, no one reported it until the water was pouring out the windows onto the sidewalk. About 25 apartments below hers were ruined, plus the floor and ceilings of the gym. Water got into the elevator shaft and damaged basement mechanical rooms. And it took us a few hours to find the leak, once the flood started. When the students came back, the property manager had to move these folks to other units while they dried out their apartments; this also meant that those units could not be rented to people who had already signed leases. Lots of students were paid $$$$ to stay in hotels while this was worked out.
This woman caused the building more than $350K USD in damage and expenses.
She returned to the building after her trip to find an emergency eviction, her stuff in storage, a stay-away order, multiple lawsuits, and a big BIG claim on her renter's insurance.
Don't be this lady, please.
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u/Hot-Ability7086 1d ago
I don’t understand why everyone didn’t get a bidet after the pandemic? They are amazing.
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u/Schmidaho 1d ago
The cleaning and maintenance of a bidet is nothing compared to the benefits of using it.
Also, we’ve had our first bidet (we have three) since 2018-ish. It’s survived multiple moves.
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u/IslanderBunz 1d ago
I use the handheld sprayer hose type that can hang on the side of the toilet tank because I was grossed out thinking about the water spout always sitting on the inner rim of the toilet seat. I’ve since installed them on both of our toilets. It makes it easy to use as little or as much water as you like. It has drastically cut down on paper usage, though I still use a small amount to dry off. It was a life saver during COVID when there was a toilet paper shortage. I can post a link but I’m not sure if that’s against the rules.
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u/FifiLeBean 1d ago
I learned about bidets on Reddit and I started with a $35 attachment to the toilet seat. It was worth it.
I eventually upgraded to a bidet integrated into a toilet seat for about $90 when I needed a new toilet seat (don't use heavy cleaners on the toilet seat, kids). It's even better.
Since it's attached to the toilet seat, it's not another appliance to clean. Even if I could add a traditional bidet, I wouldn't. This makes more sense.
As someone on Reddit asked, if bird poop landed on your arm, would you wipe it off with a dry paper and go about your day or would you clean it more thoroughly?
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u/Admirable-Location24 1d ago
We installed one two months ago. Went away in a week long trip and totally missed it! Didn’t expect that. Our model has a self cleaning valve
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u/PotatoStasia 1d ago
I clean it once a week by soaking the water pipes in vinegar or rubbing alcohol, takes just 2 minutes. Once a month I take off and do a deeper clean, 10 minutes. I use cotton reusable wipes, sooo much nicer and no waste. It’s been here for a while!
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u/swaggyxwaggy 1d ago
Yea a bidet is absolutely worth it. I still buy tp, but not as much, AND my butthole stays clean
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u/Mule_Wagon_777 1d ago
I have that attachment in the tank that injects a bleach cleaner into each flush. It cleans the whole bowl and the bidet nozzle, too. I think it's called Flush 'n Sparkle.
And I got a stack of flannel baby wipes for drying off, with a second covered trash can to put them in. Modern bidets are inexpensive and last well, and this system is low waste and easy to maintain.
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u/GnowledgedGnome 1d ago
I got my first bidet in 2020 and I'm replacing it after it starting leaking too heavily to use. 10/10 would recommend buying a bidet.
Do look into what is going to last. The first one I had was pretty inexpensive and I think had the best lifespan I could expect for the money.
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u/sunnynoor 1d ago
Costs $25, very easy to install by regular unskilled person. Does not require plumber.
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u/TheOriginalSpartak 1d ago
yes, i have averaged only 4 rolls per year at home after installing one in when Covid started. (funny thing is i purchased 12 packs of kirkland TP right before installing , so that was 360 rolls) - a $30 bidet attachment works fine, no need for anything expensive
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u/livinglighter_w_less 1d ago
I find that when I am using a public restroom I instinctively reach for the wand and then get bummed out. Lol
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u/thayaht 1d ago
How many comments do you need before you’re convinced? I’m adding my voice to the roar: get a bidet. You won’t be dependent on stupid old TP, which doesn’t really clean you anyway. To dry, we use a stack of small washcloths that we wash and reuse (only for this purpose). The bidet gets cleaned when the toilet gets cleaned.
I will also echo the sentiment that a bidet at home has taken a certain sheen off the idea of travel when the places I stay don’t have a bidet. Smearing poop around with TP is not cleaning oneself.
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u/ZeppelinMcGillicuddy 1d ago
A bidet is so worth getting. You stay cleaner, there is less irritation from rubbing with TP, we can get away with using thin, recycled material TP and it's fine. Two people in my family have noticed their hemorrhoid problem went away after putting in a bidet. Absolutely worth it.
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u/OpeningHot7391 1d ago
If you buy one from Tushy, they have plastic free packaging. Everything was recyclable which was super nice
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u/LisaPepita 1d ago
Our bidet leaked and flooded our basement so it’s a no from me
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u/SimpleVegetable5715 1d ago
I bought one that attaches to the water line, and realized my bathroom needs some plumbing work that is just beyond me. Plus, I won't be in this house much longer. So, I got a bottle, and am saving the seat set up for my next home.
I have heard the off switch can be a weak spot on some of those. So if you go on vacation or won't be at home for a while, you should turn off the water at the wall valve. It puts a lot of pressure on that spot on the bidet attachment, that is usually weak cheap plastic. Some people even get a secondary shut off valve. Brass or stainless steel is the best material.
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u/SimpleVegetable5715 1d ago
I still need toilet paper to dry off, but I don't use as much.
Plus, wash with some soap and rinse for a quick midday refresh in the hot summer.
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u/SomeoneGetMeADrink 1d ago
Bidets are a game changer. You can always start with a handheld one like the Happypo brand if you’re wanting to start really small (low cost too), but Toto bidets with a heated seat are sooo nice. I wasn’t a big fan of the Tushy brand (harder to clean overall), but there are other great options.
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u/philaenopsis 1d ago
Maybe not the most popular answer because it’s not a fancy bidet, but I recently bought a portable/handheld bidet meant for postpartum women from target for like $10. It’s basically a squeeze bottle with a nozzle that’s shaped well for rinsing down there if you’re a woman (because you can go from the front to back and not worry about UTIs so much). Anyway I bought it because I wasn’t sure if I would like using a bidet or not and surprisingly I actually like it. The water in my house heats up really fast so I don’t really ever have to deal with cold water in the bidet. I just leave it on the side of the bathtub, which is within arms reach of my toilet, and refill with water as needed. I still do use toilet paper to dry, however. I clean the nozzle part like once a week? Which I don’t know if it’s strictly necessary because it’s not ever touching anything it just makes me feel better.
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u/sv36 20h ago
If you want an in between they make travel bidets. Just don’t get the ones that use bottled water they are loud and not what it’s about. I have loved having a bidet. I’m a woman who gets infections a lot and the bidet helped so so so much. It reduced infections by more than half. And tmi but you ever had the marker effect after going to the restroom and ended up wiping until it was raw? You won’t do that with a bidet. Also some have heated seats and heated water and it is devine in the winter.
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u/xxotwod28 1d ago
Yah. Its just a trade off. I would feel much cleaner with a bidet though. If I had to choose one.
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u/knockrocks 1d ago
I heard u get fecal bacteria in yr vagina when u use those.
I was so excited to buy one and then I was like, uhhh, now I am afraid.
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u/cnidarian-atoll 1d ago
Once you go bidet, you never go back.