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A toilet (left) and a bidet (right).

A bidet is a low-mounted plumbing fixture or type of sink intended for washing the genitalia and the anus. Originally a French word, in English, bidet is pronounced (IPA): [bɨˈdeɪ] (US), [ˈbiːdeɪ] (UK). Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... Image File history File links Bidet_Ego_Kolo. ... Image File history File links Bidet_Ego_Kolo. ... For other uses, see Toilet (disambiguation). ... A plumbing fixture is a device which is part of a system to deliver and drain away water, but which is also configured to enable a particular use. ... For other uses, see Sink (disambiguation). ... Washing is one way of cleaning, namely with water and often some kind of soap or detergent. ... A sex organ, or primary sexual characteristic, narrowly defined, is any of those parts of the body (which are not always bodily organs according to the strict definition) which are involved in sexual reproduction and constitute the reproductive system in an complex organism; namely: Male: penis (notably the glans penis... This article is about the bodily orifice. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Articles with similar titles include the NATO phonetic alphabet, which has also informally been called the “International Phonetic Alphabet”. For information on how to read IPA transcriptions of English words, see IPA chart for English. ... For other uses, see American English (disambiguation). ...

History

An 18th century etching of ladies 'mounted' on bidets

Bidet is a French word for pony (and in Old French, bider meant to trot). An etching from the 18th Century of ladies using bidets (now in the public domain). ... An etching from the 18th Century of ladies using bidets (now in the public domain). ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... A Shetland Pony A pony is any of several horse breeds with a specific conformation and temperament. ... Old French was the Romance dialect continuum spoken in territories corresponding roughly to the northern half of modern France and parts of modern Belgium and Switzerland from around 1000 to 1300. ...

Marc-Antoine JACOUD is known as the inventor of the bidet. This etymology comes from the fact that one bestrides or rides a bidet much like one does a pony. The bidet appears to have been an invention of French furniture makers in the late 17th or early 18th century, although no exact date or inventor is known. Theories exist that its inventor is Christophe Des Rosiers, furniture maker for the French Royal Family. The earliest written reference to the bidet is in 1710. By 1900, thanks to plumbing improvements, the bidet (and chamber pot) moved from the bedroom to the bathroom. 1960 saw the introduction of the electronic bidet, an attachment which connects on to existing toilet arrangements — ideal for bathrooms lacking the space for a separate bidet and toilet. Etymologies redirects here. ... For the UK band, see Furniture (band). ... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... For other uses, see Inventor (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Inventor (disambiguation). ... For the UK band, see Furniture (band). ... This is a list of non-ruling members of the French royal family. ... // Events April 10 - The worlds first copyright legislation became effective, Britains Statute of Anne Ongoing events Great Northern War (1700-1721) War of the Spanish Succession (1702-1713) Births January 3 - Richard Gridley, American Revolutionary soldier (d. ... Äž: For the film, see: 1900 (film). ... A plumber wrench for working on pipes and fittings A complex arrangement of rigid steel piping, stop valves regulate flow to various parts of the building. ... Stacked chamber pots A chamber pot (also a john, a chamberpot, a jordan, a po (from French pot de chambre) or simply a potty) consists of a bowl-shaped container with a handle kept in the bedroom under a bed or in the cabinet of a nightstand and used as... A bedroom is a room where people sleep. ... Year 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The American bidet is a more "retro-fit" version, as famously endorsed by Andrew Ford Glover at www.usabidet.com.

Usage

Bidets are primarily used to wash and clean the external vulva and the anus, as well as the skin near these areas, including the perineum. They may also be used to clean any other part of the body; they are very convenient for cleaning the feet, for example. Despite appearing similar to a toilet, it would be more accurate to compare it to the washbasin or bathtub. In fact, the bidet is used by some for a baby bath, though there are some who recommend against this. [1]. Hygiene refers to practices associated with ensuring good health and cleanliness. ... This article is about the bodily orifice. ... Beyond overall skin structure, refer below to: See-also. ... In human anatomy, the perineum, also called the taint, or gooch, is generally defined as the surface region in both males and females between the pubic symphysis and the coccyx. ... Physical Features of the Human Body The human body is the entire physical structure of a human organism. ... For other uses, see Foot (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Toilet (disambiguation). ... Many modern sinks are made of stainless steel Older sinks are usually made of porcelain. ... For the foundations of the World Trade Center, see The Bathtub. ...

Users who are unfamiliar with bidets often confuse a bidet with a urinal, toilet, or even a drinking fountain. The user should use the toilet before using the bidet; its purpose is to wash afterwards. It is generally understood that the user should sit on a bidet facing the tap and nozzle to clean the genitalia, or with their back to the tap and wall to clean the anus. A urinal is any specialized toilet or container designed for urinating, generally by men. ... An ornamental lit fountain photographed at night for about 6 seconds. ... Spigot redirects here. ...

Bidets are made in several different designs. They may have one tap which pours (usually warm) water into a china basin. The basin can be plugged and filled if necessary, or the water can be allowed to drain away. Other bidets have a nozzle which propels an arc of water up into the air. This jet of water is angled to easily attain the perianal and genital area. All Saints Chapel in the Cathedral Basilica of St. ... Rocket Nozzle A nozzle is a mechanical device designed to control the characteristics of a fluid flow as it exits from an enclosed chamber into some medium. ...

Another design of bidet

A bidet may also be a nozzle attached to an existing toilet, or a part of the toilet itself. In this case, its use is restricted to cleaning the anus and genitals. Some bidets of this type have two nozzles, the shorter one, called the family nozzle, is used for washing the area around the anus, and the longer one (bidet nozzle) is designed for women to wash their vulva. These bidets are often controlled electronically rather than with a traditional tap, and some have an element under the seat which heats up to dry the user after washing. These bidet toilets have been popular in countries like India, and Sri Lanka since British colonial days, as the use of just dry toilet paper to clean the perianal area is considered dirty and unhygienic in these tropical regions. The nozzle is sometimes controlled with an external tap within the reach of the hand. Traditionally, local style squatting toilets have been more common in India and are more convenient to most Indians, especially of the lower classes. But with the rise of westernization, western style pots have started becoming more common, and the most convenient way to wash the perianal area with these pots is simply to attach a bidet nozzle. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 452 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (948 × 1257 pixel, file size: 305 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Bidet Metadata This... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 452 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (948 × 1257 pixel, file size: 305 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Bidet Metadata This... The external genital organs of the female are collectively known as the vulva (plural vulvae or vulvas)[1]. In common speech, the term vagina is often used improperly to refer to the vulva or female genitals generally, even though, strictly speaking, the vagina is a specific internal structure, whereas the... This article is about the engineering discipline. ... It has been suggested that Electrical component be merged into this article or section. ... French Squatter toilet A squat toilet is a toilet where the user squats. ...

Some bidet users feel using a bidet is more sanitary than toilet paper.^{[citation needed]} However, most people who have access to a bidet usually use both, wiping with toilet paper before washing with the bidet. Bidets are very useful for the elderly or anyone with mobility problems and for people with hemorrhoids. People usually use toilet paper or a small towel that they hang next to the bidet for drying, and which is usually changed daily. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Old age consists of ages nearing the average lifespan of human beings, and thus the end of the human life cycle. ... Hemorrhoids (also haemorrhoids or piles) are varicosities or swelling and inflammation of veins in the rectum and anus. ... A towel is a piece of absorbent fabric or paper used for drying or wiping. ...

Bidets are common bathroom fixtures in some European countries (especially Greece, Italy (where practically all the houses and hotels have it), Spain and Portugal), some Latin American countries (especially Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Venezuela; there they are found in approximately 90% of households), the Middle East and some parts of Asia (particularly in Japan and South Korea). Although France is the country where the word bidet originated, not every house there is equipped with one, especially the smaller or cheaper flats. For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Country (disambiguation). ... Latin America consists of the countries of South America and some of North America (including Central America and some the islands of the Caribbean) whose inhabitants mostly speak Romance languages, although Native American languages are also spoken. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ...

Residents of countries where bidets in private homes are rare may be totally unfamiliar with bidets and have no idea how to use them if they encounter them. It is said that many American men first encountered bidets in French brothels during WWII and thought they were designed for the prostitutes to douche (inside the vagina) after sexual intercourse^{[citation needed]}. These attitudes may be difficult for bidet manufacturers to dispel if it is taboo to discuss toilet habits and personal hygiene in public, as is the case in many societies. A brothel, also known as a bordello or whorehouse, is an establishment specifically dedicated to prostitution, providing the prostitutes a place to meet and to have sex with the clients. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... A douche (IPA: ) is a device used to introduce a stream of water into the body for medical or hygienic reasons, or the stream of water itself. ... It has been suggested that Duration of sexual intercourse be merged into this article or section. ... This article is about cultural prohibitions in general, for other uses, see Taboo (disambiguation). ...

Another possible source of resistance to bidet usage in the United States is the perception of the uncleanliness of the device. The nozzle in some designs is often in the path of the returning (dirty) water. The concern being that the user might be contaminated with the fecal matter and detritus of the previous user. Toilet paper is seen as a less effective, yet more hygienic solution.

In contrast, residents of countries where the bidet is found in almost every private residence, find it difficult to change their habits when they travel in countries where bidets are rare. The only alternatives to a bidet in such cases is to use the bathtub or a showerhead (if it can reach the toilet).

Toilet Seat Bidet Attachment

In 1980 the first "paperless toilet" was launched in Japan, a combination toilet and bidet which also dries the user after washing. Combination toilet-bidets with seat warmers, or "washlets", are particularly popular in Japan and South Korea, found in approximately 60% of households. They are commonly found in hotels and even some public facilities. These bidet-toilets, along with toilet seat/bidet units (to convert an existing toilet) are sold in many countries including the United States. For details see toilets in Japan. Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... A twin-nozzled electronic bidet unit built into a toilet seat There are three types of toilets commonly found in Japan. ... For other uses, see Hotel (disambiguation). ... A cleansing jet of water designed to wash the anus of the user of this bidet-style toilet. ...

Bidet attachments are sometimes included on hospital toilets because of their utility in maintaining hygiene. Currently (2007) in the U.S., bidets are not widespread due in part to their cost ($400+).^{[citation needed]}, but are becoming increasingly popular, as witnessed by the increase in Toilet Seat Bidet market offerings and companies involved. In countries where the bidet is very common, prices are much lower. In Italy, for example, the price for a bidet seldom exceeds €200 (about $260 USD), and it is not uncommon to find bidets priced as low as €40 (about $52 USD), especially in do-it-yourself stores. An alternative in the USA would be buying a bidet attachment for regular American toilets. Many bidet retailers now offer toilet attachments that range from $79 to $650. In Middle Eastern countries, bidet attachments are much cheaper, being priced at around the equivalent of $10-20 USD, which is attributed to their popularity and availability. For the town in the Republic of Ireland, see Hospital, County Limerick. ...

Toilet seat bidet attachments are also becoming increasingly popular with the aging community. Many companies make bidet seat attachments that include remote controls to activate the water jets and air dryer. These conveniently placed remote controls may particularly benefit any individual with limited mobility.

See also

• Toilet paper
• Lota (vessel)
• Toilet
• Domestic water system
• Hygiene
• Washlet

This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Lota (Urdu: لوٹا, Hindi: लोटा) is a Urdu and Hindi word for a small, usually spherical water vessel of brass or copper used in parts of South Asia[1] A copper lota It is commonly used in daily activities like cooking or cleaning to store or transfer small amounts of liquids like... For other uses, see Toilet (disambiguation). ... Domestic water supply or system (DWS) is a comprehensive term for the potable water supply systems in residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial buildings. ... Hygiene refers to practices associated with ensuring good health and cleanliness. ... A twin-nozzled electronic bidet unit built into a toilet seat There are three types of toilets commonly found in Japan. ...

External links

• Health Benefits of using a Bidet
• Bidet attachments for personal hygiene
• Modern Bidets
• What's a bidet? from GoAskAlice.columbia.edu
• The real bidet health benefits for women, men, children, and seniors