The West, particularly the US, has relied on toilet paper to clean themselves up after using the porcelain throne for decades, perhaps even centuries if experts are to be believed. The world followed suit thanks to the spread of ideas during the 18th and 19th Centuries, allowing toilet paper to be the de facto material used to clean oneself after doing business in the toilet, regardless of what they are, per Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Bay Area.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic showed one weakness in the use of toilet paper: while they are produced locally, the time it takes for freshly manufactured ones to replenish store shelves when sold out.
Thankfully, those living in Europe, South America, and Asia - from the Middle East to the Far East - have come up with a solution that provides a more hygienic solution when used alongside toilet paper - a bidet spray/shower or just bidet.
Bidets - What It Is And Its Benefits
Bidets (pronounced as be-day) are an alternative to toilet paper, per WebMD. It is a toilet attachment that sprays water to clean people's backsides or genital areas, much like a shower does to the human body.
They come in different shapes and forms in many parts of the world, with some having it as a centuries-old practice, and for many good reasons. According to The Showerhead Store, they are a faster and more hygienic cleaning solution to toilet paper due to it providing a more complete clean a toilet paper couldn't.
The store adds that wiping with toilet paper does not guarantee a clean experience as fecal bacteria can remain on the body, clothing (skid marks, anyone?), or bathroom surfaces.
It is also a more comfortable option for many people that have hemorrhoids or genital health issues; tissue paper may feel rough, uncomfortable, or irritating to them. Additionally, it is more convenient since not every toilet offers toilet paper on site.
While it may sound icky to clean and wash your bum without toilet paper, do keep in mind that the bidet will also wash your hands while cleaning your backside. If you need soap to wash your hands, you can go to the sink and use soap regardless of its form.
Last but not least is that the use of bidets cuts down on the number of waste people throw down the drain every time they use the porcelain throne. A Statista report found that the US uses the most toilet paper in the world, with the average American using about 141 rolls per year, while the average Italian uses 70 rolls of toilet paper per year, thanks to a bidet.
Why Do Americans Dislike Using Bidets?
While bidets are more hygienic and more convenient than using toilet paper when sitting down on the toilet, Americans don't seem to think so, and it may be due to the environment they're in.
America was once a British colony before it became the nation it now is, and as such, there will be some similarities between the two peoples despite years of separation from each other. Before the American Revolution, the English sparingly used bidets, which led to Americans doing the same thing.
The average American doesn't even know what a bidet is since only 30% of the entire American population have passports, the opportunity, and the means to travel to places that offer them. As a result, Americans know only what they can see in the US, which is more toilet paper.
BioBidet, one of the companies wishing to spread the use of bidets in the US, said pretty much the same in their study: only 12% of American adults say they know a lot about bidets, and 82% have never owned one.
More importantly, American homes are not equipped with the means to accommodate a bidet; installation is often too expensive, difficult, and often impossible due to space issues.
Thankfully, Americans, particularly those of the Millenial generation, are slowly changing their minds regarding using bidets, according to The Atlantic. Biobidet's study found that Americans are interested and even curious about bidets, with 44% of adult Americans saying they are a "sleek and luxurious addition to a bathroom" and that many like to see such attachments in hotels, restaurants, highway rest stops, and even public bathrooms.
While it is only a matter of time until the use of bidets becomes popular in the US, it will take time, a lot of advertising, and curiosity to turn the US into a bidet-using country.
Related Article : 5 Japanese Tech Advancements We Should Catch Up To
