I remember the first time I saw one at my friends new house and asking her why she had 2 toilets and one without a seat.  I eventually tried it out of curiosity and fell in it while trying to hover.

Good times.

I think they should be renamed something American like “Ass Washer”.

I’ve never tried a bidet, but I did recently babysit at a fancy house where they had this thing called a washet from a company called Toto. I wish I could say that I hated the thing, but I am forced to admit that sitting on a pre-warmed seat and being washed and then dried completely clean was pretty darn nice.

Just think of all the toilet paper you’ll save using one.

First time I saw one was twenty years ago in Paris and I was completely clueless as to what it was. And it was cold water, too!  How rude! LOL

Everyone I know who has tried one swears by them.  I have some friends who felt similar to your sentiment in the post, and after a trip to Japan, the one thing they came home telling everyone about was how wonderful their toilets are.  And I have to admit, that commercial is freaky, as are the people in these videos for the Washlet, but they raise some good points.

Just think of all the toilet paper you’ll save using one.

Like most things, there’s a trade-off.  Yes, you’re saving toilet paper, and easing the burden of your sewer / septic, but you’re using more water and electricity.  I’m not sure how much switching to a bidet would change your carbon footprint unless you’re on well water and solar power.

I guess I always assumed that, if your nethers were in need of washing after doing your business (sometimes it’s a good, straight-through poop, other times, meh, not so much), that a spray that would actually clean you would be strong enough to be uncomfortable on your exposed anus.  The area around, inside the butt cheeks, fine, but not the tender part.

However, apparently they’re not.  And reading that description about being washed and then completely dried?  Now I want one.

@Derek: unless they’re using (forgive the pun) an assload of water to wash you, it’s probably only a small % increase over a flush.  And generating electricity for such a job would surely be less damaging to the environment than making toilet paper.  Just guessing on that last one though.

Oh, and I just watched the YouTube video.  They’re advertising that thing as a sexual aid, I think.  Hard to tell.  Japanese tv is fucked *up*.

And generating electricity for such a job would surely be less damaging to the environment than making toilet paper.  Just guessing on that last one though.

Both can use non-renewable or renewable energy sources, and both require supporting industries to get to you that use carbon.  So if you’ll forgive the pun, it’s probably a wash.

Ha! Hole Faithful indeed. The thing about bidets for me was how to dry off when wet? more toilet paper? now it seems many include a$$ warmers and air dry. If it vibrates also I guarantee more would use them. Now that is a multi use throne!

I’ve not used one myself, my friend has one and I’m kinda afraid. She had told me once that one of her friends had used it as a toilet, not understanding what it was, I guess.I’m not sure I see the point of a separate bidet. I mean, if you’re a mess and need it, does it make sense to shuffle, trou around ankles, over to another fixture, potentially leaving a trail (eeew) - or even worse, pulling the clothes back up just to drop them again 2 feet later?

I had a bidet in my apartment when I lived in Paris during college and was initially horrified at the notion of its purpose. Then I tried it and have to admit that it was quite refreshing.

Also, if you “hover” just right, it serves more than one purpose...if you...ahem..know what I mean.

Actually, I’m pretty sure that’s the real reason French women love them…

While in Spain, I discovered that they are perfect for rinsing sand off of your feet.  We were on the beach and the bidets kept us from tracking dirt into the room.

Man, I’ve wanted a bidet so bad FOREVAH!