“Hygiene is above all” - this wisdom has been repeated for more than one century and, fortunately, the relevance of this statement does not go away. Especially if it's intimate hygiene.
It is thanks to the desire to maintain hygiene that the bidet is gaining more and more popularity every day. However, for some people, the installation of such a unit still causes confusion: “Why is it needed if there is a bathtub and a regular toilet? And how to use a bidet?
Bidet - what kind of device is it?
A bidet is a device that belongs to the category of plumbing fixtures. Outwardly, it is similar to a toilet, but its function is the opposite: it helps to maintain hygiene after visiting the toilet (carrying out the act of defecation and relieving minor needs).
Some types of bidets are designed both as a toilet and as a small bathtub for washing the genitals.
The history of the discovery of the bidet
The bidet was first mentioned in the 17th century in France. The word “bidet” itself comes from “le bidet”, which means “little grasshopper”. This is probably due to the design it had in ancient times.
Then it was a small bathtub filled with water, placed on a small table. In those days, this device had a reputation as a “device for courtesans,” but even Louis XVI recognized this device as useful and necessary, and used it himself.
How does a bidet work?
Along the perimeter there are nozzles from which jets of water are supplied under high pressure to thoroughly wash the genitals. The entire procedure is designed to prevent the occurrence of diseases of the urethra, sexually transmitted diseases, and sexual diseases.
It is worth paying attention to the need for this device for people suffering from hemorrhoids. In addition to the massage effect, a person also gets the opportunity to maintain hygiene, since with this disease, toilet paper irritates the organ.
Why and for whom is a bidet needed?
The function of a bidet is to carry out hygiene procedures immediately after visiting the toilet. Of course, an adult and healthy person can carry out this procedure in the bathroom, but people whose capabilities are limited, as well as elderly citizens, cannot carry out hygienic procedures to the fullest extent. This hygienic shower makes life easier and is also useful for washing babies.
Another function of a bidet is to help with housework. If the set includes a shower head, then using a bidet you can clean the toilet, fill containers, and wash trays.
The main advantage of a bidet is its wide range of functions, as well as ease of use.
The only problem that may arise is the limited area. However, this problem can be solved by purchasing a toilet and bidet in one device, i.e. a combined option.
It is worth noting that in a bidet it is allowed to carry out hygiene not only of the genitals, but also to wash the feet. If necessary, you can steam your feet in case of illness or for cosmetic procedures. To do this, you need to use a special plug that plugs the outflow of water. After this, it must be carefully processed.
What types of bidets are there?
Before you begin to understand how to use this unit, you need to understand the design. There are two types of bidets: manual and automatic.
- Manual (mechanical)
You will have to adjust the water jet and its temperature yourself.
- Automatic
This bidet has a control unit. The device is controlled using a remote control. Such devices combine a thermostat that heats the water and controls its pressure, adjusting to the set values.
Additional options
A bidet is a multifunctional device, so it can combine the following capabilities:
- heating water;
- water massage;
- drying, i.e. eliminating the need to use a towel;
- light supply;
- possibility of heating the seat.
Bidet - functionality
A bidet is a kind of small bathtub or low sink that has cold and hot water running to it. Comfortable use of this plumbing device is possible due to the operation of the mixer, with the help of which the temperature of the supplied water is regulated.
A little history
The product first appeared in France at the end of the seventeenth century. Initially, it was a small bathtub compressed on both sides with a built-in bench. In accordance with its size and design, this structure was called bidet in French, which means “horse”.
When sewerage and running water in city apartments became commonplace, the “night vase” was replaced by a toilet, and the bidet moved from the bedroom to the toilet room . The shape of the structure, reminiscent of a toilet bowl, was given to the product thanks to the flight of thought of the designers.
The ideal solution for small bathrooms is the electronic bidet, invented in 1960. This design combines two plumbing devices. It has a bidet built into the toilet lid.
Why do you need a bidet
The main function of this plumbing device is to maintain cleanliness .
- First of all, a bidet is needed for washing. Using a directed jet after visiting the toilet, you can easily wash your genitals and anus. This method is more hygienic than using toilet paper.
- The product is convenient for washing feet or hands.
- You can use it to wash small children or wash their hands. Of course, for this, the plumbing must be kept perfectly clean.
- The design is convenient to use for people with limited mobility. Sitting on such a plumbing device is much easier than getting into the bathtub.
- The best solution is to use a bidet for people with hemorrhoids. With this disease, injury to the nodes is undesirable, and it is imperative to maintain cleanliness around the wounds.
Why do you need a bidet in a modern toilet room: the main reasons for installing the device
For those who are accustomed to using toilet paper, it is not immediately clear what the advantages of a bidet are and why it is recommended to install it. The most common answer to this question is keeping your body clean. After all, it is this aspect that is of great importance in the life of a modern person, especially a girl.
The bidet device simplifies the washing procedure and helps maintain personal hygiene.
The photo of the bidet shows that the device is a device in the form of a small sink, from which water flows through a hose with a nozzle, usually located at the bottom of the bowl. Some people, for ease of use, purchase not a separate device, but a small toilet with a built-in bidet function. Thanks to the versatility of the device, you will not need to run from the toilet to the bidet after performing natural needs.
How to use a bidet for women, men and children? Main purposes of the device:
- Carrying out standard daily hygiene procedures. The most common function that is convenient to use regardless of age or gender.
- Bathing babies and children. If you purchase a device with a retractable hose, you can use a bidet to conveniently wash your children, which will help keep the sink clean. Of course, only a separate bowl is suitable for this purpose.
There are other options for using the device. For example, the device can be used for the purpose of therapeutic massage. For such operation, you should purchase an option with a movable mixer installed on the side of the device. In this case, it is possible to select the intensity of the water supply and adjust the direction of the stream. After completing a setting that is convenient for you, you will be able to perform a gentle massage every day, relieving inflammation and swelling, as well as preventing the formation and progression of hemorrhoids.
The main advantage of a bidet is its versatility, practicality, ease of operation and installation.
The sanitary device is also used for taking foot baths, which will allow you to relax your limbs after a hard day at work and improve blood circulation to avoid the appearance of varicose veins. To carry out this procedure, you need to close the drain hole and fill the bowl with water. In this case, it is necessary to adjust the comfortable temperature, and to enhance the effect, you can add herbs or relaxing oils to the water.
After completing the procedures, you should thoroughly wash the device so that no greasy stains or stains remain on the walls. It is also recommended to purchase high-quality products with earthenware coating, which is easy to clean. It is important to understand that this kind of use is not possible if you purchase a toilet with a built-in bidet function.
How to use a bidet - photo and video instructions
The basic rule is that this type of plumbing fixture cannot be used as a toilet . You should sit on it after bowel movements!
- To avoid getting splashed or burned, you must first adjust the pressure and temperature of the water.
- You can sit on the bidet as convenient for a particular occasion. Initially, the devices had an elongated shape and tapered in the center, so people sat “astride” on them. Modern designs do not dictate specific poses.
- You can use soap while washing. And after that, dry yourself with a towel, which should hang next to the sanitary ware so that you can reach it without getting up. If several people use the bidet, it is advisable to use paper towels.
Some designs are equipped with a dehumidifier , the air stream of which leaves the skin perfectly clean. It is very convenient and hygienic.
Kinds
The simplest type is considered to be a small bathroom integrated into a chair. Then designs with a fountain began to be produced for ease of use. This product has become a classic, but there are other types:
- "Paperless toilet" - a bidet placed in the toilet was released in Japan.
- Bidet lid - the device has become popular in Russia. The pipe with the sprayer is installed in the toilet lid.
Some devices are equipped with air dryers to remove moisture from the skin. There is also a heated seat, temperature and water pressure control. There are devices with the function of eliminating unpleasant odors. There are bidets for men and women. Is such a distinction necessary for this? This is due to the anatomical characteristics of the sexes.
Types of bidets
Plumbing devices for washing are divided into separately located and combined.
Separately located products
Bidets are made in the form of a bathtub with a built-in mixer. In inexpensive devices, the water temperature is manually adjusted, while more modern and quite expensive designs have a built-in thermostat that maintains the set temperature.
water jets can be produced with different intensities:
- ordinary;
- pulsating;
- intense;
- soft;
- saturated with air.
Products can be installed on the floor or attached to the wall .
- The design of floor-standing devices includes a mixer and a fountain, which can be placed either at the back wall or in the center. The direction of the fountain jet can be adjusted. These bidets are installed in the same way as toilets.
- Hanging models have appeared on the plumbing products market quite recently. Such devices take up less space and can withstand more than four hundred kilograms. However, they do not include a mixer, so you will have to purchase it separately.
Combined devices
These types of bidets are divided into three subtypes.
Shower toilets.
Such products are installed in bathrooms with a small area. Toilets equipped with a bidet function do not require moving from place to place and do not take up much space. Today this is the most popular design.
Hygienic watering can.
This is a small shower head that is installed near the toilet. The hose of the product is connected to the mixer. A hygienic shower is an original solution and is relevant for those who do not want or cannot use ordinary bidets.
Bidet lid.
The product was invented for a modest-sized toilet room. There are both simple budget devices and products equipped with various electronics on sale. They can be mounted on any toilet. They do not require additional drains or outlets. These lids are quite easy to use.
When choosing products with electronics, you will have to study the instructions, since their kit may include a remote control that is responsible for many functions:
- jet pressure;
- ventilation;
- water temperature;
- hydromassage;
- hair dryer;
- supply of air freshener.
Advantages and disadvantages of installing a washing device
Installing a bidet will provide home residents with a number of benefits, because you can rinse your intimate areas after visiting the toilet without leaving the bathroom. This allows you to wash the necessary parts of the body much faster and without using a shower or bathtub. Other positive aspects of using the device:
- Cleaning a bidet is much easier than washing a bathtub or shower bowl;
- it is easy to teach children to use the device independently;
- facilitating hygiene procedures for elderly people with musculoskeletal problems and people with disabilities;
Among the main disadvantages is the need to allocate space in the bathroom for a bidet
- availability of a wide range of models and modifications;
- the presence of useful additional functions in some devices;
- saving water consumption;
- practicality and functionality of many devices;
- easy installation and maintenance.
Before choosing a bidet, it would be wise to study the main disadvantages of using the device:
- creating an additional unit in the bathroom to connect a device that consumes water;
- connection to some models of the electrical network;
- significant cost of maximum functional devices;
- lack of service centers in some cities for repairing models with built-in electronics.
Another controversial aspect of installing a hygienic shower in families with children is the possibility of flooding neighbors. Children can play in the toilet and accidentally turn on the constant flow of water to the watering can. If the hose is not lowered into the toilet, it will inevitably lead to water leakage. This problem can be solved by carrying out explanatory work. The advantages of such devices outweigh their minor disadvantages.
The high cost of a bidet is justified by the comfort and benefits that the operation of the device brings
Which bidet to choose
First of all, you should pay attention to the material from which bidets are made. They can be made of plastic, glass, steel or precious metals. The most common items are made of porcelain and earthenware.
- The highest quality material is porcelain, since it is not porous, and therefore is able to minimally absorb odors, dirt and moisture. Porcelain products can last up to fifty years.
- Since earthenware has a looser structure, it is covered with glaze. Due to this, the service life of earthenware products is about thirty years.
The technology for manufacturing porcelain plumbing fixtures is more expensive, so there is a significant cost difference between earthenware and porcelain products. Naturally, porcelain bidets are not cheap at all.
Secondly , the product must match the size of the bathroom. For a small toilet, it is most rational to choose a toilet with a built-in bidet. If the area allows, then you can choose any design.
The third criterion is the ability to connect the plumbing fixture to the sewer system. According to their design, products are divided into vertical, horizontal and inclined. Therefore, if renovations in the bathroom have already been made, you will have to choose a model that will correspond to the entrances installed in the sewer riser. If major repairs are still required, you will need to worry in advance about the terminals suitable for the purchased bidet.
Price
How much does such a purchase cost? The most affordable option would be to buy a domestic bidet. Its cost is in the range of 1800–2000 rubles. Imported devices cost 9–10 thousand rubles. There are models with electronics that cost 160,000 rubles. Automatic toilets are sold that have a bidet and other functions. Such equipment costs 200 thousand rubles.
Plumbing products may vary. They differ in design features, operating principles, and functions. You need to choose a product based on your needs, material capabilities and desired functions. If the desired design is selected, then its installation must be trusted to a specialist. The device and work must have a warranty. An installed bidet will be a convenient assistant in ensuring personal hygiene.
