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A bidet is a bathroom fixture or toilet add-on that uses a stream of water to clean your private areas after you use the toilet, instead of (or along with) toilet paper. In its classic form it's a low, sink-like basin you straddle, but today most bidets are seats, attachments, sprayers, or built-in smart toilets that work with the toilet you already own.
The idea is simple: water cleans more thoroughly and more gently than dry paper. With the press of a button or the turn of a dial, a small nozzle delivers an adjustable spray of water exactly where you need it, leaving you fresher and using far less paper.
Once seen mainly in Europe and Asia, bidets have gone mainstream in the United States, largely because affordable seats and attachments now let almost any household add one in a few minutes without a plumber.
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What a Bidet Actually Is
A bidet is any device that washes your genital and anal area with water after using the toilet. The word is French for "little horse," a nod to the way the original stand-alone basin was straddled, but the modern definition covers a whole family of water-cleaning products that fit onto or replace a standard toilet.
The Main Types of Bidets
There are six common types: a bidet seat that replaces your existing toilet seat and adds heated water and other features; a non-electric attachment that slides under your current seat for the lowest cost; an integrated smart toilet with a bidet built right in; a handheld sprayer (a "bidet shower" or health faucet) you aim by hand; a portable or travel bidet, which is a squeeze bottle with a nozzle; and the traditional standalone fixture, a separate basin next to the toilet.
How a Bidet Cleans With Water
A bidet taps into your bathroom's existing water line and sends water through a small nozzle that sprays your skin clean. Most models let you adjust the water pressure, position, and sometimes the temperature, and higher-end versions add warm water, a heated seat, and a warm-air dryer so you barely need paper at all.
Who Uses Bidets and Why
Bidets are used by people of every age who simply want to feel cleaner, but they are especially valued by those with hemorrhoids, sensitive skin, or IBS, by new mothers recovering after childbirth, and by elderly people or anyone with limited mobility who finds twisting and wiping difficult. The gentle, hands-free spray offers thorough cleaning, comfort, and independence.
Key Benefits of a Bidet
Water cleans more completely than dry paper, which can mean fewer skin irritations and a lower risk of infection, and the soft stream is far gentler on sensitive or healing tissue. Bidets also cut toilet-paper use by as much as 75 percent, saving money and waste over time, and an inexpensive attachment often pays for itself within a few months.
A Quick History and Global Use
Bidets first appeared in 1600s France as a basin for the aristocracy and spread across Europe; Italy even requires one in every new home by law. Japan transformed the bidet into high-tech "washlets" with heated seats and warm water starting in the 1980s, and handheld sprayers are standard across much of the Middle East and South Asia, making the bidet a worldwide bathroom staple.
Tips & warnings
- If you're new to bidets, start with an affordable non-electric attachment to try the experience before investing in a heated seat or smart toilet.
- Look for adjustable water pressure and nozzle position so you can dial in a comfortable, effective clean.
- Warm-water and heated-seat models need a nearby electrical outlet, so check your bathroom's setup before you buy.
- A bidet greatly reduces toilet paper use, but keeping a little paper or a towel on hand for drying is still handy unless your model has an air dryer.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is a bidet?
A bidet is a bathroom fixture or toilet add-on that uses a stream of water to clean your genital and anal area after using the toilet, replacing or reducing the need for toilet paper. It can be a built-in basin, a seat, an under-seat attachment, a handheld sprayer, or a portable bottle.
Is a bidet more hygienic than toilet paper?
Yes. Washing with water cleans more thoroughly than wiping with dry paper, which can leave residue behind. Water is also gentler on the skin, so bidets are often recommended for people with hemorrhoids, sensitive skin, or who are recovering after surgery or childbirth.
Do I need a plumber to install a bidet?
Usually not. Most bidet seats and attachments connect to your existing toilet water line and can be installed in 15 to 30 minutes with basic tools. Only standalone fixtures and some smart toilets typically require professional plumbing, and heated models need a nearby outlet.
Do you still use toilet paper with a bidet?
You use much less. After the water spray you may pat dry with a small amount of paper or a towel, and many smart bidets include a warm-air dryer that removes the need for paper entirely. On average, bidets cut toilet paper use by up to 75 percent.
What's the difference between a bidet seat, an attachment, and a smart toilet?
An attachment is a low-cost device that fits under your current toilet seat. A bidet seat replaces your existing seat entirely and often adds warm water, a heated seat, and a dryer. A smart toilet is a full toilet with the bidet built in, offering the most features at the highest price.