Types of Bidets: Understand Everything About Bidets

Last Updated on September 6, 2023 by toilethaven

What is a bidet?

There are many types of a bidet, but basically, a bidet (pronounced as bee-day) is a bathroom fixture that is used to clean one’s posterior or/and feminine parts after using the toilet.

Depending on the type of bidet you have, you will get cleaned using warm or cold water. High-end bidets will use a warm air dryer to dry you after cleansing, while you will need to dry yourself with a towel or toilet paper while using other types of bidets.

The following are the different types of bidets:

  • Stand-alone bidets
  • Bidet toilet seats
  • Bidet toilet combos
  • Hand-held bidet sprayer
  • Bidet bottles
  • Bidet attachments

So, among the 6 types of bidet toilet seats, which one is the best option for you? Let us go through each and every one of them to find out.

Of all the different types of bidets, bidet toilet seats are the best. You are able to cleanse and dry yourself without standing in the toilet bowl, and most importantly, you don’t need a towel or toilet paper to dry yourself. High-end models will even massage you, deodorize the room, and even automatically open the lid.

Stand-Alone Bidets

types-of-bidets

Stand-alone bidets are oval-shaped porcelain bathroom fixtures that are installed close to the toilet. They look like a toilet bowl but without a seat.

Stand-alone bidets are the oldest form of bidets. They were invented in France in the 1700s. According to Toilet Paper History, they were also known as “ponies” because users had to straddle them the way you straddle a horse in order to use them.

They were initially used by French royals and wealthy French citizens. After a while, they were installed in more citizens’ bathrooms and afterward spread across Europe, Asia, and South America.

As bidets became more popular in pretty much every first-world country, North Americans continued to use old, good toilet paper. So why were/are bidets unpopular in America?

There are a few theories which explain the dislike for bidets by Americans:

  • Americans associated bidets with prostitution and family planning procedures. These, too, were taboo subjects in the conservative American society at the time. US soldiers returning home after World War II also reported bidets as such, further hindering their penetration into the US market.
  • American homeowners did not want to add an extra bathroom fixture in their bathrooms. The end did not justify the means.
  • They were just happy and contented using toilet paper.

American citizens traveling abroad are always stunned by the popularity of bidets in Europe and Asia, especially Japan. Citizens from those countries are similarly surprised after landing in America and almost finding no bidets in every bathroom.

Stand-alone bidets look almost the same but have a few differences. You will notice that some have 3 faucets while others have 2 or even 1. The faucets are at the back of the bidet and basically give you the option to choose the water temperature and pressure that you are comfortable using.

Types of stand-alone bidets:

  • Floor-Mounted Bidets – These are mounted on the wall, just like floor-mounted toilets.
  • Wall-Mounted Bidets – They are the sleeker and more modern stand-alone bidets. They are mounted on the bathroom wall at a convenient height for the user.

To effectively use a stand-alone bidet, you should remove your pants and straddle it facing the controls. This way, you are able to reach your front and rear as well as operate the water controls. You can also opt not to remove your pants and use the bidet facing away from the water controls.

You will notice a towel hung close to the bidets. Do not use it to dry yourself. The towel is only used to dry your hands. Dry yourself with toilet paper. If the bidet is however in your bathroom, you can have a dedicated towel for drying yourself.

Always wipe with toilet paper before using a stand-alone bidet. You do not want to leave any fecal matter embedded on the bidet. You should also never throw toilet paper in the bidet. Unlike a toilet, a bidet cannot flush. This would result in clogs. Always leave the bidet clean for the next user.

The disadvantages of stand-alone bidets are:

  • They take up more bathroom space
  • Stand-alone bidets are the most expensive to install
  • They are less comfortable to use.
  • Have fewer luxury features.

Bidet Toilet Seats

Bidet toilet seats are toilet seats that combine the functions of a regular toilet seat and those of a stand-alone bidet. They even go ahead to offer more features that are absent in the stand-alone bidets.

What many people don’t know is that bidet toilet seats were actually first invented in the United States. In the 1950s, Arnold Cohen, aka “Mr. Bidet,” invented the first electronic bidet to help his father clean himself after using the toilet due to an existing condition.

He wanted to start mass production and sale of bidet seats in the USA, so he founded the American Bidet Company. Unfortunately, his invention was not well received by Americans and, therefore, did not take off.

He traveled to Japan and partnered with Toto, the biggest toilet manufacturer in the world. In 1964, Toto unveiled their first electronic bidet seats. Due to the wide-scale usage of stand-alone bidets, bidet toilet seats did well in Japan and pretty much the rest of the world.

It is only in recent times that bidet toilet seats have started registering more sales in North America. The main advantage of bidet toilet seats is that you do not need to rip apart your bathroom floor to install a new fixture. Just remove your existing seat and install the new one.

Bidet toilet seats are either electric or non-electric. Electric bidet seats are the best ones but are pricier than non-electric bidet seats. Non-electric bidet seats, on the other hand, have few features and are not as comfortable as electronic bidets.

The main advantages and features of bidet toilet seats (electric) are:

  • Warm water cleansing: Bidet toilet seats use warm water with adjustable temperature and pressure to cleanse the user.
  • Adjustable nozzle positions: These bidets have a nozzle that can be adjustable forwards or backwards to offer both feminine and posterior washes. It also makes it usable by people of different sizes.
  • Warm air dryer: After you are fully cleaned, a warm air dryer whose temperature can also be adjusted will blow hot air all over your rear to completely dry you.
  • Oscillating wash: An oscillating wash is when the bidet seat’s nozzle moves back and forth rapidly to clean over a wider area.
  • Pulsating wash: A pulsating wash happens when the nozzle alternates between strong and soft water streams, which, in return, creates a massage sensation.
  • Self-cleaning nozzle: The nozzles of bidet seats will automatically self-cleanse before and after each use, guaranteeing you top hygiene. Some will even self-sterilize.
  • Enema wash: Some bidet toilet seats, like the Bio Bidet Bliss BB 2000, have an enema wash, which is very effective in relieving constipation.
  • Air deodorizer: Most bidet seats will have an automatic air deodorizer that will take care of any lingering odors, leaving the room smelling fresh.
  • Heated toilet seat: The bidet seat will always be warm, which is really helpful, especially during winter
  • Nightlight: A nightlight is a blue LED light that illuminates the toilet bowl, making it easier for you to access the toilet at night without needing to turn on the lights.
  • Auto lid opening and closing: Currently, only the Toto S550e washlet offers this function.

Bidet toilet seats vary from high-end mid-range to budget picks. I wrote a detailed guide of the best bidet toilet seats in the market today featuring all the 3 categories. Read it here.

Another advantage of the bidet toilet seats is that they are also very easy to install. You don’t actually need to hire anyone to do it for you. Learn how to install a bidet toilet seat on this guide I wrote some time back.

Bidet Toilet Combos

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Woodbridge toilet bidet combo

A bidet toilet combo is a combination of a toilet and a bidet toilet seat. These are mostly one-piece compact toilets that offer some of the best features you can ever find in a toilet. Due to their high-end nature, they are normally very pricey.

Most bidet toilet combos offer a complete hands-free operation. From the time you enter the bathroom to the time you are leaving, you do not need to use your hands at any point.

2 of the biggest toilet manufacturers, Toto and Kohler, have the best bidet toilet combos. From Toto, the Toto Neorest 700H is, in my opinion, the best bidet toilet combo, while the Kohler Veil is the very best from Kohler.

Sometime back I wrote a detailed guide on the best bidet toilet combos. If you would be interested in checking them out, read it here.

Hand-held Bidet Sprayers

types-of-bidets

A hand-held bidet sprayer consists of a spray head, bidet hose, and a T-valve. It is an inexpensive bidet but comes with limited features.

The T-valve is installed on the toilet water supply valve to create a junction in such a way that water will still flow to the toilet tank as well as the spray head. One end of the bidet hose is connected to the T-valve, while the other end is connected to the spray head.

A hand-held bidet sprayer comes with a wall-mount which you can mount on the wall adjacent to the toilet or on the toilet tank. Its spray head looks almost like a shower head, but it has a trigger on top.

To use a hand-held sprayer bidet, pass the spray head between your legs or from the rear and pull the trigger. You should always pull the trigger gently as the water pressure might be higher than you may anticipate.

Also, remember to always hold the spray head at an angle such that the waste will fall down into the bowl and not be pushed sideways or upwards. Dry yourself using toilet paper. If the sprayer bidet is in your house, you can dry yourself with a towel.

Bidet Attachments

bidet-attachment

Bidet attachments look like bidet toilet seats, only that they come without a seat. They attach between your existing toilet seat and the bowl. On one side, they have an arm with a dial or two, which helps you regulate the nozzle functions.

Bidet attachments are really inexpensive and can be installed for a fraction of what bidet toilet seats cost. They don’t have as many features as bidet toilet seats, but they offer the primary function, which is rear and front cleansing.

Although most bidet attachments use cold water for cleansing, a few of them are designed in such a way that they can either clean you with cold or warm water. If you would be interested in such, check out the Luxe Bidet Neo 320 bidet toilet attachment.

Portable/Bidet Bottle

bidet-bottle

A portable bidet, which is also known as a bidet bottle, is a simple plastic bottle with a screwed-in nozzle at the top. It is a great alternative to toilet paper while you are out camping or just about anywhere outdoors.

Bidet bottles are lightweight and, hence, easy to carry around. They will easily fit in a backpack, which I think is very convenient. Using a bidet bottle is also pretty easy.

To use a portable bidet, fill the bottle with water and screw in the nozzle. After you have already done your business, put a finger on the nozzle to prevent splashing. Aim the spot you need to clean and remove your finger. Squeeze the bottle to increase the water pressure.

Why You Should Install a Bidet

There are so many advantages of having a bidet, no matter the type. Some are so obvious, while some are not. The following are the main reasons why you should have a bidet:

1. They are Hygienic

I often have people ask me, “Are bidets sanitary”? And my reply is always, “Do you clean your toilet with water or wipe it with a towel”? The truth of the matter is that you can’t compare a bidet with toilet paper. Without being too graphic, I will remind you that toilet paper does not remove everything.

2. Fewer Toilet Clogs

Toilet paper and wet wipes are the biggest cause of toilet clogs. Excessive use of toilet paper leads to accumulation at the toilet trap, which causes constant toilet clogging. With a bidet, especially an electric bidet seat, you will not have to deal with this problem.

3. Best for People with Limited Mobility

Disabled people or seniors will find bidet toilet seats very helpful as they will not need to perform various movement tasks like reaching for toilet paper or even wiping. This will greatly improve their quality of life.

4. Improved Comfort and Luxury

High-end bidet toilet seats or bidet toilet combos are guaranteed to offer you high levels of comfort. Features such as a heated seat, pulsating wash, warm air drying, and many more will, without a doubt, make your life better.

5. Gentle on the Skin

The particular part of the body where we use toilet paper has very sensitive skin. Water is softer than the softest toilet paper you can find. The warm water from bidets offers a soothing feeling for people suffering from hemorrhoids, too.

Conclusion

If you need to install a bidet and have a decent budget to work with, a bidet toilet seat seems like the best investment. Bidet toilet combos are also perfect but will generally cost more. For people who are cash-constrained, a bidet attachment is a great option.