Bidet shower

A bidet shower is a hand-held triggered nozzle that is placed near the toilet and delivers a spray of water used for anal cleansing and cleaning of the genitals after using the toilet for defecation and urination. The device is similar to that on a kitchen sink sprayer. It was reputedly invented by a Thai living in the US who adapted a sink sprayer for toilet use.[1]

Description

The shower is a source of water for people who prefer using water rather than other methods of cleansing after defecation or urination.[2] The shower is an alternative for the traditional sources of water for this action, such as the bidet, copper pot or bucket and mug, being more hygienic and compact. There is no contact between the spray of water and the used water drainage.

Usage

The user typically grasps the faucet in the right hand and uses the thumb or forefinger (depending on the trigger location) to aim a spray of water at the anus or genitals to assist cleansing after using the toilet.

Prevalence

The bidet shower is common in all predominantly Islamic countries and in most parts of Asia where water is considered essential for anal cleansing. This includes India, Nepal, Pakistan, Egypt, China, Iran, Iraq, Maldives, Bangladesh, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam and Cambodia. In those countries it is commonly installed in Western-style (sitting) toilet installations. In Thailand, it is common in both Western-style toilets and squat toilet installations. It is so ubiquitous that Thai parliamentarians were outraged on learning that the toilets in their new parliament building were not equipped with bidet showers.[3] The bidet shower is similar in intent, if not method of use, to the Japanese washlet-style toilet seats, or so-called "electronic bidets".

Bidet showers are used by Muslims in Muslim countries and all parts of the Arab world as well as in Asia in order to cleanse themselves with water after using the toilet.[4][5] Here, water is commonly used instead of, or together with, toilet paper for cleaning after defecation.

The bidet is common in predominantly Catholic countries where water is considered essential for anal cleansing,[6] In Europe, the bidet shower is used for example in Finland and Estonia.[7] Bidets are more common bathroom fixtures in many southern European countries.

The average American uses 50 pounds (23 kg) of toilet paper each year; every roll is estimated to require 37 US gallons (140 litres) of water to produce and an additional 1.6 US gallons (6.1 litres) to flush down the toilet.[2] Given the environmental impact of toilet paper and wet wipes, bidets are growing in popularity.

See also

References

  1. Ewudolu, Stella-maris (6 September 2018). "And now, a movie about the humble 'bum gun' (video)". AEC News Today. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  2. Nguyen-Okwu, Leslie (9 May 2016). "Trade the Toilet Paper for a Bum Gun". Yahoo News. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  3. Boonbandit, Tappanai (15 August 2019). "MPs dump on parliament's lack of ass-blasters in toilets". Khaosod English. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  4. Arab Cultural Awareness:58 Factsheets (PDF). TRADOC DCSINT Handbook No. 2. Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, United States. January 2006. p. 16. When served a beverage, accept with the RIGHT HAND ONLY! When eating, drinking, offering, or passing use right hand status=live
  5. Cook, Sharell. "5 Indian Etiquette Don'ts". About.com. IAC/InterActiveCorp. Archived from the original on 2014-07-12. Retrieved 2014-09-12.
  6. E. Clark, Mary (2006). Contemporary Biology: Concepts and Implications. University of Michigan Press. p. 613. ISBN 9780721625973. Douching is commonly practiced in Catholic countries. The bidet ... is still commonly found in France and other Catholic countries.
  7. "Bidets in Finland"
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