I feel odd starting this thread. I'm the sort of person who doesn't like toilet discussion or humor very much. I don't even find fart jokes very funny. And I pondered putting this in the "political, social, and religious" discussion area.
However, I've been the happy, although not necessarily proud, owner of a bidet attachment for one of my toilets for the past month. And I've been wondering how I made it through a half-century of doing what comes naturally without it.
The bidet attachment (as opposed to the standalone porcelain fixture) got its start in Japan, whose fastidious inhabitants and highly inventive engineers created a mechanical device that uses water to clean the affected area following a bowel movement. They are widely known as "Washlets" after the trade name of a company that makes them. In the US they are sold as luxury devices, complete with dazzlingly complex control panels, and a variety of spray patterns, water pressure and temperature controls, as well as unimaginable luxury features including heated seats, warm air dryers, and even deodorizing sprays. They also cost several thousand dollars, and require the services of a professional plumber and electrician to install.
In recent years, however, there has developed a market for a device that performs the same essential function, but at a price more amenable to ordinary consumers. Due to general squeamishness about such matters among Yanks and Brits, you will rarely find them sold at retail in most big box home improvement stores. But they have a rabidly enthusiastic customer base on Amazon, where people apparently feel freer to discuss matters of such a deeply personal nature. Mostly made in China, usually made mostly of plastic, you can now purchase a highly effective, and reasonably attractive cold water bidet attachment for most toilets for under $30. Installing it takes a reasonably handy individual about half an hour, with no special tools other than a screwdriver and an adjustable wrench.
I will note that using the device for the first time was a little surprising. Certainly not painful or uncomfortable. And it did take a couple of uses to really get the hang of the device.
But I will also say this: I go about my day with a feeling of freshness and comfort I never thought possible.
However, I've been the happy, although not necessarily proud, owner of a bidet attachment for one of my toilets for the past month. And I've been wondering how I made it through a half-century of doing what comes naturally without it.
The bidet attachment (as opposed to the standalone porcelain fixture) got its start in Japan, whose fastidious inhabitants and highly inventive engineers created a mechanical device that uses water to clean the affected area following a bowel movement. They are widely known as "Washlets" after the trade name of a company that makes them. In the US they are sold as luxury devices, complete with dazzlingly complex control panels, and a variety of spray patterns, water pressure and temperature controls, as well as unimaginable luxury features including heated seats, warm air dryers, and even deodorizing sprays. They also cost several thousand dollars, and require the services of a professional plumber and electrician to install.
In recent years, however, there has developed a market for a device that performs the same essential function, but at a price more amenable to ordinary consumers. Due to general squeamishness about such matters among Yanks and Brits, you will rarely find them sold at retail in most big box home improvement stores. But they have a rabidly enthusiastic customer base on Amazon, where people apparently feel freer to discuss matters of such a deeply personal nature. Mostly made in China, usually made mostly of plastic, you can now purchase a highly effective, and reasonably attractive cold water bidet attachment for most toilets for under $30. Installing it takes a reasonably handy individual about half an hour, with no special tools other than a screwdriver and an adjustable wrench.
I will note that using the device for the first time was a little surprising. Certainly not painful or uncomfortable. And it did take a couple of uses to really get the hang of the device.
But I will also say this: I go about my day with a feeling of freshness and comfort I never thought possible.
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