I thought I was fairly intelligent. But of course, just when you think you are doing well, life throws you a curve ball to remind you that you are not so smart. This happened to me as I was introduced to a thing called a bidet. Of course I was the subject of a few jokes after I asked what it was. So let me save you from this embarrassment.

Bidets have the appearance of a shallow toilet without the seat and with a faucet at one end. It is a simple enough item and it is found next to the toilet in a bathroom. It is used to wash your genital area after you go to the bathroom. It is not for use on your hands or face. Bidets are not seen very often in America but they are very popular in Europe and Asia. This is changing hence the need for you to know what one is before you enter a situation where you need to use one.

For centuries the Europeans have used bidets but they never caught on in the USA. The reason for this is not clear. Bidets began in the 1700′s with a bowl of standing water that you would wash yourself in after using the bathroom. With the advent of plumbing and running water the standing water gave way to a faucet and drain mechanism similar to a sink. Of course as technology improved then came adjustable spray form the faucet as well as adjustable temperature for the water.

The rim of the bidet is larger than that of a standard toilet allowing you to get into a lower position for cleaning. It is almost like a toilet without the toilet seat. Though the entire bidet is much more shallow than a toilet bowl. What you do is you first turn on the water. Then lower yourself either facing the faucet of facing away from the faucet. Facing away from the faucet is the same position and direction you face as when you are going the bathroom. Then you allow the water wash and clean you.

It is important to know that before you use the bidet you are still supposed to use standard toilet paper. You clean yourself primarily in the toilet just as is standard in the USA today. Then after that you move over to the bidet and wash up with the water. Simple enough.

That is all for your primer on using a bidet. I wish someone would have told me about bidets before the first time I went to Europe. It would have explained a lot to me. But now you know and you do not have to be culturally illiterate when you enter a bathroom and see a bidet next to the toilet. Congratulations. You now have a little bit of culture. Even if it does revolve around using the restroom.

Learn more about toilets and stop by Sam Jakes’ site Toto Toilets for more information.