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Why Don't Americans Use Bidets?

theatlantic.com

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Re: Why Don't Americans Use Bidets?

#61

Post by alkonaut »

akvadrako wrote: post #57
alkonaut wrote: post #51

Which countries use them? I know Japan but I thought almost no one else did. Hotel rooms in zero countries I have visited have had separate bidets or Japanese style toilets.

Many countries have them – too many to list. I think the first place I saw them was in Thailand. https://www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/comments/cgyz5q/countries_t...

Not the countries I expected in Europe. I have traveled a lot in Spain/France/Italy and seen very few in hotels or private homes/AirBnBs. Let’s change the question: In which countries would it be seen as odd to not have one, rather than them being “not uncommon” as I’d assume this map is? Is that only in Asia these days?

Re: Why Don't Americans Use Bidets?

#62

Post by keepper »

emerged wrote: post #56
keepper wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When your hand is full of lets say chocolate... do you feel you can do a "reasonable" job cleaning your hands with dry paper towels? Think about it for second... That's why bidet seats ( and the often overlooked spray bidets ), are vital to good bum hygiene :)

I don’t really understand in what scenario a bum needs to be the level of clean a jet of water provides vs the level of clean a towel provides. I mean in both cases it’s not being disinfected but you’re getting enough off to prevent underwear stains. Convenience makes sense as a selling point, but I’m not really convinced the cleanliness difference matters in a practical way.

I guess you need me to list them. ( this is just getting funny.. telling people that cleaning their bum after number two is a positive thing.. i thought we covered this in pre-school, next up.. why you should use a washcloth or equivalent and not stick the bar of soap up your... crevices )

- smells

- dirty laundry

- Comfort (not wallowing in your own filth)

- sweat does tend to flow.. bringing with it.. you guessed it.

But onto your point about "disinfection". I don't know which alcohol baths you take, but full disinfection isn't the goal. But since you need evidence.. "How effective is soap over plain old water? It works, but all else being equal, water has a greater marginal effect. " [1]

[1] https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/06/soap-how-...

Re: Why Don't Americans Use Bidets?

#63

Post by [deleted] »

emerged wrote: post #56
keepper wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When your hand is full of lets say chocolate... do you feel you can do a "reasonable" job cleaning your hands with dry paper towels? Think about it for second... That's why bidet seats ( and the often overlooked spray bidets ), are vital to good bum hygiene :)

I don’t really understand in what scenario a bum needs to be the level of clean a jet of water provides vs the level of clean a towel provides. I mean in both cases it’s not being disinfected but you’re getting enough off to prevent underwear stains. Convenience makes sense as a selling point, but I’m not really convinced the cleanliness difference matters in a practical way.

[deleted]

Re: Why Don't Americans Use Bidets?

#65

Post by publicola1990 »

akvadrako wrote: post #60
publicola1990 wrote: post #21

There is lot of modern technology/appliances that Americans strangely refuse to adopt, induction cooktops and combination washer-dryer washing machines for example..

Combination washer-dryers are not common anywhere because they are terrible. I live in Europe and bought a washer/dryer recently so researched the options. The main problems are (1) the dryer is half the capacity of the washer (2) double the complexity so lots of stuff can break down. However your primary point might be correct - European windows are much better - how they can open sideways and from the top - I've ne…

I am not getting that argument, there are machines that use the same single drum for washing and drying. Its widely popular in Asia for at least the past 30 years, and I don't think they are especially succeptible to maintanence issues or it wouldn't be so popular.

Also they eliminate the need to transfer clothes from the washer to the dryer, which is a major convenience.

Re: Why Don't Americans Use Bidets?

#66

Post by smegcicle »

zdragnar wrote: post #36
s5300 wrote: post #22

From the MidWest - I've personally been using a bidet since 13. Installed my own in the family home. In my personal region, and what I've found to be true of a decent, err, portion of the MidWest - the very act of washing in-between your arsecheeks, especially your actual anus, is seen to be gay/homosexual by many. Keep in mind, to these people I've referenced, to be gay/homosexual is one of the worst things you can…

Also from the rural Midwest, and have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. There's a fair amount of religious push back against the act of homosexuality, but this sounds fairly Twilight Zone-esque.

It's probably the talking about bidets, and how clean your butthole is, that comes across as homosexual.

Re: Why Don't Americans Use Bidets?

#67

Post by publicola1990 »

OminousWeapons wrote: post #43
publicola1990 wrote: post #21

There is lot of modern technology/appliances that Americans strangely refuse to adopt, induction cooktops and combination washer-dryer washing machines for example..

Having used both induction cooktops and gas burners for years, you can pry my gas range knobs from my cold dead hands. Induction cooktops create a set of constrains on use that gas ranges don't have.

If not for anything else, since there is no combustion happening in the induction, it gives better air quality in your kitchen and house, and compared to an electric range there are other definite advantages as well.

Re: Why Don't Americans Use Bidets?

#68

Post by akvadrako »

publicola1990 wrote: post #65
akvadrako wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Combination washer-dryers are not common anywhere because they are terrible. I live in Europe and bought a washer/dryer recently so researched the options. The main problems are (1) the dryer is half the capacity of the washer (2) double the complexity so lots of stuff can break down. However your primary point might be correct - European windows are much better - how they can open sideways and from the top - I've ne…

I am not getting that argument, there are machines that use the same single drum for washing and drying. Its widely popular in Asia for at least the past 30 years, and I don't think they are especially succeptible to maintanence issues or it wouldn't be so popular. Also they eliminate the need to transfer clothes from the washer to the dryer, which is a major convenience.

Okay, point me to a machine available in Europe which has equal drying and washing capacities. It isn't about drum size, but what they are rated to be able to do.

Re: Why Don't Americans Use Bidets?

#69

Post by smhost »

keepper wrote: post #62
emerged wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don’t really understand in what scenario a bum needs to be the level of clean a jet of water provides vs the level of clean a towel provides. I mean in both cases it’s not being disinfected but you’re getting enough off to prevent underwear stains. Convenience makes sense as a selling point, but I’m not really convinced the cleanliness difference matters in a practical way.

I guess you need me to list them. ( this is just getting funny.. telling people that cleaning their bum after number two is a positive thing.. i thought we covered this in pre-school, next up.. why you should use a washcloth or equivalent and not stick the bar of soap up your... crevices ) - smells - dirty laundry - Comfort (not wallowing in your own filth) - sweat does tend to flow.. bringing with it.. you guessed i…

If you actually cared about hygiene you'd be using something like wet-naps, since bidet nozzles aren't sanitary (would you rinse your mouth with a bidet nozzle?)

Re: Why Don't Americans Use Bidets?

#70

Post by keepper »

smhost wrote: post #69
keepper wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guess you need me to list them. ( this is just getting funny.. telling people that cleaning their bum after number two is a positive thing.. i thought we covered this in pre-school, next up.. why you should use a washcloth or equivalent and not stick the bar of soap up your... crevices ) - smells - dirty laundry - Comfort (not wallowing in your own filth) - sweat does tend to flow.. bringing with it.. you guessed i…

If you actually cared about hygiene you'd be using something like wet-naps, since bidet nozzles aren't sanitary (would you rinse your mouth with a bidet nozzle?)

Just no. I really don't understand this irrational, baseless fear. Water does clean.

- Fatbergs ( danger in flushing them )

- Hands touching excrement, then you touching other surfaces.

- No, an active nozzle can't get soiled the way you think. This is almost akin to thinking that a faucet can get dirty. The force of flow is a LOT larger than projectile acceleration no matter how bad those tacos where. In any case, most bidets have self cleaning, and anti microbial surfaces.

But sure, keep on smelling. it's your choice after all.

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