I notice a lot of discussion about toilet tissue and sanitary item usage in frugality threads. I thought I would mention Toilet seat bidets, in case others are not aware them. I did not know about them until about a year ago. They are super cool. You can get a nice one from amazon.com for about 45 dollars, they take less than 5 minutes to install. YOu can also get them for even less on Ebay. You simply take the seat off, put this in between seat and toilet and tighten seat back into place. YOu put an adapter where the water enters the tank, and atach the bidet to that adapter. Adapter and hoses are included in the Luxe Bidet http://www.amazon.com/LUXE-Bidet-Vi...TF8&qid=1352154517&sr=8-1&keywords=luxe+bidet model that I bought. One thing, you need to watch the water level depending on your pressure. FOr mine I have to turn the knob to get it started but turn it back down right away or it can be too strong of a spray. Not that it makes a mess, just a little strong for comfort. It took a day or two then I now just do that automatically. The little knozzle is self cleaning, so you dont have to worry about the males dirtying it up. It retracts inside atube and the water pressue needed to extend it, also flushes it off.
Interesting...I have been thinking about getting one for a while...it will certainly save on toilet paper! I have a funny story about bidets, though: Was at this swanky dentist's office, and had to use the restroom. They had a bidet that looks a lot like the one you posted. When I was done, I turned the dial. Don't know why, I guess I wanted to see how strong the spray was. It shot straight out, hitting the wall across. While I hastily cleaned the walls and floor, I noticed that there was a big ugly water stain on that spot. Apparantly scores of patients like to "turn the dial"!
That's my thought, too. I don't want to feel wet anymore than I want to feel dirty; so if I have to use paper to dry off, I'm not really saving any paper.
Thats exactly what I was thinking!! YUCK, just thinking of walking around wet for 30 minutes grosses me out! lol I'll stick to TP. lol
After reading this thread, I searched for information about different types of bidets. From what I have read, it isn't uncommon for people to wipe and still use the bidet as a refreshener after wiping. Then there were some articles on how to use a bidet and some people use their hands in place of toilet paper while the water rinses away urine and fecal matter. They have to dry with a towel, rag, or tp and then wash their hands, which I hope all people do anyways. I do not know how much water a bedit uses, but from what I read, some use a lot of water and some not as much. Depending if it is an actual bedit or an attachment piece. I am assuming that a larger family would run the expense of the extra water opposed to toilet paper and if they used rags or towels to dry, they would also have to wash those. I know I wouldn't dry with the same rag others used. Plus, clean or not, I wouldn't dry myself with the same rag more than twice. Call me lazy! I will stick to toilet paper.
I love my husband very much, we've had 3 children so we're definately not strangers, but I refuse to use the same Butt Towel as him! LOL I think everyone would have to have their own little monogramed towel to use, and you'de have to wash them everyday, I would think. I do want to say, however, that it gives you an appreciation of modern convenience and actual TP itself. Back when we were using outhouses, we WERE using our own Butt Towels since there was no toilet paper. The thought of using a bidet is interesting, and I applaud anyone who could do it, but I don't think I could. :/
I CAN'T STAND THIS!!! :lol: This is why I do not buy the soft paper. While the harder stuff still sticks from time to time, I actually feel cleaner with it than the soft toilet paper.
Wet vs dry and paper usage.... and bits. I will try to be as clinical here as possible. Firstly, the males will be less apt to use this type of bidet. Their varations in anatomy would require more effort for its use depending on whether or not the dangly area was constructed with a generous or conservative pattern, as well as the elasticity of the material used and its sensitivity to temparature. Anatomical variations could require more drying thereby eliminating paper savings. Habits vary from one person to another, however, menstrating females might find a reduction of paper usage at times and with a simple dabbing off to dry after a throrough rinsing of effected areas. Persons, especially the elderly, might find relief if they suffer from stiff joints or reduction of mobility in joints. It is not uncommon for the elderly to find themselves unable to reach behind, or unable to have coordinated enough movements to effectively clean with paper alone. Dabbing off to dry requires less fine motor skill. Persons suffering from hemorroids, will find relief from not having to apply pressure to effected areas. A water spray is more efficient in removing dirt from convolutions. It is said that hemorroid sufferers have fewer flare ups when using a bidet. A simple rinsing can often replace several intence attempts to remove dirt from effective areas. A simple patting dry afterwords uses far less paper than those several attempts. Some folks are obcessive about this issue requiring eccessive tissue. When one dabs dry, there are no bits of tissue. In the event that dabbing with paper was ineffective at drying some would prefer a clean damp to a dry smear.
LOL!!! Vantage, I was laughing so hard over your first paragraph, DH came over to see what was so funny! He found your...word choice...amusing! I know there are times when one is just plain MESSY!!! And it takes a LOT to deal with the situation. I can see where a bidet could be helpful. Also, Phillip's robotics team was dealing with issues the elderly had. My dear friend Sara is an OT working with the elderly, and she came and talked with the team. One thing she brought up was the difficulty in range of motion to clean their "tushie" (her word!). I can again see a bidet being a help in that area, but I can also see an elderly person not being too receptive to one of those "new fangled contraptions"!
Ok, I am going to give too much information, but here goes... I don't like the idea of having a dirty behind and so I wipe and then I wipe with wet toilet paper and a little soap until I am VERY clean and then another time with dry toilet paper. I don't think it is obsessive, I think it is a good way to feel clean and dry.
Clean is definitely good, and Vantage had me rolling on the floor! One way to feel clean and avoid plumbing adaptations is to first use regular paper of your choice, then use a moist baby wipe. Neither of these addresses joint range of motion issues, but can be quite satisfactory for the majority. Incidentally, a number of years ago, a woman I was conversing with on a similar topic shared that she lived without indoor plumbing until she was an adult. She explained that first you used a red corncob, then you used a white corncob to see if you needed to use another red corncob... And then there was the Sears Roebuck catalog.....
I have heard about the corn cob method all my life, but it seems to be a self perpetuating and miserably viscious cycle. I am of course assuming you have to eat the corn to get a cob to wipe with. I am thinking that using a dried out cob might eventually acount for the red cobs also. There is not enough witch hazel out there I tell you. Were I to be left with only the corn cob option, I might elect to............Let's Go down to the river to pray......
I love my bidet! I use it to rinse, then dry with cloth, not TP. I would think wet TP would leave bits on your butt. It's especially helpful to feel cleaner during that special time of the month. My husband calls it a ball washer. It took him a little longer to "position" himself properly.
