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You’ve likely heard people rave about how much they love their newly-installed bidet but despite their enthusiasm, you’re still not convinced.
The truth is, there are plenty of people, especially in North America, who are wary of bidets but also curious to learn about why bidets are better than toilet paper (or at least, allegedly.)
Bidets are better than toilet paper because they offer a more thorough clean, are more eco-friendly, can save money in the long term, and ultimately, they provide a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable way to cleanse yourself than toilet paper.
7 Reasons Why a Bidet is Better Than Toilet Paper
Both have their pros and cons, but there are many reasons why a bidet is better than toilet paper. Keep reading to discover some of the most important reasons why you should consider making the switch.
1. Bidets Are More Sanitary Than Toilet Paper
One of the biggest benefits of using a bidet is that they are more sanitary than toilet paper.
Water is more effective at cleaning urine and fecal matter than simply wiping with paper.
Imagine if you accidentally smeared some poop on your hand – would you simply wipe it off with dry toilet paper and go about your day? Or would you, at a bare minimum, rinse your hand with water?
The same goes for your behind. Although your behind doesn’t need to be washed with soapy water every time you use the toilet (save that for the shower) a spray of clean water will keep the area much cleaner and more sanitary than simply wiping with toilet paper.
2. Bidets Are More Environmentally Friendly
Bidets are better for the environment because they dramatically reduce (or even completely eliminate) the need for toilet paper.
According to Associated Students UC San Diego, Americans go through 36.5 billion rolls of toilet paper a year. This equates to roughly 15 million trees being pulped and 473,587,500,000 gallons of water being used for toilet paper production.
In contrast, the average bidet uses no more water than it takes to wash your hands at the bathroom sink.
If you install a cheap bidet without a dryer, you will need to use a bidet cloth or a small amount of toilet paper to dry yourself. However, if you install a bidet with a dryer function, your bidet can completely replace toilet paper.
3. Bidets Provide a Superior Clean
Unlike toilet paper which can smear poop around and doesn’t generally remove all fecal matter from around your anus, bidets spray a gentle stream of cold or warm water (depending on whether you have an electric or non-electric bidet) directly onto the area which provides a superior clean to toilet paper.
4. Bidets Are Better for Sensitive Skin
Bidets are much better for those who have sensitive skin that is prone to breakouts.
Toilet paper is harsh and can be abrasive on sensitive skin. It also contains chemicals and dyes that can irritate the skin.
Bidets, on the other hand, are gentle and contain no chemicals or dyes. This makes them ideal for people with sensitive skin.
5. Bidets Can Save You Money
Believe it or not, despite the initial cost of purchasing and installing a bidet, bidets can save you money over the longer term as they can eliminate the need for toilet paper.
If you’ve had a sneaking suspicion that toilet paper may have shrunk in size over the years, you’re correct. Toilet paper dimensions have gotten smaller while getting more and more expensive.
If you choose to install a bidet with a dryer, like the luxury BioBidet USPA 6800U or the Smart Bidet SB1000, then you can stop buying toilet paper altogether.
However, even a cheap bidet will drastically reduce your toilet paper consumption. And if you choose to use a bidet towel, you can eliminate toilet paper entirely.
6. Bidets Reduce Skin Irritation
If you suffer from skin irritation including hemorrhoids or anal fissures, a bidet can be a much gentler option than toilet paper.
Anyone who has experienced hemorrhoids or anal fissures can attest to the irritation that toilet paper can induce.
In addition, postpartum women often find that a bidet is a better option than toilet paper (I personally was very grateful to have a bidet when I arrived home from the hospital after giving birth to my son!)
7. Bidets Are Better For People With Limited Mobility
Bidets are often seen as a luxury, but for people with mobility issues, bidets are often a godsend.
For many people with limited mobility, twisting and turning to wipe with toilet paper is difficult and painful at best, or near-on impossible at worst.
As an example, a family member of mine has painful bursitis in their shoulder and found they struggled with achieving the full range of motion required to wipe after using the toilet.
I suggested installing a bidet and since then, my family member no longer has to experience the pain of attempting to twist their body in a way that causes pain.
Final Thoughts
As evidenced above, there are many reasons why a bidet is superior to toilet paper.
Bidets offer a more thorough clean, help reduce the spread of bacteria, are much more environmentally friendly, use fewer resources and create less waste.
