Toilet paper and bidet are both common choices for personal cleanliness after using the bathroom. The United States and China use toilet paper while Europeans prefer to use bidets. Do you know the difference between toilet paper and bidet? Is using a bidet better than toilet paper? In this post, we will explore it.
What is Toilet Paper?
Toilet paper is a paper product that is made of wood pulp or bamboo pulp. It's clean and soft and mainly used in the bathroom after pooping. It's also used to remove residue and absorb moisture for a clean. Qualified toilet paper will not cause harm to the human body. And there are several types of toilet paper.
Biodegradable toilet paper
Biodegradable toilet tissue rolls is not only gentle on the skin but also soluble in water, reducing the risk of clogs and ensuring easy disposal. It can break down quickly in a compost environment, reducing waste and pollution.
Bamboo toilet paper
Bamboo is an ultra-fast-growing grass that saves trees and natural environments. Bamboo toilet paper is hypoallergenic and unscented. Without pesticides or fertilizers. Natural color, unbleached, May helps reduce irritation and allergies. Reduce your carbon footprint while enjoying superior quality and performance.
How many people in the world use toilet paper?
About 3 billion people use toilet paper globally, with the number continuing to grow. That leaves a whopping 4 billion people who don't. But It is difficult to determine an exact number.
What is a Bidet?
A bidet is a bowl that is designed to be sat upon to clean oneself after using the bathroom. It uses water to clean private area. They are often placed next to the toilet and look like a deformed toilet. They do not have a water tank or seat cushion, usually with three rotating faucets on top and an outlet at the bottom of the pool.
Traditional bidet
In ancient France, there was a pool for washing private area after using the toilet. It's consisted of a wooden frame, a lid, and a decorative pottery basin. And it was movable. The main use is to clean the body after using the toilet, before and after sexual intercourse, and during period. After cleaning, dry with a small towel. Because of this, this washing pool in France has continued to this day and is known as the "bidet".
Although many countries are now using toilet paper to wipe, in the eyes of the French, it is still unhygienic, so they still use ancient methods. It is still very popular in some European countries such as Portugal, Italy, and Greece.
Modern bidet
Modern bidet is usually placed next to the toilet, which is convenient and practical. It's just that there have been significant improvements compared to before. They are about the same size as the toilet, and for easy cleaning, porcelain is generally chosen, with a height similar to the toilet, but generally slightly lower than the toilet.
Bidet pros
Bidet are gentle and hygiene, especially for people who have sensitive intestines, skin irritation, or specific health issues such as hemorrhoids and anal fissures.
Bidet cons
What are the downsides of using a bidet? There are some bidet disadvantages. It takes up most of the toilet space, and over time, modern households have rarely used a bidet.
Are bidets good for hemorrhoids?
Yes, bidets are good for hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids can cause pain and discomfort when using toilet paper while a bidet with a warm water spray can provide a gentle and hygienic alternative.
Are bidet better than toilet paper?
Bidet and toilet paper are both methods of personal hygiene after using the bathroom. The main difference between the two is the way in which the cleaning process is achieved. Some people like bidet because it's gentle while other people prefer toilet paper because it is more convenient. There are some differences between bidet and toilet paper. Here is the detailed information.
Toilet Paper vs Bidet
Which is cleaner?
Using a bidet is more hygienic and cleaner than using toilet paper. Research by Japanese scientists shows that using a bidet for toilet cleaning can significantly reduce the number of microorganisms in the hands compared to wiping with toilet paper. And as a side benefit, a bidet is a real boon for anyone suffering with hemorrhoids, anal fissures, or the like. It's a much gentler way to clean oneself versus rubbing with paper.
Environment
Considering that a person goes to the bathroom six to eight times a day, bidet consumes more water. It needs a lot of water. Toilet paper made from bamboo fibers or recyclable materials is usually more eco-friendly to the Earth than paper made from wood pulp.
Cost
Bidet cost more than toilet paper. Bidet needs more pipes. And the average cost of installing a bidet is $1090.
Why don't some countries use bidet?
Why did the popular "bidet" mysteriously disappear midway? Although the bidet is good, it does take up space. Because the bathroom space is not large, installing another bidet can take up some spaces.
In addition, what brought the disappearance to bidet is the "other meanings" imposed on bidet due to the different religious beliefs and cultures of different countries after it became too popular and spread. Some conservative Catholics associate bidet with "lewd" French prostitutes. They think a good woman will not have the need to wash her body so frequently.
Can you use a bidet instead of wiping?
Yes, you can use a bidet instead of wiping. If the bidet has good pressure, it will clean your bottom so there's no need to wipe. However, if the bidet has low water pressure, and you don't think it's doing a great job, it's totally fine to wipe, too.