These are certainly challenging and difficult times. We remain committed to helping our clients and homeowners in the Upper Valley, even if our showroom has closed temporarily. We will continue to monitor guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization as well as state and local agencies to help ensure the safety of our clients, our team members and the public.
We’ve all seen the empty shelves at grocers and other retail establishments. We’ve heard of people hoarding toilet paper, paper towels and other supplies. For many homeowners in the Upper Valley, there may be no better time to consider a bidet than the present. One reason to check out a bidet is that it eliminates or dramatically reduces the need for toilet paper!
Bidets are one of the most misunderstood plumbing fixtures on the market. Most homeowners in the Upper Valley are unfamiliar with bidets or integrated bidet seats. It’s believed
that the bidet originated in France in the early 1700s at a time when people bathed periodically, not as a daily function of life as it is today for most of us. The bidet was created for intimate, personal cleansing between baths, not to be used as a toilet. Another way to view bidets is as sit down washbasins.
Modern plumbing brought the bidet into the bathroom as an integral fixture where it sits alongside the water closet or is integrated into the toilet seat. Bidets have been widely used
in Europe and Asia for many years and are now becoming a more popular fixture in North America.
There are two types of bidets, the first being a free-standing or wall-mounted vitreous china piece designed to resemble a toilet. The second is an integrated bidet, which is either a seat that attaches to almost any toilet, or a toilet with the bidet built right into it. Integrated bidets continue to gain in popularity due to health and environmental benefits, technological advancements and ease of installation and usage.
In addition to providing superior hygiene, bidets are environmentally efficient and eliminate the need for most toilet paper. According to Scientific American magazine, 15 million trees sacrifice their lives annually to make 36.5 billion rolls of toilet paper that Americans use. Four hundred seventy-three billion gallons of water are necessary to make toilet paper each year. It takes 253,000 tons of chlorine to bleach toilet paper, and 17.3 terawatts of electricity are needed for the manufacturing process. The environmental footprint increases when you factor in the cost of shipping. Bidets are definitely appealing to those who care about the environment.
A common misnomer is that bidets are only used by women; however, every family member can use a bidet. Bidets offer a useful and eco-friendly solution for homeowners in the Upper Valley concerned about cleanliness and good health for several reasons:
- Bidets offer hands-free cleansing and a superior wash in place of using toilet paper
- Cleansing with toilet tissue can irritate and contribute to some medical conditions, while bidets soothe and refresh with gentle water cleansing
- Bidets are invaluable to a person who has arm or hand disabilities, or a person who suffers from incontinence, obesity or constipation
- Bidets can also be used as sitz baths that can ease the pain of hemorrhoids and prostate infections
- Bidets are extremely useful for women during pregnancy, after childbirth and during the menstrual cycle.
Several manufacturers offer integrated bidets that feature a variety of options, including:
- Temperature controlled heated seats
- Front and rear sprays
- Adjustable water temperature, volume and oscillation options
- Male, female, child and pre-set user settings
- Air deodorizer
- Soft-close seats
- Blow dryer
- Automatic open and close lid
- Remote control
- Hygienic features including inline water filtration
- Self-cleaning nozzle
- Self-cleaning bowls
The bottom line is that bidets are products that deliver a luxury experience superior in every respect to current practice. They not only clean better, but they also make families in the Upper Valley feel better. In fact, once someone has purchased and used a bidet or bidet seat, they usually become converts for life and can’t live without them.
It is time to stop worrying about being able to purchase toilet paper and opt for a more effective and environmentally efficient alternative. If you are interested in learning more about how a bidet can make your life easier and more enjoyable, please give us a call at 603-448-9700, and when it is safe to do so, visit our showroom at 105 Hanover Street, Lebanon, NH.
