To sit on a bidet, you use the toilet first, then move to the separate fixture or bidet seat, straddling it (facing controls for feminine wash, away for posterior wash) or sitting on the rim, adjusting the water's temperature and pressure to clean, then pat dry with a small towel or toilet paper. Position your body to aim the spray, leaning forward or backward as needed for thorough cleaning, then dry off.
Some people sit, others straddle the bidet and hover. Turn on the faucet, test the water with your hand, and set a mild flow. Then position your body so the water reaches the genital and anal areas you want to clean. Move your hips slightly to rinse fully.
Step by step tutorial
Sure, you can wipe first, but most people who use a bidet find it easier and cleaner to just use the bidet. This is because the water pressure will adequately clean your bottom without the need for toilet paper. Some people like to wipe with toilet paper after using a bidet, but it's a matter of personal preference.
Pat dry with toilet paper.
Use a gentle pat-dry motion instead of a wipe to avoid any irritation. That's all there is to it.
Bidet Etiquette in Europe
Use them as intended—cleanse after using the toilet, and don't use them for any other purposes like washing feet. Spain and Portugal: Here, the bidet is common in hotels and new homes.
Bidet cons include potential for skin irritation from overuse, the learning curve for adjusting to water pressure and direction, installation costs and complexity (especially for heated/electric models), potential for water leaks or malfunctions, and a possible cultural discomfort or stigma for some users and guests. Some cheaper models may only offer cold water, while more advanced ones require power and professional plumbing, creating upfront investment hurdles.
Eating any food while on the toilet is forbidden. After defecating, the anus must be washed with water using the left hand, or an odd number of smooth stones or pebbles called jamrah or hijaarah (Sahih Al-Bukhari 161, Book 4, Hadith 27). Many jurists agree that toilet paper suffices in place of these stones.
With a built-in dryer: You can skip wiping entirely and let the air dryer finish the job. Without a dryer: Most people do a quick pat-dry with toilet paper or a dedicated towel. Some also choose to wipe before using the bidet to minimize mess, especially if the bidet's water pressure is gentle.
Wiping Front to Back
If you don't have any physical limitations preventing you from reaching around your body to wipe from front to back, it's generally considered the safer route to go. You'll be moving feces away from your more delicate parts, lowering the risk of infection.
All electronic bidet seats have warm water and heated seats. The bidet's remote control allows you to adjust the temperature for maximum comfort. Warm water relaxes the muscles and will clean you so thoroughly you'll feel like you've just taken a shower. 3) The water comes from the toilet tank and is unsanitary.
Doctors often point out that bidets provide superior cleanliness compared to toilet paper. Bidets remove waste more effectively and reduce the chance of bacteria spreading. Environmentally Friendly: Reducing the use of toilet paper conserves resources and lowers household waste, making bidets an eco-friendly option.
Not all countries or cultures use toilet paper to wipe their bums. This can be because of cultures that have traditionally used alternatives to toilet paper and therefore never really used it or lack of access to toilet paper.
How do you get dry after you've used the bidet? Most places will have a dedicated small towel (or set of towels) that will likely be hanging on a ring or a hook next to the bidet. These are personal – one per person – and are only for your intimate area! Don't dry your face with them.
The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) emphasized cleanliness, stating that cleanliness is half of faith (Sahih Muslim 223). This extends to practices after using the bathroom, where Muslims follow a specific etiquette known as Istinja. This involves cleansing oneself primarily with water.
Muslims attach great importance to cleanliness. They must have running water (from a tap or poured from a jug) in toilets, as they consider toilet paper inadequate; if a bedpan has to be used a container of clean water should accompany it.
Muslims are encouraged to perform ablution (Wudu) before prayers, which involves washing the face, hands, arms, feet, and rinsing the mouth and nose. This practice is based on the Hadith: “When you stand for prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows…” (Quran 5:6, Sahih Muslim 244).
They are very popular in some South American countries, particularly Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. Electronic bidet-integrated toilets, often with functions such as toilet seat warming, are commonly found in Japan, and are becoming more popular in other Asian countries.
Cleaning the anus after defecation using the bidets contributes to hand hygiene and local comfort, and it may be effective against constipation. However, excessive bidet use potentially causes anal pruritus and anal incontinence (AI).
Many medical professionals actually recommend bidets for patients with certain conditions. Gastroenterologists often suggest bidets for patients with IBS, Crohn's disease, or chronic constipation. Bidets receive particular praise from colorectal specialists for patients suffering from: Hemorrhoids.
Cultural Differences in Toilet Paper Usage
In Asia, bidets are a popular alternative to toilet paper. In the Middle East, water is used for personal hygiene after using the toilet. In Africa, the usage of toilet paper is not as common and many people resort to alternatives such as wiping with water or cloths.
About 70% of the world uses water for cleansing after using the toilet, often with bidets, handheld sprayers (bum guns), or simple jugs, while others use reusable cloths, natural materials like leaves, or even hands, viewing it as cleaner than paper, especially in Asia, the Middle East, South America, and parts of Europe. Only about 30% rely primarily on toilet paper due to cultural traditions, resource availability, and a preference for water's effectiveness and lower environmental impact.