While a precise global percentage is elusive, a significant portion of the world uses water for cleansing after using the toilet, with usage concentrated in Asia, the Middle East, South America, and Southern Europe, where bidets, sprayers, or jugs are common; Japan sees ~80% usage, Italy ~70-98%, and the US is much lower, though growing.
While currently only 12% of the population of the United States has regular access to a bidet, that number is changing, with more and more people purchasing new toilets or attachments that provide the cleansing capabilities of the bidet to an ever-increasing number of bathrooms across America.
Bidets are common bathroom fixtures in the Arab world and in Catholic countries, such as Italy (the installation of a bidet in a bathroom has been mandatory since 1975), Spain (but in recent times new or renewed houses tend to have bathrooms without bidets, except the luxurious ones), Portugal (installation is ...
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.
There are very strict rules on what is termed 'backflow prevention' and of course any ablution sanitaryware is high risk. Toilets and bidets are classed as category 5, the highest risk of cross contamination to a water supply as stated within the Water Regulations.
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.
Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan and other countries will use a small shower for rinsing off after you do your business. Most of these cultures believe that you can get your bum cleaner with water than you can with toilet paper which is why they chose that option.
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.
In many Amish homes, rags are a common toilet paper alternative. These rags are typically old clothes that have been worn out. After simple processing, they become practical cleaning tools.
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.
Muslims use bidets (or similar water-cleaning methods like a lota) because Islam emphasizes thorough cleanliness, viewing water as a purifying element for hygiene after using the toilet, a practice rooted in religious teachings (Istinja) that go beyond wiping with paper to ensure true purity, making bidets a practical, effective, and religiously consistent choice.
Pat dry with toilet paper.
Since you're already clean from your bidet, you won't need much toilet paper to do so–just enough to remove any excess water. Use a gentle pat-dry motion instead of a wipe to avoid any irritation. That's all there is to it.
Additionally, the nozzle surface and splay water of bidet toilets may be contaminated with fecal indicator bacteria, such as Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as well as antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, rendering them a potential vehicle for cross-infection.
Bidet Etiquette in Europe
Remember, after using it, you should dry yourself with the dedicated small towel provided or toilet paper before leaving the bathroom. France: While not as ubiquitous as in Italy, bidets in France are often considered a sign of a well-appointed home.
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.
I don't know about all of them but 28 years ago before I left we did not use any store bought tampons or pads. Instead we used these ripped up towels and rags and they would be like this long and we would roll them four or five times and then we would use four safety pins and pin them to our homemade underwear.
The Amish wedding night will usually be spent in the bride's parent's home, as the couple will need to assist in clean up the following day. They will then spend their first months of marriage – their honeymoon – visiting relatives. (This is when most gifts they receive will be given.)
Vikings (and really, anyone living outdoors before mass-produced paper) would have used whatever soft, absorbent natural material was around—moss, leaves, grass, snow, even smooth stones.
Scholars have agreed that during a wife's menstrual period, a husband may engage in any form of sexual intimacy with his wife and touch any part of her body though he is to avoid the area between her legs and navel while many others do not prohibit this area but stipulate abstention from vaginal penetration.
They also can help on overnight bus/train rides. 5. Tissues: Egyptian people do not typically use toilet paper, and you often will not find it in bathrooms. Instead, they use a bidet, which is much more hygienic, and in my opinion, far superior to toilet paper!
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.
How many times should you wipe after pooping? Here's a guide… There's no hard and fast rule to how many times you should wipe, as every bowel movement is different. The best rule of thumb is to continue to use additional sheets of toilet paper until you feel clean.
In parts of India and Arabia, people exclusively use their bare left hand for wiping. They consider it disgusting that other cultures use toilet paper, as it leaves behind an unpleasant residue.
If you feel better with a daily showering routine, go for it. If you would rather skip some days, that's OK, but never go more than two or three days without washing your body with soap.