By Patrick Adams
Bidets are wonderful, useful things that should be used more often. People have this strange and erroneous notion, thinking that bidets are both unsanitary and luxurious at the same time. They are neither. A bidet is a much cleaner and more eco-friendly replacement when compared to regular toilets. They are very sanitary when used correctly, and are pretty easy to use in general. Furthermore, a bidet is relatively cheap, you can find it for excellent prices, and the impact it has on your wallet is also substantial.
However, another aspect of bidets that isn’t talked about often (or at all) is just how useful it can be in terms of the environment. Namely, climate change is a common issue, an issue that affects us all, and preserving the environment is a vital part of life today (or at least it should). A bidet can help you help the environment, and the ways it can do just that are listed in the article below. Read on to find out.
What is a bidet and how do you use it?
The bidet is a simple basin that is usually right next to your toilet. It’s used to wash yourself, to clean yourself up after a going to the bathroom. Often made from the same materials toilets are made, using porcelain, metal, or plastic. There are many benefits to using this device, among them being better hygiene, lower infection rate, and generally better cleanliness.
Now, it’s got its name from the French word for pony. The reasoning behind its name is that you straddle a bidet like you would a horse. You lower yourself close to the nozzle of the bidet. Then, you turn on the water, and let the warm water jet wash your private parts.
The specifics of using it vary from person to person, and from bidet to bidet. Almost all of them allow you to modify the temperature of the water stream. Others can change its intensity, maybe add a spray function, or even an automatic, voice activated feature.
Once you are done with it, just dry yourself off, and you are good to go.
You are saving trees
First things first – using a bidet will help you save the trees. Namely, what makes bidets so useful and special is the fact that you don’t have to use toilet paper at all (or at least far less than what you would use regularly).
Using toilet paper is destroying the environment slowly. Thousands upon thousands upon millions of trees are cut down every year in order to produce toilet paper. But, using bidets will help you save the trees. Since you will be using les toilet paper, fewer trees will have to die for you and your needs.
It helps you save water
Water is precious. Clean drinking water is becoming a scarce resource. So many countries on earth simply don’t have access to clean water, so many people are dying from dehydration or water-borne diseases every day. And still, we flush so much water every single day. Well, just so you know, a bidet greatly decrease the amount of water you need.
While you do use it to clean yourself when activating a bidet, know that you (surprising, we know) use less water. The reason that this happens is that you won’t be flushing any wipes or toilet paper. Far less water is then needed when you do this, leading to water conservation.
It’s great for fossil fuels
If done properly, you will help reduce the amount of fossil fuels you use. Namely, the creation of toilet paper necessitates the usage serious and severe amounts of fossil fuels. The threes that are cut down, the plastic components that go into the wipes, and of course, the fuel needed to power the machines and factories creating said toilet paper and wet wipes, this all evaporates when you use a bidet. Furthermore, if you get proper quality smart toilet seats you can get an installed air dryer, so you won’t need to use towels either. This means you won’t be using your washing machine either, which leads to further savings.
The materials used to make a bidet are also, of course, not that environmentally friendly. However, this is just a onetime use thing.
Take care of groundwater
Next, your bidet helps with groundwater preservation. First of all, when you use a bidet, you minimize the chance of clogged pipes happening. A clogged pipe, stuffed with toilet paper, can start leaking. It can back up, flood out, and then release wastewater directly into the ground. This goes for both sewage systems in big cities, and rural areas that use septic systems.
So, using a bidet reduces the odds of sewage water seeping into the ground, the earth. Since the chances of a pipe getting clogged by bidet use are much lower than those caused by toilets, you won’t have to be so worried about this happening.
A bidet lowers your plumbing costs
Now, we are not saying that you should replace your toilet with a bidet immediately. In fact, you should still focus on getting the right toilet, fixing up your bathroom, and in general sticking to something of a standard bathroom. This bidet is more about minimizing your impact, as well as serving as a kind of replacement, and fall-back option. By using it more often than your regular toilet, you will be saving some money.
The other benefits of using a bidet
Still not convinced? Well, know that using a bidet has many other benefits, besides being good for the environment and lowering your costs. Namely, we are talking about your health, and your skin.
Using a bidet is a great way to minimize the chance of infections, and the development of diseases. First of all, they are much more efficient at removing bacteria and filth after you are done with the bathroom. The strong water jet of a bidet easily removes dirt and reside from your private area, while also being very refreshing.
Compare a jet of water to toilet paper. Toilet paper is rough, its course, and it can get in everywhere. The abrasions created by toilet paper can be painful, especially if you have problems like haemorrhoids, or things of that nature. A water jet simply washes everything away, and may even soothe the afflicted area easily and gently.
Next, a bidet can also really help you with other issues. Suffering from constipation, for example, can be very unpleasant, and can diminish our wellbeing and general quality of life. However, a bidet can help. The jet of water created by the bidet will massage the muscles of the rectum, thus alleviating constipation and leading to the occurrence of bowel movements.
Finally, some bidets have air drying options. Even if you are suffering from a very bad case of skin irritation or haemorrhoids, air drying can help you avoid contact with any abrasive surface.
Conclusion
And there you have it folks, a couple of ways using a bidet helps the environment. These help in basically two ways as far as eco friendliness is concerned. First, directly, you use less water, thus, lower water consumption, since you will flush less often. Then, indirectly, things like fossil fuels and trees. Many trees are cut down to make toilet paper, and since you will use virtually none, you won’t have to worry about that. The same goes for all the natural resources that go into the construction of factories and the creation of TP.
And if this all didn’t convince you, know that bidets are great for your health, and for your skin.
About Patrick Adams:
Patrick Adams is a freelance writer and rock-blues fan. When he is not writing about home improvement, he loves to play chess, watch basketball, and play his guitar. More than anything, he loves to spend his time in his garage, repairing appliances and creating stuff from wood.
