I tried the Tushy bidet. Here's why you should too
- Margo Ellis
- Jan 2, 2021
- 4 min read
I recently tried the Tushy bidet and it was AMAZING. In this post, I'll tell you why you should try a bidet and the many benefits-- both physical and environmental-- of using a bidet.
NOTE: I am not sponsored by or affiliated with Tushy, I just really like their products.
What is a bidet?
Simply put, a bidet is any device that uses water that you use to clean yourself after using the bathroom. There are many different kinds of bidets too. The classic bidet is its own separate bathroom fixture that looks kind of like a low toilet but functions only for washing yourself after using the bathroom. A handheld bidet or bidet sprayer is a wall-mounted hose, similar to what you would find by your kitchen sink, that you hold while spraying yourself. Lastly, there are bidet attachments and bidet toilet seats. Bidet attachments are placed below your toilet seat and bidet toilet seats are toilet seats with bidet attachments already attached. Both bidet attachments and bidet toilet seats have a nozzle or nozzles that hang into your toilets and control knobs or buttons on the side.
Below are two videos talking about bidets and why you may not have seen them before if you live in the U.S.
Benefits of using a bidet
Health and hygiene benefits
Bidets clean better-- If you got dog poop on your hand would you just wipe it off with paper? You'd wash it because water cleans better
Using a bidet is more comfortable-- without the abrasion from using regular toilet paper the chances of getting hemorrhoids or anal fissures goes way down.
Bidets are especially useful for people with vulvas. Using a bidet can reduce your risk of UTIs and is especially helpful for cleaning up while on your period.
Environmental benefits
It only takes 1/8 of a gallon of water to wash with a bidet compared to the 12-27 gallons used to make toilet paper
27,000 trees are cut down each day to make toilet paper, with a bidet you are using little to no toilet paper.
Installation
Depending on which bidet you get and your knowledge of plumbing, it won't take very long to install a bidet. For most bidet installations you won't need a plumber. With our very limited knowledge of plumbing, it took my mother and me just an hour to install a multi-temperature bidet attachment from Tushy, fix a leak we encountered (with help from a youtube video), and drill a hole in our cabinet for the hot water tube. Note: Drilling a hole is not always necessary for multi-temperature bidets and is never necessary for cool water bidets.
My Review
I originally wanted to try a bidet solely because of the environmental benefits. I chose to get the Tushy Spa bidet because it was one of the more inexpensive bidets and had both warm and cool water. We had a couple of leaks while installing it but were able to get the leaks fixed and the whole thing installed in an hour. I love using my Tushy bidet. I feel so much cleaner after using it and love that I am able to reduce my environmental impact without reducing comfort or cleanliness. I would definitely recommend a bidet to anyone even remotely interested in trying one.
FAQs
What do you use to dry off?
I use washcloths to dry off. Other reusable options are Bum Towels from Tushy or Multi-Purpose Cloths from Not Just Sew Sew (my company). You can also just use toilet paper (preferable recycled or bamboo) to dry off. Even if you still use toilet paper to dry off, bidets will greatly reduce your toilet paper use.
Aren't wet wipes just as good?
Although wet wipes may give you a comparable clean to bidets, they often contain ingredients that irritate and dry your skin. On top of that wet wipes, even "flushable" ones, don't break down and cause massive ecological and sewer damage. Also, bidets are cheaper in the long run. While you have to continue repurchasing wet wipes, once you buy a bidet you are set for a really long time.
Where does the water come from? Isn't it dirty toilet water?
Bidet attachments draw clean tap water from your sink or where your toilet gets clean water.
Now that you know the benefits of bidets and why you should get one I hope you use this information to make your future choices more sustainable. Please subscribe so that you get notified whenever I publish a new post. You can leave a comment down below if you have any questions about bidets or other eco-friendly topics or have any suggestions for what I should post next. If you feel uncomfortable leaving a public comment but would still like to ask me something or suggest a post idea, you can email me at me.greenlivingwithmargo@gmail.com Also, I would greatly appreciate it if you shared this blog with your friends. Each additional person that this blog reaches is another step in the right direction towards a more sustainable future.
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