Talk:Bidet

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From the article:

"In Greece they are called "μπιντές" - bides."

That doesn't read anything like "bides" to me: is this meant to be a joke? -- Karada 16:11, 8 Aug 2004 (UTC)

Nope. Greek doesn't have any letters for 'b' or 'd', so they are represented as 'mp' and 'nt'. Morwen - Talk 16:12, 8 Aug 2004 (UTC)

I don't understand -- what about "beta" and "delta"? -- Karada 16:15, 8 Aug 2004 (UTC)

Um, those correspond to 'v' and 'dh'. See Greek language. They don't speak ancient Greek in Greece anymore Morwen - Talk 16:16, 8 Aug 2004 (UTC)

Ah. Thanks! I learn something every day. -- Karada 16:19, 8 Aug 2004 (UTC)

This article is really interesting; you should nominate it on WP:FAC. [[User:Meelar|Meelar (talk)]] 16:20, 2004 Aug 8 (UTC)
I would agree. This is an excellent article and deserves to be FA! --59.93.246.167 21:01, 18 January 2007 (UTC) Bodhi
It doesn't even have a single citation at the moment. A lot of work needs to be done before this would even be eligible for Good Article status.--h i s s p a c e r e s e a r c h 16:35, 15 November 2007 (UTC)

Contents

[edit] Usage

I deleted vagina and replaced it with vulva...mainly because there is no external vagina unless someone has a prolapse, and they really wouldn't want to go washing it in a bidet if they did.

Though to be honest the usage section feels like it should be re-written.

[edit] Common usage in Latin Americas besides Argentina and Uruguay????

I have been in many countries of L. America, and the only countries where the bidet is used in almost every house, is in Argentina and URuguay, I was told it was bring with the Italian, Spanish and French immigrants (most of theirs population ancestries) in the 19th century.

That text about other L. AMerican countries having extremely common usage should be changed.

I don't know where have you been, but at least in Bolivia it is found in a large amount of houses. --169.232.243.221 09:09, 2 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Paperless toilets

The article says that "In 1999 the first "paperless toilet" was launched in Japan, a combination toilet and bidet which also dries you after washing." However, the externally-linked page at [1] describes the Washlet, a toilet seat with bidet and dryer dating from 1980. Where did the reference to 1999 as the year of this invention come from? --Arteitle 06:40, Sep 1, 2004 (UTC)

[edit] French Folksong

«Apparently, cavaliers would sing a famous folksong which begins: À dada sur mon bidet... while using the bidoaille.» In this song bidet only refer to a pony ... the source of the previous assertion seems to be the humourous (and no more existing) web site Virtual baguette. It's more a «comptine» (~ nursery rhyme) than a real folksong. It is sang sung by parents when playing with their children. FoeNyx 10:33, 30 Sep 2004 (UTC)

The history section isn't serious at all IMO ! Bidoaille, Bidache and Karl Marx hmm ? Ericd 03:38, 3 Oct 2004 (UTC)

You are probably right ! bidache is just the name of a french city. But usage of bidache, bidoaille related to bidet give only link to wikipedia or some mirrors. FoeNyx 22:50, 4 Oct 2004 (UTC)

is sung lysdexia 13:52, 13 Oct 2004 (UTC)
thank you FoeNyx 13:20, 14 Oct 2004 (UTC)

[edit] Question

I found this line in the last paragraph in popularity. it it just link spamming?

An alternative would be buying a bidet attachment for regular American toilets for approximately $150 from companies such as USAbidet.com.

Rdoger6424 00:46, 30 January 2006 (UTC)

In the popularity section I read: Bidets are common bathroom fixtures in some European countries (especially France, Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal). but there is an error because today in France the bidet is not a common bathroom fixture.

Possibly the disappearance of the bidet has something to do with an improvements in modern plumbing, including the installation of showers in many homes, and a consequent increase in daily showering over the late 20th century? The point could be made in the entry that bidets arose at a time when most people didn't bathe regularly but were probably recognizing the health and other advantages of at least regularly washing the genital/anal area. When daily showering is common, perhaps there is less need for bidets?68.72.88.66 20:38, 26 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Drying

The article doesn't mention what you're supposed to do with a soggy crotch after using the bidet. If you try to dry yourself with toilet paper, it shreds into mush. 32.97.110.142 04:28, 18 May 2006 (UTC)

What do you use when stepping out of the shower or after washing your hands? Either a hand towel or paper towel will work. Luciuskwok 17:04, 29 May 2006 (UTC)


[edit] more on usage

could somebody fill out the usage section? i'm actually unclear about how bidets are commonly used. do you use any soap? do you use a cloth or rag-- either for the washing or drying? do you simply use a nozzle to spray? and then dry yourself?

i don't know.


I really wouldnt worry about it, mate —Preceding unsigned comment added by 91.104.223.190 (talk) 23:46, 8 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] TP: Before or after?

24.205.54.66 said in an edit comment: (→toilet paper is used to dry off with AFTER using a bidet, not before as the article stated.) I've never used a bidet, but isn't toilet paper a poor choice of material to dry off a dripping bum? PrometheusX303 13:27, 25 June 2006 (UTC)

mmm not, I've just used it! haha. A 60cm toilet paper works ok, the first half get wet but the half nearest your hand doesn't. You can used a small towel too.

Well, towel is the most common item of choice for this, but i guess some can use TP successfully..

[edit] Bathroom sink isn't a valid alternative

"In contrast, residents of countries where the bidet is to be found in every private house, find it difficult to change their habits. The only alternatives to a bidet in such cases is to use the bathroom sink or shower." Who wrote this thing? I come from Southern Europe and I can assure you nobody would ever think about doing such an unsanitary thing like washing anus and genitalia in a bathroom sink. Don't give us a bad name, wikipedians! Lullalulla 2:39, 4 October (UTC)

I for one have used a sink when a bidet wasn't available. Several times... I sound ruthless Spugna 17:42, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] No photos?

no photos? i recall there were photos. Xah Lee 03:07, 14 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Moved sentence

I moved the sentence "Foreign tourists to countries where a bidet is common can sometimes mistake it for a toilet. This mistaken identity can lead to an accident defecating in the bidet!" in the Usage section because it didn't belong where it was. Oddity- 21:05, 14 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Contraception

In France (possibly Europe) Bidets were used for contraception as well, there should be a paragraph on this... Sfacets 08:42, 3 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Some Simple Questions

I just recently returned from France and a wonderful vacation. However, I was puzzled by the bidets. I have seen them many times and agained wondered about their use. After reading this article several questions need to be addressed and I am really looking for the answers. First, I am a male and one has to consider two bodily functions - urinating and defacating. I also have a feeling that clothing has a lot to do with the use of the bidet. In modern western society, men's slacks open with a "fly" and typically, urinating is very easy and a self terminating process. There is no soiling of the entire penis or the clothing or the hands. Men usually wash their hands after urinating due to the slight perspiration (ordor) that occurs in the groin area, and health codes require handwashing by food employees to prevent the spread of various contagious medical conditions. As for daily hygiene, the typical shower in the morning or in the evening washes the entire body. I don't have to go into further details. Does the bidget substitute for the daily shower? Now as for women, today in western society women wear either slacks or skirts and of course - some wear underwear. For women use of the western toilet implies dropping the trousers and underwear and/or lifting the skirt. The style of western toilet fits into this type of clothing design. But the bidet has some real logistical issues involved. A man or a woman with lowered clothing cannot easily sit on a bidet and face the water controls. Does this imply that the clothing has to be removed - a rather involved process. Most items are designed for ease of use, so there has to some analysis of the use of the bidet in context with clothing. I have also travelled extensively in Japan, where there seems to be an incorporation of the two units into one for ease of use. So I would appreciate anyone who could shed some light on this subject.

[edit] This makes me smile a huge lot

Just wanted to express how funny is for a European to read how puzzled you are about the use of this - imho - fundamental fixture in personal hygiene. And it's incredible how you thought you could dry using toilt paper itself!! :) c'mon

How to use it? How to wash? How to dry? First... you take a "number 2" (or even a "number 1" for femals) sitting on the toilet (at least you have this in your countries? ;-) ) Second... you use toilet paper for a first cleansing of the interested zone... Third... stand up and take one or two step (don't worry, it won't take too much effort!) towards the so-called bidet, and sit on it, just as you seated on the toiled (so: the pooper facing the water coming out) ... take your hand and rub on the part you want to clean... water and liquid soap should help a lot. Don't be afraid: you'll have to face "worse" things when your baby kids will need changing their diapers...) Fourth... take one of the (usually two) little towels that hang near the bidet. This are special towels: not because they are some sort of magic fabric.. but just because they are half in size of usual towels. And don't worry: these are usually kept distinct from hands/face towels.

Hope this helped. 90.132.52.148 13:25, 23 August 2007 (UTC)

Yeah, and it's surely better than standing the whole day with pieces of crap in the back of your panties: toilet paper won't be able to clean everything... Question: how come this article is French-related? The bidet is wide spread in Souther Europe and South America? 90.132.52.190 09:01, 30 August 2007 (UTC)

I agree. In Italy any bathroom has a bidet (I'm Italian). I have a little apartment over my parents' one and in my small bathroom I didn't plan to install a bidet in order to gain some space. I remember my father who was very upset because of it: "How would you clean yourself after you take a dump?", he asked. Well if I were american I would use just toilet paper. Unfortunately I'm Italian and so I take a shower, anytime. I have to admit that using no bidet has its good points: you save time and you always wear your underwear in the right sense, because after some usage they are yellow on the front, brown on the back. :D —Preceding unsigned comment added by 213.140.6.112 (talk) 20:31, 15 September 2007 (UTC)

Yeah but does everyone use the same towel or what? The article says 'changed daily'. I certainly don't want to use someone else's turd towel, what's the deal? 132.228.195.206 17:20, 10 April 2008 (UTC)

Presumably, it shouldn't matter. After all, it is for drying yourself after you have washed, rather than for the cleaning itself. But if anybody has any further inforamtion on how it works it would be useful to know. The Baroness of Morden (talk) 15:57, 10 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Uncommon in the United Kingdom?

The article makes reference to their popularity in some countries in East Asia and Southern Europe, but in the UK they do not appear to be a common fixture. Can anyone tell/verify whether this is the case or not?--h i s s p a c e r e s e a r c h 16:33, 15 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Diaper Wipes?

I guess they would be nice except they don't rinse down the drain very well —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.7.155.193 (talk) 17:01, 22 May 2008 (UTC)