“Your completely judgement-free guide”
Let’s be honest. ‘Bidet’ is one of those words people love to say. It’s got a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ about it – very French, very sophisticated, rolls off the tongue in a way that makes even a bathroom fixture sound like something you’d find in a Parisian hotel suite. But hang on just a minute: what is a bidet, anyway?
People drop this word into conversations about real estate like it’s a selling point on par with a north-facing aspect or a double garage. “Oh, it has a bidet?” Eyebrows raised. Impressed nod. Internal panic about what exactly that means for daily life.
But here’s the thing. A lot of people have absolutely no idea what a bidet is, let alone how it works – or what you’re supposed to do when you encounter one. They can picture something vaguely European and ceramic. They know it lives in the bathroom. Beyond that? Complete mystery.
If you’ve ever stood in a hotel bathroom, looked at the weird thing next to the toilet, and quietly wondered whether to sit on it forwards or backwards – or whether it was perhaps some kind of foot bath – this guide is for you. No judgement. Truly.
So what is a bidet, anyway?
Let’s cut to the chase.
A bidet is a plumbing fixture designed to clean your nether regions after using the toilet. That’s it. That’s the whole purpose.
It uses water – either a gentle stream or a spray – to clean the area that toilet paper addresses, but with considerably more thoroughness and, frankly, more hygiene.
What is a bidet used for beyond the obvious? In some households, it also serves as a general wash basin for feet or for rinsing items. But its primary and intended purpose is personal hygiene after using the toilet.
In terms of what it looks like – a traditional standalone bidet resembles a low basin or bowl, roughly the same height as a toilet seat, usually mounted to the floor nearby. It has taps or controls, a drain, and sometimes a small upward-facing nozzle or faucet in the centre. First-time encounters often produce genuine confusion. Is it a toilet? Is it a sink? Why is it so low? Why is there water shooting upward?
The answer to all of these is: it’s a bidet, and you’re about to learn exactly what to do with it.
What is a bidet toilet?
Worth a quick mention here – what is a bidet toilet? That’s actually a slightly slightly different question.
A bidet toilet (also called a bidet toilet seat or washlet) is a combined unit where the bidet functionality is built directly into the toilet seat. Instead of a separate fixture, you sit on what looks like a regular toilet and use controls on a side panel or remote to activate a cleaning spray from a nozzle beneath the seat.
These are extremely common in Japan – where they’re considered completely standard – and increasingly popular in Australia and other Western countries these days. If you’ve ever been at a hotel or modern apartment and noticed a toilet with a side panel covered in mysterious buttons, you’ve encountered a bidet toilet. And rest assured, the buttons are not as complicated as they look.
How to use a bidet: A step-by-step guide
If you’re a completely uninitiated bidet user, you’ve now got to the practical bit. Here’s your clear walkthrough for someone who genuinely has no idea where to start:
1. Use the toilet first
A bidet is generally NOT a toilet. We repeat: it does not replace the toilet. You use the toilet first, then move to the bidet.
Sounds obvious perhaps, but it’s caused plenty of confusion in hotel bathrooms worldwide.
2. Approach the bidet
For a traditional standalone bidet, you have two options – facing the wall (towards the taps and controls, which gives you easy access to adjust the water) or facing away from the wall (which some people find more natural).
There’s no universal rule here. Try facing the taps first.
3. Turn on the water and adjust the temperature
Most bidets have separate hot and cold taps, just like a sink:
- Turn them on gently – and we do mean gently
- Adjust to a comfortable temperature
- Position yourself comfortably.
Learning to adjust the temperature before sitting down is something many people learn the very hard way – with unexpectedly cold or hot water a rite of passage nobody needs!
4. Position yourself over the stream or spray
Lower yourself onto the bidet so the water stream reaches – ahem – the area you’re cleaning.
Adjust your position as needed. The central nozzle on many bidets produces an upward stream – you’re aiming to get that where it needs to go. Take your time. There’s no rush, and nobody is watching.
5. Clean the area
Use your hand if needed to assist the cleaning process – this is normal and the whole point. The water does most of the work. Spend as long as you need.
6. Turn off the water
Turn the taps off fully when you’re done.
7. Dry off
So what is a bidet for if it leaves you dripping? Fair question – and this is the step that catches most first-timers out. Because while bidets clean, they don’t dry.
Most bathrooms with bidets will have a small towel nearby specifically for this purpose – use it. In some hotels and homes, paper towel or toilet paper is used instead.
A bidet toilet seat with a dryer function will handle this for you automatically, which is genuinely one of the more underrated luxuries in modern bathroom technology.
8. Wash your hands
As you would after any bathroom visit.
Why are bidets worth knowing about?
Beyond the novelty factor, bidets are:
- Genuinely more hygienic than toilet paper alone
- Significantly better for people with certain health conditions
- Considerably kinder to plumbing systems and the environment.
Australia’s plumbers will tell you that ‘flushable’ wipes – often used by people trying to achieve bidet-level cleanliness – are anything but, and are responsible for an enormous number of blocked drains nationwide. Why not consider a bidet instead?
For S&J Plumbing and Gasfitting, bidet installation – whether a standalone fixture or a bidet toilet seat – is a straightforward job for a licensed plumber. If you’re renovating a bathroom or simply curious about upgrading, call the friendly team or book online for expert advice and a fixed upfront quote.