What is a bidet?
A: A bidet is a bowl or receptacle designed to be sat on to wash one's
genitalia, perineum, inner buttocks, etc.
The modern variety has a plumbed-in water supply and a
drainage opening and is thus what?
A: A plumbing fixture subject to local hygiene regulations.
The bidet is designed to promote what?
A: Personal hygiene and is used after defecation, and before and after
sexual intercourse.
It can also be used to wash what?
A: Feet, with or without filling it up with water.
In several European countries, a bidet is now required
by law to be what?
A: To be present in every bathroom containing a
toilet bowl.
It was originally located in the bedroom, near the
chamber-pot and the marital bed, but in modern times is located near what?
A: The toilet bowl in the bathroom.
Opinions as to the necessity of the bidet vary widely
over different what?
A: Nationalities and cultures.
In those cultures which use it habitually, such as in
parts of Western, Central and Southern Europe, Eastern Asia and some South
American countries such as Argentina, it is considered what?
A: An indispensable tool in maintaining good personal hygiene.
Where is it rarely used?
A: In sub-Saharan Africa and North America.
"Bidet" is a French loanword meaning what?
A: "pony", due to the straddling position adopted in its usage.
Some bidets have a vertical jet intended to give easy
access for washing and rinsing what?
A: The perineum area.
What is a bidet shower?
A: A hand-held triggered nozzle, like that on a kitchen sink spraye.
In contrast to a bidet that is integrated with the
toilet, a bidet shower must be what?
A: Held by the hands, and cleaning does not take place automatically.
Bidet showers are common in countries where water is
considered what?
A: Essential for anal cleansing.
Drawbacks include the possibility of wetting what?
A: A user's clothing if used carelessly.
A user must be reasonably mobile and flexible to do
what?
A: Use a hand-held bidet shower.
A bidet may be a movable or fixed nozzle, either
attached to an existing toilet on the back or side toilet rim, or what?
A: Replacing the toilet seat.
Some bidets of this type produce a vertical water jet
and others a what?
A: A more-or-less oblique one.
Other bidets have one nozzle on the side rim aimed at
what?
A: Both anal and genital areas, and other designs have two nozzles on the
back rim.
There are models that have a heating element which do
what?
A: Blow warm air to dry the user after washing.
Further refinements include what?
A: Adjustable water pressure, temperature compensation, and directional
spray control.
Personal hygiene is improved and maintained more
accurately and easily with the use of what?
A: Both toilet paper and a bidet as compared to the use of toilet paper
alone.
From an environmental standpoint, bidets can reduce the
need for what?
A: For toilet paper.
An article in Scientific American concluded that using
a bidet is what?
A: "Much less stressful on the environment than using paper".
Scientific American has also reported that if the US
switched to using bidets, how many trees could be saved every year?
A: 15 million trees.