Bidets for bottoms

Saving our butts one flush at a time.

I switched to a hand-held bidet and I am phasing out toilet paper. Honestly, I wish I had done this sooner, especially when I was potty training my child. It would have been soooo useful.

Personally, hygiene-wise, it has been amazing. Without going into the details (you're welcome), it does a thorough job. I thought I would be the only one in my household making the switch, but, no, my partner made the switch too! What?

As for our toddler, they are very intrigued by the bidet and they tried it once. Although they are fascinated by it, they found the water too cold and they haven't tried it since. When we run out of toilet paper and have no other option, I'm sure they will adjust.

So, what made me make this change?

I had two separate conversations with two Sarahs. Sarah A. had a bidet in her home and she said it was great. Sarah P. mentioned that she was looking into sustainable toilet paper. I checked it out, got a bidet, and installed it myself.

What's so bad about toilet paper anyway?

It requires a lot of water to produce. Like a lot.

According to sustainability site Treehugger, producing one roll of toilet paper takes 140 litres of water. That’s right, one roll! For a product that just gets flushed. To put this in perspective, the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recommends that adult women drink 2.7 litters (11.5 cups) of water a day, and for adult men to drink 3.7 litters (15.5 cups) of water a day. Of course, bidets also use water, but it’s negligible compared to the water that goes into making toilet paper. Don’t take my word for it, that’s the assessment of Kai Chan, a professor at the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability at the University of British Columbia.

It destroys our forests.

According to a 2019 report published by the U.S.-based National Resources Defense Council, tissue production is destroying the Canadian boreal forest, one of the most ecological important forests in the world. Clearcutting the boreal forest for products like toilet paper erodes the forest’s ability to absorb carbon. This matters because forests play a vital role in moderating climate change by absorbing carbon emissions caused by human activities such as burning fossil fuels.

What do I love about my bidet?

• Run out of toilet paper? No problem!

• No reoccurring costs after the initial purchase.

• Saves me money – $130 per year for 2 adults based on a bargain toilet paper brand.

• It’s better for the environment.

• It’s a tangible positive change that I can see and use daily.

Bidet pro tips

• After using the bidet, resist the urge to double clean by using toilet paper to dry. Use a small towel or napkin instead.

• Hide the toilet paper! Old habits die hard.

• Read the maintenance instructions to make the bidet last a long time.

• Still need to use toilet paper? Choose one that’s created using recycled materials, it’s better for the environment. Need help making a decision? Check out the National Resource Defense Council Tissue Scorecard, they give grades to different tissue products.

• Show it off! As you can see, a conversation can inspire positive change.

Ou, time to go! ;)

References

1. Alter, L. (2018, October 11). Stop Using Toilet Paper; Get the Blue Bidet. Retrieved May 5, 2023, from https://www.treehugger.com/stop-using-toilet-paper-get-the-blue-bidet-4857528

2. Mayo Clinic (2022, October 12). Water: How much should you drink every day? Retrieved May 5, 2023, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256

3. National Resources Defense Council (2020, June 24). Toilet Paper Is Driving the Climate Crisis with Every Flush. NRDC. Retrieved May 5, 2023, from https://www.nrdc.org/bio/jennifer-skene/toilet-paper-driving-climate-crisis-every-flush

4. National Resources Defense Council (n.d.). The Issue with Tissue 4.0 Scorecard, A Buyer's Guide to the Sustainability of at-home tissue products. NRDC. Retrieved May 5, 2023, from https://www.nrdc.org/sites/default/files/issue-with-tissue-2022-scorecard.pdf

5. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (2022, September 1). Bidets are making a splash with Canadians worried about waste. CBC. Retrieved May 5, 2023, from https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/what-on-earth-bidets-water-waste-1.6569703

6. Natural Resources Canada (2022, May 31). Forest carbon. Government of Canada. Retrieved May 5, 2023, from https://natural-resources.canada.ca/climate-change-adapting-impacts-and-reducing-emissions/climate-change-impacts-forests/forest-carbon/13085