Bidets – Page 19 – Home Improvement Dude

Someone had to answer it, so today's article answers the question: do bidets tend to splash poop everywhere? One reservation folks have when considering ditching the toilet paper for a bidet is whether or not the water jet will get poop all over the place. It's a good question. Those who haven't used a bidet have no idea what kind of water pressure to expect or how big the stream of water is. Do bidets spray poop everywhere? Bidets do not spray poop everywhere when used correctly, though some amount of splattering can occur. Excess pressure can cause stool to migrate to the scrotum or urethra. Most modern bidets use a gentle stream which reduces the potential for splashing. So, with the right pressure, cleansing shouldn't cause a mess. I should note that electric bidets use gentler streams of water of around 0.1gal/min. Non-electric bidets allow for soft streams but they use the home's water pressure so the upper limit is much higher. In this article, we’ll look at why bidets tend to be less messy (if anything) compared to regular toilet seats. We’ll also go over some tips on how to prevent splashing so that you can maintain your bathroom hygiene—and even improve it after making the switch to a high-tech toilet. Bidets Can Clean Themselves One common question is whether or not bidets clean themselves. And I've written an entire article on the best self-cleaning bidets. It’s a common feature on bidet seats and toilets—and many attachments and non-electric seats have them as well. This is a nice feature because having a self-cleaning unit would be especially convenient if you have a messier-than-usual movement. Some bidets clean the toilet bowl and the wand. For example, some models have a sensor to let the units know when you’re about to use the toilet. The TOTO C100 has a pre-mist function that cleans the bowl each time you sit down. It's the one I personally own and ALWAYS recommend. It mists a non-corrosive cleaning solution that helps keep the bowl clean and the bathroom smelling fresh. Some models trigger a cleaning both before and after every use—when they’ve sensed that you just sat down and then again when you go to leave. And some can be programmed to self-clean once every 8 hours when not in use. Not every model can clean itself, but the ability to self-clean is becoming an increasingly common feature these days on toilet-seat bidets. Toilet Plume: Why All Toilets Spray Poop In the world of epidemiology (the study of how diseases spread), there’s something known as toilet plume. If a plume of smoke came to mind then you probably instinctively know what I’m referring to. MIT Medical describes the phenomenon as an airborne dispersal of particles (invisible to the naked eye) created every time you flush the toilet (1). They go as far as to say that toilet plume is a public health concern because flushing a toilet results in both large droplets and small aerosol particles being spread throughout the restroom. The aerosol droplets mix in the air while the larger droplets land on and contaminate nearby surfaces. So, traditional toilets do splash poop everywhere when the lid isn’t down (read: most of the time if you're a guy). While drops can be visible if large enough, they’re still harder to spot than small splotches of poop—and thus less likely to be cleaned. Then there are the aerosol particles. The only thing grosser than touching poop is breathing it in. Hence, all toilets literally spray poop everywhere. The only remedy is to close the toilet lid before flushing, which brings us to the next point. Bidet Seats Are Often Self-Closing Given that toilet flushing is the main culprit when it comes to splashing droplets of poop in the room, a self-closing seat would be the ideal solution to preventing toilet plume. If you skipped the above section, just know that toilet plume occurs when poop-containing droplets get dispersed throughout the room when you flush the toilet. While you can get self-closing lids on a standard toilet, they tend to be more common on bidets because they’re a regular feature of high-tech toilets in general. Those of you reading this article who are considering making a purchase, you’ll probably want to opt for a bidet seat with this function—simple bidet attachments lack a mechanism to close the lid. How to Prevent Bidets from Spraying Poop Everywhere Aim Well to Prevent Splashing Some high-tech models have an aiming function, but most people aim by adjusting their body position and using the right pressure. Pressure comes into play when you’re aiming because more pressure equals a straighter stream of water. Those who use standalone bidets often hover over the jet (if the bidet has one) which helps water get to the right place. Finally, aiming is perhaps the most straightforward (pun intended) when you’re using a handheld sprayer. While the sprayer is one of the more primitive bidet varieties, it’s probably the most efficient when it comes to aiming. Whichever of the above applies to you, there will be a short learning curve, but you’ll get the hang of it quickly. Use the Correct Pressure Setting As far as how to control the pressure, each model is going to vary so always make sure to consult the owner’s manual. But, generally, there’s a knob or control arm that needs to be adjusted. Sometimes it’s a button if your model has a remote control. If using a handheld bidet sprayer, the pressure is controlled by how hard you press on the trigger. If you own or are looking to purchase a standalone bidet, the pressure is controlled like any other faucet. Wipe Once First Or twice for that matter. We touched on this above. If you have food on your plate and you go to wash it under the sink, the leftover pieces of food are bound to splatter and disperse to some degree. This is especially true if you like to use med-high pressure when washing dishes. You’re better off scraping the few remaining food scraps into the garbage bin before using the faucet or handheld sprayer next to your sink. The same is true with bidets. You don’t need to thoroughly clean the region—that’s what the bidet is for. Just wipe away any large debris—and one or two squares of TP should do the trick. Again, even using a bit of toilet paper, you’re still saving tons of paper overall and you will be getting a more thorough clean compared to using TP alone. Consider Loose Stool and Diarrhea I’d like to skip this topic so as not to get too gross but that ship has sailed. One major factor when it comes to the messiness of bowel movements is the quality of the stool. I’ll try to avoid getting too technical but there’s something called the Bristol Stool Scale aka Meyer’s scale that classifies poop in types 1 to 7 with 3-4 being ideal (easy to pass without being too watery). Types 1 and 2 indicate constipation while types 5-7 border on diarrhea (2). Loose stool, in general, tends to splash all over the bowl. And, I’d imagine any stool that’s on the softer side might be more prone to splashing via bidet use. But, it shouldn’t be a problem if the right pressure is used. Also, bidets offer a lot of benefits when it comes to dealing with gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea, constipation, and hemorrhoids. Do Bidets Spray from Back to Front? In posterior mode, bidets do spray from back to front. But they do so diagonally and from a lower angle. So the back-to-front spray pattern isn't equivalent to a back-to-front wiping direction. However, using excessive water pressure can result in water migrating from the anus to the urethra. For more info, check out the article on the best bidets for women. Do Bidets Spray Poop on Your Balls? Bidets don't usually spray or spread poop to other body parts like the scrotum. It is possible in the beginning, but you've practiced using the bidet, splashing shouldn't be a problem. Also, most cleaning sessions last at least a minute so soiled skin would get subsequently rinsed off. It's unpleasant imagery, I know. But, it's a common question so I wanted to cover it here. Do Bidets Spray Poop Everywhere? Conclusion So, there you have it. Bidets do not spray poop all over the place when used correctly. Most bidet owners use a gentle stream which reduces the likelihood of splashing. With the right pressure setting and correct aim, cleansing should not cause a mess. Bidets get a bad rap for being unsanitary, which makes no sense whatsoever. In fact, they’re used around the world as a more hygienic alternative to toilet paper. Not only do they clean the user more effectively than regular toilets, but higher-tech bidet models have self-cleaning functions and many automatically close the toilet lid when you’re finished. One reason people have often thought of them as being unhygienic is that folks usually assume the water jet is overly powerful or imprecise in getting the water where it needs to be. But, if used correctly, this couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s not a backyard water hose we’re talking about. The stream is powerful enough to clean your rear end, but you won’t be doing any pressure washing with it. Most describe the sensation of water as being gentle, even when used on higher settings. Hopefully, that answers your question. Thanks for reading.