I've never really even heard or personally seen a bidet (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bidet), prior to reading a thread about them on another forum I frequent. I thought this would be an interesting topic of discussion. I did, however, do some research on it. Hmmm....now I am curious to read more about it.

http://thefertilefig.typepad.com/michellaneous/images/bidet_1.jpg

I was also talking about these bidets with a co-worker friend, and he was telling me he saw a documentary on the history of toilets on the History Channel. He said that the Japanese toilets (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toilets_in_Japan) where they seem to be widely used. Here's an image of a Japanese toilet bidet:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/JapaneseToiletBidet.jpg/509px-JapaneseToiletBidet.jpg

My co-workers are surprised I haven't seen/used one at the three European countires I have visited. I noticed the countries where the bidets are found are in Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal. I haven't been to any of these countries yet, but I plan on visiting these countries. I am sure I'll see/use them over there in the future. On the other hand, it just doesn't seem very hygenic to me to use the bidet if the previous person was a pig and didn't clean the bidet really well. *cringes*

As for my opinion over them, I would try them because dry toilet paper always seems quite abrasive. At home I usually dab some water on my toilet paper to prevent chaffing/redness/soreness. I just can't do that in public since there are individual stalls with just the toilet commode.

I guess the Charmin wipes can be doable as well, but I don't really use those unless I am travelling out of town by car.

Have you ever seen and/or used a bidet? Would you use them/Have you used them? What is your opinion on them?

There was a bidet in my hotel room when I went to Paris. I didn't use it. Wouldn't it be cold water though? Just the idea of cold water going up there?:D I'll stick to the TP.(Not technically-lol)

You're lucky if you can find a bidet around here. I seem to remember seeing a bidet at one of the hospitals here, but that was about 17 years ago (around 1989). Obviously, I never used it... Too little at the time, but I remember seeing one and being freaked out because of the fact it squirted water in the air. I'm not really comfortable with that idea, lol.

And Mona, you need REAL toilet paper at home. Get Cottonelle with aloe and E on it... trust me, you will be singing praises for me later. :lol: This is seriously THE BEST toilet paper EVER in the history of toilet paper. lol

I think you see bidets more in Europe. A few years ago my dad and stepmom went to Germany and they mentioned that they had them in their hotel rooms. I had no idea what a bidet was and my dad and to explain it to me.

To those of you who haven't used a bidet, would you like to use one? Why? Why not?

My aunt and uncle travel all over the world (but they reside in MA) so they are culturally seasoned (not to mention rich...) and they have a bidet in one of their bathrooms. I love using it. It's convenient if you don't have the time to take a shower but want to freshen up.

We have one in 2 bathrooms and I can tell you THEY SUCK!!

They blast COLD WATER which doesnt get much off :D

It should blast warm to hot water! (Well hot enough to get everything off)