Every now and again I feature guest posts from friends or colleagues. When Pat Woods was telling me about a bidet she reviewed, I asked her to write something for ShannonLane.com so that readers could be educated on just what a bidet is and how it is used. You just may come across one of these during your travels.
By Pat Woods
Wondering what to get a loved one or special friend for Valentine’s Day, birthday, anniversary, Christmas or Mother’s Day? Often pricey jewelry is worn only for special occasions-and can easily be lost or stolen. How about something practical to make daily life easier for your sweetie?
Japanese homes have had bidet toilet seats for years. So why not in the U.S.? Everyone wants to feel clean when leaving the bathroom.
High-tech bidet toilet seats use “his” and “hers” water streams to cleanse personal areas after urination and defecation. Users select seat, water and blow-dry temperatures. This reduces toilet paper usage while enhancing personal hygiene for both genders.
The “best seat in the house” enables those with mobility issues, injured limbs or arthritis to regain dignity and privacy in the bathroom. With feminine and posterior washes, users can control their own cleanliness.
For women, washing with water is a more hygienic way to clean feminine areas following urination, during menstruation and after intercourse. And, because water is less irritating than dry toilet paper, it is ideal for post-surgery or post-childbirth care. We use water—not dry paper–to wash our hands and dishes, so why not for our most sensitive areas?
Available in styles for round or elongated toilet bowls, Brondell Swash bidet seats are designed to fit 98 percent of toilets. The sleek design and blue LED nightlights under the seat make bathrooms look glamorous.
I received my test Swash 800 from Brondell 18 months ago and would not trade it for a Mercedes. Husband Rob installed my bidet seat in less than an hour—all required tools and water connection hoses came with it. If we move, we will take my Swash 800 with us.
When friends visit, they line up to use the bidet seat in my bathroom. Once you have one, you’ll miss it when you travel. Some high-end hotels and nightclubs have installed bidet seats.
Swash bidet seats are available from home improvement stores, kitchen and bath wholesalers and retail showrooms . . . . an excellent investment, considering the average person uses the toilet 2,500 times per year! The Swash 800 comes with a remote control. Other models have controls on the side of the seat.
To watch the Swash operate, see videos at http://brondell.com or on YouTube. If you have questions, call 888-542-3355. Hint: Get free shipping from Brondell—and no sales tax unless you live in California.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
What a funny product. A bidet and a toilet are generally two different and separate pieces of “furniture” and you never do your bidness in the bidet. Most toilets in Europe have them and they’re great for the reasons you mention. But you might want to warn readers that if they urinate or, God forbid, defecate in a bidet in Europe or Japan, they will not be welcomed back with open arms.
Sugar Apple´s last blog ..Band Aid for Haiti
Too funny. Somehow I just don’t think many women would appreciate this as a Valentine’s gift.
Barbara at Hole in the Donut Travels´s last blog ..Blogging Boomers Carnival #148 Hosted by Contemporary Retirement
True Sugar Apple! In the US most houses do not have a bidet, definitely an unusual addition.
Shannon´s last blog ..Tweetup4Good Cruise Video
I’ve only seen bidets in Europe and they make me laugh. I am sure that they are practical and healthy but when you aren’t raised with such things, they do seem a little strange. I’ve always left any bidet untouched in my room.
Mark H´s last blog ..Peter Rudiak-Gould Interview: Part Two
In my old apartment in NYC there was a bidet and a toilet in the bathroom! Very strange. I ended up covering it up and using for a linen closet!
Here’s the obvious question with bidets that no one asks…
I understand that water is a good way to clean…but how do you dry?
Sherry Ott´s last blog ..Beware of Falling Rocks
Bidet toilet seats are gaining popularity here in the states. Brondell is good, but there are a host of other quality brands available with many more features. Save some trees and upgrade your personal hygiene at the same time!
Sherry – That is a good question. How does one dry their nether regions when using a bidet? LOL!
Shannon´s last blog ..Tweetup4Good Cruise Video
Looks like somebody re-invented the wheel here!
Remember the scene in ‘Crocodile Dundee’ when he realised what it was?
keith´s last blog ..Tom Rolt and the Talyllyn Railway
“Users select seat, water and blow-dry temperatures. This reduces toilet paper usage while enhancing personal hygiene for both genders.” [From paragraph 2 above.]
For those who asked, Yes, Swash bidet seats from Brondell have blow dryers. While traveling in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Austria,between 2006-2009, I stayed in some classy hotels. But I never saw a stand-alone bidet or a bidet toilet seat.
Try one — you’ll like it!
If you got poop on your hand you wouldn’t wipe it with just paper, so why do it to your butt? That’s some bidet philosophy I heard once