What is a Bidet?

The purpose and proper use of bidets, those mysterious European bathroom fixtures

Americans traveling to Continental Europe, parts of the Middle East, and East Asia need to learn about the bidet. What is a bidet, how do you use one, and why do you find them in hotel rooms and homes? They may somewhat resemble a toilet, but they are only used for cleaning yourself. Do not use a bidet as if it were a toilet!

I was very startled to hear the following from someone who has traveled overseas quite a bit:

"I just don't understand the bidet. I don't think that a bowel movement would go down its drain easily."

STOP! Do NOT proceed with that plan!

Everyone needs to be very aware of a few crucial details:

A bidet is not a strangely named and plumbed toilet!

If you have a bidet, you still use the toilet for all the conventional purposes! No, a bowel movement probably would not go down the drain of a bidet, not without quite a bit of unpleasant assistance by the operator or some poor person who came along later. Nor would it be particularly helpful to poop in the sink or in the shower, while we're discussing inappropriate defecation.

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